16 



of the march. This was at 2 p. m. of the 14th of September. We traveled till 4 a. m. the next 

 morning down a sandy wash, with almost perpendicular walls of rock and sand conglomerate on 

 either side, without reaching any water, as Meadow Creek had sunk about three miles below onr 

 camp, in a widening out of the wash, called Long Valley. 



It was then concluded best to take a little sleep until the day might break. Meanwhile our 

 horses made a hearty meal of the surrounding canes. During the day willows with pods and 

 blossoms were seen along the wash, quite different from any before noticed; also, one wildcat. 

 At night two horned rattlesnakes were met with, which, with their incessant rattling, moved off in 

 a lateral direction at our approach — not pleasant friends to encounter in so dreary a locality. The 

 mountain-quail are noticed in this wash for the first time during the trip ; scarcely any other 

 sort of game. Even the jack-rabbits are no longer seen except on rare occasions. Daybreak dis- 

 covers to us, after saddling up and riding ahead for about one thousand yards, that we Iiave camped 

 within that distance of where the Meadow Greek again appears. A slight breakfast is taken, 

 and we push on, and at 1 p. m. come across some Indian rancherias, but as none of them could 

 converse in English, it yet seemed uncertain how near at band our destination might be. Still the 

 same dreary sandy wash continues, opening out as the rancherias are passed, and in the foreground, 

 some fifteen or twenty miles distant, apparently, were mountains supposed to be to the westward 

 of the Muddy. At 3 p. m. Mr. Ord's horse had given entirely out, and we had been walking for 

 two or three hours. At this time, by climbing a little sand-mound, a line of vegetation, wind- 

 ing through the desert, was seen in the distance, and apparently a party encamped. I concluded 

 to ride ahead, and much to my joy and relief found Lieutenant Lockwood and his party — a rather 

 .sorry meeting, as, having had bad luck also, they were entirely used up. In company with him, a 

 further travel of eighteen miles was made, till Saint Joseph was reached, at which place it was 

 supposed that grain could be purchased. The next morning this business was consummated, and 

 the grain forwarded to the party. The distance traveled from our camp on Meadow Greek had been 

 seventy-eight miles. 



It was thought advisable to have all make camp near West Point, a settle ment within two or 

 three miles of the point at which the old Los Angeles and Salt Lake road crosses the ^luddy. This 

 was done, and Lieutenant Lockwood's party immediately moved to this point. The most was made 

 of the interval, before the other wagons should come up, in physical recuperation of both men and 

 animals. Finally, on the afternoon of 22d September, the parties hauled slowly into camj) — a 

 scare-crow, exhausted-looking set — sadly wanting on the part of the animals, then in a semi 

 starving condition, good grain, grass, and water, while the men needed at least a few nights of 

 sound repose. 



The Indians and Mormons are frequent visitors to our camp while near West Point. The 

 former come both for curiosity and to see what they can steal ; the latter, to vend the productions 

 of their little ranches and gardens. 



The Indians in Southern Nevada and below the latitude of Patterson District know but little 

 of white men other than Mormons, and have been taught to look upon them as chief, cleai-ly dis- 

 criminating between the former and Gentiles. This peculiarity is carried to a remarkable degree 

 of penetration whenever a German happens along, who no sooner comes alone and unprotected 

 than he is pretty sure to lose his horse and other personal eSects. 



The treaty made by Governor (now Senator) Nye in ISG3, in Ruby Yalley, extended only as 

 far south as Quinn's Canon. The Indians on the Muddy, when all counted, number nearly five 

 hundred, while at the rancherias in Long Valley wash there are between seventy and eighty. The 

 numbers of other Indians in close vicinity of Clover Valley, in Meadow Valley, and near Spring 

 Valley, could not be accurately found out, as they kept wholly aloof — a sign always to be feared, 

 as when they do so it only wants the hope of certainty of success for them to attack any party. To 

 what cause this was to have been attributed is somewhat difficult to say. Their communication 

 with more northern Indians is quite slight ; and the Utahs speak quite a diflerenc language. These 

 Indians could all be easily habituated to live on a reservation, and in that way would become self- 

 supporting. At the rancherias encountered they raise small crops of grain, potatoes, and many 

 melons. 



The valley of the Muddy, though very contracted, is fertile, and forms the Dixie of Nevada 



