11 



freciuoiit ill iihicc and quantity than bad been anticipated. There are only a few places that have 

 been at all alUaliiie or mineral. This advantage will prove a great one as travel is directed to any 

 points along the eastern border of the State. 



SACRAMENTO DISTRICT. 



This district is situated in Red Canon Pass of the Snake range, and exposes to view, on the 

 southern side, the mines that had attracted, at our coining, a lew miners. The products are both 

 silver and gold, found within a limited com])ass, and in continiialion of the mineral belt to the 

 northward of Shoshone, and which seems to follow several distinct luountain-chains through Nevada. 

 The eastern limit shows slate. No present develoi)inents indicate a certainty of large mineral 

 products, yet the average assays have been good, and the ore is easily mined. Chloride of silver 

 appears in a highly crystalized spar, so near approaching quartz in hardness, texture, and ai)[)ear- 

 ance that it is hardly possible to distinguish; however, I believe that, so far, no chlorides have 

 been found in a highly siliceous matrix. 



The facilities for th(^ benefit of a good mining-camp are favorable. Water sufficient, wood 

 enough for fuel, lumber in limited quantities in the mountains, at not too great distances. Both 

 Spring and Snake Valleys, in the vicinity, are favorable for the production of the various fanu- 

 sui)plies necessary for sustenance. It is not unlikely that one, or two at least, good leads or deposits 

 will be found. 



So far, our intercourse with the Indians had been limited, appearances indicating that in many 

 instances they have fled at our approach. The Shoshoiies and Gosiiitcs, in whose country tlic route 

 had so far lain, have, in years gone by, sufl'ered greatly c»u the hands of the United States troojis, 

 and our guide and interpreter was known to them personally, and the word having been passed 

 along the lines, they had silently taken their departure prior to our coming. This was in- 

 dicated ill two or three instances by the sight of deserted wick-e-Hi)S, and it appears as a well-attested 

 fact that they have a great terror of the soldiers. 



Emerging from the pass, near Sacramento District, Snake Valley is entered, and here are 

 encountered some of the Snake Indians, who are in the habit of occupying the valley iu [ilantiiig 

 and harvesting sesison, raising scanty crops, which they cache for the winter use, and then retire to 

 the mountains. Altogether, we have found some two hundred of these Indians, whose chief, 

 JJlackhawk, is a shrewd and calculating Indian, undoubtedly of a character superior to the 

 average. These Indians had never received annuities from any source, and had always, according 

 to their own story, been pea(!eable and friendly to the whites. Some Mormons had farmed a ranch 

 near them, about the center of the valley, but they had never brought anything from the Morniou 

 side. Further insight into the Indian affairs iu Southern Nevada leads mo to suppose that but 

 little care has been bestowed upon the manner iu which the Indians receive annuities or benefits 

 from Government. To be sure, scarcely anything has been known of the number, character, or 

 habits of many of these Indians, who are quite numerous. Yet, in the case of the Indians on the 

 Muddy, who are living on the line of a mail-road, and have done so for years, up to the time of our 

 arrival no such person as an Indian agent was known to them. I understand that lately a sub- 

 agent has been sent to this particular locality. The most of these I ndiaiis,in case they were placed 

 upon a reservation, could support themselves readily, and would be entirely peaceable and easily 

 managed. 



The sc^cond day's nuirch down Snake Valley leads to Snake Creek, at a point that proves to 

 be within half a mile of the Utah line. It had been my intention not to cross this line, as it not 

 only carried me out of the military division of the Pacific, but also out of any proposed or supposed 

 north and south line of communication to the Colorado. However, a part of this detonr-trij) was 

 for the purpose of tiiKliiig Preuss Lake, which it still api)earedto be of some satisfaction to attempt. 



Ou the afternoon of the 2d August, a start was made, and next day at 5 p. m. Hawawah 

 Springs, in sight of the lake, was reached. The next day brought us to its shores to receive only 

 a disappointment ou finding it both salt and brackish to an extreme degree. A night march to the 

 camp at llawawah Springs was made, aud after three days forced marching the more permanent 

 camp in Cave Valley. Our return was upon a rough desert road, made by the Mormons in 18iJ7, 



