30 JOHN WESLEY POWELL. 



The entire winter was one of great activity in making explorations 

 and collections. During the greater part of the time the Ute In- 

 dians were encamped in the same valley, and the Professor spent 

 the long winter evenings in studying the Ute language and collect- 

 ing the myths and noting the habits and customs of these interest- 

 ing people. The presence of the Indians added greatly to the 

 entertainment of the party, for all winter long they were engaged 

 in festivities, and often at night were found performing their weird 

 ceremonies of magic, their "medicine rites." The hunters of the 

 party abundantly supplied the camp with game; at one time they 

 brought down twenty-three deer from a mountain about twenty 

 miles from camp. 



The valley, now known as Powell Valley, is a beautiful stretch 

 of meadow glade, about ten miles long and from one to two miles 

 broad, inclosed by mountains and steep cliffs on every side. Here 

 the horses and mules, about twenty in number, roamed through 

 the winter, but were brought up to the camp every night by a 

 herdsman, and from their number the animals necessary for next 

 day's ride were caught each night. 



During this winter, as during the previous summer, extensive 

 scientific collections were made. 



Late in March winter camp was broken up, and through deep 

 snow, with great toil, the party found their way over the mountains 

 into Brown Park, in the heart of the Uinta Mountains. From 

 Brown Park they went to Fort Bridger, where new operations were 

 to be inaugurated, for the Professor had deterrnined to explore the 

 canyons of the Colorado. He at once shipped all his collections to 

 the East, and leaving his party encamped on Green River, went 

 to Chicago, for the purpose of constructing boats to be used in 

 the exploration of the Green and Colorado Rivers. It had been his 

 plan to construct boats in the field, and he had brought with him 

 the necessary tools; but at that time a great rivalry had sprung up 

 between the two great railroads, the Union Pacific, starting from 

 Omaha and building westward, and the Central Pacific, starting in 

 California and coming eastward. This rivalry resulted in the build- 

 ing of the transcontinental railroad with unexpected rapidity, and 

 already the track had been laid as far westward as the Green River. 

 The Professor determined to take advantage of this fact by having 

 his boats built in Chicago, where the work could be more skilfully 

 done, and shipping out by rail. 



Having thus decided to enter upon extensive explorations, 

 Powell's life as a college professor ended. 



