HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 215 



salt, sulphur, and magnesia, it may quench the thirst. 

 The phenomenon of mirage is frequently presented to 

 the view of the emigrants, and it very often assumes 

 the appearance of things unknown to that desert 

 region, such as lakes, cascades, and foaming and 

 tumbling waters. About twelve miles from the 

 springs, a ridge of sandy hills, running across the 

 valley, is ascended, and then an elevated plain of 

 about ten miles in extent is crossed by the trail. Over 

 this plain the travelling is very laborious — the sand 

 being very deep. But at length the Truckee River is 

 reached, and water, grass and trees, larger than any 

 upon the former part of the route for five hundred 

 miles preceding, greet the wearied and thirsty 

 emigrant. 



The Truckee River is about fifty feet in breadth 

 with a shallow but rapid current of clear water. The 

 bottom land is exceedingly fertile, and game is some- 

 times to be obtained in its neighborhood. The trail 

 crosses the Truckee very frequently, in its winding 

 course, but the country being agreeable, this is not 

 considered toilsome by the emigrant, after traversing 

 the barren plains in the vicinity of Mary's River. The 

 course of the Truckee is nearly from the south-west to 

 the north-east, and in some places it passes between 

 very high mountains, affording scarcely room for tra- 

 vellers to pass. Sometimes the trail is followed 

 through fertile valleys and then over barren hills and 

 rocky passes till the summit of a gap in the moun- 

 tains is reached, and a pleasant valley opens to the 

 view, offering a fine place for encampment. The trail 

 then turns to the left, and proceeds in a southerly 

 direction, crossing the Truckee several times, until 

 the Truckee Lake breaks upon the view. This small 



