EIvDORADO T03 



the frightened animal, no serious damage was done. 

 By a zigzag course he was gotten again upon the trail. 

 We finally emerged from the opposite side, less than 

 one mile from tlie point of entrance. 



Five days' travel without special incident brought 

 us to the Humboldt range of mountains. The eastern 

 slope rose abruptly from the plain to high, towering 

 peaks. Iheir course was north and south, and so far 

 as we could observe, no depression or pass appeared 

 by which even a pack train could reach the opposite 

 side. No trees or verdure of any kind was visible. We 

 had some difiticulty in fixing our camp, as the necessary 

 factors of grass and water appeared to be wanting. 



Tired and hungry, with badly jaded animals, we 

 finally discovered an insignificant pool, or spring, that 

 seeped from a crevice in the rocks, affording little 

 enough water for ourselves and stock. Here we camped 

 for the night after a somewhat frugal supper, as we 

 were beginning to see the "bottom of the meal tub." 

 The thin pasture and hungry condition of our faithful 

 animals made it a necessity to change their position 

 during the night. One of the company, while discharg- 

 ing that duty, observed, some distance along the base of 

 the mountains, an Indian camp fire, the first evidence 

 of Indians since leaving the valley of the Great Salt 

 Lake. 



In the morning the question arose, shall we travel 

 north or south to find a passage over the mountains? 

 We were satisfied that Walker's lake lay to the south, 

 as it had been represented to us that it was on our 

 route leading directly to Carson valley. We had had 

 no anticipation of encountering cither the Humboldt 

 mountains or the Humboldt river. The time had near- 



