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CHAPTER XXIV. 



Viffltors at Uintah —Adventures of a trapping party.— The Munchies, or white In(L 

 ana ; some actonnt of them. — Amusements at rendezvous. — Mysterious city, and 

 attempts at its exploration, — speculation relative to its inhabitants.— Leave for Fort 

 Hall. — Camp at Bear river. — Boundary between the U. Stales, and Mexico. — 

 Green valleys, &c. — Country en route. — Brown's-hole. — (Geological observations. 

 Soda, Beer, and Steamboat springs ; their peculiarities. — Mmerals. — Valley of Bear 

 river; its fertility, timber, and ahimdance of wild fruit. — Buffalo berries — Superior 

 advantages of this section. — Mineral tar. 



Our stay at the Uintah was prolonged for some ten days. The gentle- 

 man in charge at this post spared no pains to render my visit agreeable, 

 and, in answer to enquiries, cheerfully imparted all the information in his 

 possession relative to the localities, geography, and condition of Jie sur- 

 rounding country. 



A trapping party from the Gila came in soon after our arrival, bringing 

 with them c lich quantity of beaver, which tliey had caught during the pre- 

 ceding winter, spring, and summer upon the affluents of that river and tlie 

 adjacent mountain streams. They had made a successful hunt, and gave 

 a glowing description of the country visited, and the general friendliness of • 

 its rntiabitaiils. 



The natives, in some parts of their range, had never before seen a white 

 man, and, after the.first surprise had subsided, treated them witlt great de- 

 ference and respect. These simple and liospitable people supplied them 

 with corn, beans, and melons, and seemed at all times well disposed. 



The only difficulty encountered with them took place upon one of the 

 northern tributaries of the Gila. Two or three butcher-knives and other 

 little articles being missing from camp, tjie trappers at once accused the 

 Indians of stealing, and demanded their prompt restoration. The latter 

 they were either unable orutuviiling to do, and thereupon a volley of rifleiy 

 was discharged among the promiscuous throng, with fatal effect. Several 

 were killed and others wounded, and the whole troop of timorous savages 

 immediately took to their heels, nor dared to return again. 



In narrating the events of their long excursion, an account v/as given of 

 visiting the Munchies, a tribe of white Indians. 



What added m.uch to tiie interest I felt in this part of their story, was the 

 recollection of an article wliich Vv'ent the newspaper rounds several years 

 since, stating the existence of sucli a tribe. I had disbelieved it at the time ; 

 but thi^,and subsequent corroborative evidence, has efTectually remov(;d from 

 my nund all doubts upon tlie subject. 



Our trappers iiad remained with the Munchies for four weeks, and spoke 

 of theni in high terms. 



In reference to tlieii color they were represented p.s being of a much 

 feiirer complexion than Europeans generally, a thing easily explained i"" <vf 

 uamember ihia one fact, i. e., my informants must hav« gpoken compaift" 



