284 OVERLAND EXPEDITION TO SAN FRANCISCO. 



At an early hour on the 18th, we resumed our march. 

 Mesdames Boileau and Grangriere accompanied us for a few 

 miles, and then left, to return to Fort Umpquoa. 



On the 19th we deviated from the direct road, in order to 

 avoid any chance of an encounter with the Indians. This 

 brought us to the north fork of the Umpquoa, which we forded 

 without any accident, though, before making the attempt, it 

 was reasonably feared that we might meet with many, from the 

 fact that the current was very rapid, and the bottom extremely 

 slippery. The rocks observed in this region, contain fossils, 

 and occasionally exhibit seams of coal. During this day 

 many friendly Indians were seen, who reported that the hos- 

 tile tribes were preparing to dispute our passage. We passed 

 one large party, composed entirely of women, who were out 

 gathering roots. They were all passe, and extremely ugly. 

 One old woman can only be described by Juvenal, — 



" Such -wrinkles see, 

 As in an Indian forest's solitude, 

 Some old ape scrubs amidst her numerous brood." 



During the 20th, our route lay through a succession of 

 hills and valleys, intersected by numerous streams. None of 

 the hills are more than four hundred feet in height, and all are 

 susceptible of cultivation, the soil being apparently as good 

 as that in the valleys. We saw, in the course of this day, 

 several grisly bears, and the hunters fired many balls at 

 them ; but they did not succeed in killing any. At sunset we 

 encamped on the south branch cf the Umpquoa River. 

 During the night our rest was much disturbed by the howling 

 of wolves, which are very numerous in these parts. 



The following day we crossed the Umpquoa River ; it is 

 not s: broad nor so deep as the northern branch. We passed, 



