^ 



214 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



near the boiling springs. The only Indians met on 

 this part of the route are the diggers, and they do 

 not possess the power to do much harm, if they even 

 were hostile ; but they are friendly. The want of 

 water is the principal annoyance. 



Passing over the desolate valleys and hills that 

 border Mary's River, the trail descends into a large 

 circular basin, in which a place for encamping ia 

 found, but with little water. From this basin, it 

 crosses some considerable elevations and then a totally 

 barren plain ten miles wide. Beyond this, water and 

 grass of tolerable quality are soon found ; and there, 

 if possible, a supply should be obtained suflBcient to 

 last for a long day's journey. Rounding the base of 

 a mountain, the trail takes a south-west course, across 

 a totally barren plain. No sign of the river, or the 

 existence of any water is exhibited. Near the southern 

 edge of the plain, which is twenty miles in extent, 

 some pools of standing water are found, and the place 

 is known as the " Sink of Mary's River." From 

 these pools to the Truckee, or Salmon Trout River, 

 the distance is forty-five miles. The trail is followed 

 over the hills of ashy earth, in which the mules often 

 sink to their bellies, and over a ground destitute of 

 any vegetation, except occasional clumps of wild sage. 

 A ridge of mountains is then ascended by an easy 

 inclined plain, and a view of the distant range of 

 Sierra Nevada is obtained on reaching the summit. 

 The intervening valley presents as barren a prospect 

 as the country immediately preceding it. Descending 

 into it, numerous boiling springs are found, which 

 often serve to delude the thirsty emigrants. But by 

 damming up the streams which flow from them, the 

 water may be cooled, and, although impregnated with 



