TO THE GREAT SOUTH PASS. 71 



ships I had experienced, for I had started on the through jour- 

 ney, and did not wish to back out now, and besides I was 

 desirous of seeing the interesting country lying between here 

 and the far distant Pacific. There were but two or three but 

 who were anxious to turn back, and it is no wonder. The 

 majority of our men had not joined the train for the purpose 

 of exploring the country over which they were to pass, but 

 because they were destitute of means, and saw here a chance to 

 keep from starving. Arriving at Fort Laramie, wearied and 

 disgusted with their profession, they wished to retrace their 

 steps, for they saw on ahead only a repetition of their 23ast toils 

 and privations. Some of these had families which they were 

 anxious to return to, others had taken up claims before their 

 departure, which now needed their attention, and the}^ feared 

 that it would be so late in the season before they could start 

 on their homeward voyage from Great Salt Lake, that the nar- 

 row gorges of the Rocky Mountains would be filled with deep 

 and impassable snows, so that they must either remain among 

 the Mormons till spring, or run the risk of being frozen to 

 death by returning before. Several applied for their discharges, 

 but they were refused, for as it was we had not a full comple- 

 ment of hands. 



Crossing the Laramie River at the ford, we passed through 

 the military establishment and commenced ascending the high, 

 barren hills which overlook it. Reaching the summit of this 

 ridge, we descended a dangerous rocky gorge leading to the 

 river bottom below, which is here about a half a mile in width. 

 Continuing along this at the base of the hills, the road at 

 length led us to the top of a bluff from which we descended by 

 a break-neck declivity to the river. A grove of tall timber 

 arose from the flat at the foot of the bluff", close by whose shore 

 we encamped after sunset, the bold, white outlines of which 

 formed a magnificent background to the scenery. On account 

 of grass we took the herd to the northern side of the river. So 



