84 A CALIFORNIA TRAMP. 



The morning of the 30th came upon us with a heavy frost, 

 which whitened the valley and neighboring mountains like a 

 young snow. The whole party were ordered out early to 

 hunt up the oxen, which were interspersed in the jungle 

 bordering the neighboring branch. We broke corral at sun- 

 rise, and ascending a rocky hill, stood upon the summit 

 of a succession of barren ridges, which extended as far as the 

 eye could reach in every direction, a rugged depression mark- 

 ing the course of the river. We saw two lakes of considerable 

 size on our left, the shores of which were encrusted with 

 saleratus in nearly a pure state; so much, resembling that 

 substance, indeed, that it answered the purpose for raising 

 bread. While on this ridge, a wind-storm came on, which 

 nearly blinded us, as it blew the sharp sand directly in our 

 faces. We were obliged to walk in a bent posture while the 

 storm lasted, which was until we reached the Sweet Water at 

 noon. We encamped on the left bank of the river, near a 

 thicket of willows, which supplied us with fuel, and took the 

 herd a mile down the river to graze. This place is called the 

 Last Crossing. We met here a wagon-master and three 

 teamsters, who had come in advance of a return train which 

 was a few miles back on the road, and they agreed to join our 

 caravan, which was deficient in available men. Draper, the 

 wagon-master, who had been all the way to Camp Floyd and 

 who knew the road well,*was to act as pilot to our train over 

 the difficult route which yet remained between us and our 

 destination. We broke corral a little after noon, and crossing 

 the river for the last time, ascended a gravelly bluff, and 

 followed along the right bank of the river. We soon met the 

 returning " outfit," which contained the men belonging to 

 three trains, and some twenty wagons. 



The 31st we went but four miles, camping at noon close by 

 the river. Our employers had a herd a short distance up the 

 valley, from which we obtained a supply of fresh oxen, leav- 



