92 A CALIFORNIA TRAMP. 



can only describe the sounds it gave rise to. I never heard 

 such a bedlam of swearing and yelling as within the gloom of 

 its gorges. At Platte crossing and other difficult points I 

 thought I had heard the acme of malediction ; but to Provo 

 Canon was reserved the dubious honor of being the scene of 

 the cap-sheaf of past efforts. To say that the ox-drivers swore 

 like troopers, or " like our army in Flanders," would be draw- 



DowN Provo Canon. 



ing it a world too mild. The air resounded, and the high rocks 

 echoed with imprecations worthy of pirates. There was the 

 broad-mouthed oath of the Missourian, the scientific curse of 

 the Yankee, the guttural imprecation of the German, and the 

 broguey expletive of him from the Emerald sod. To these 

 were added the " carajos,^' " carambos,^' " cozedos " and arraign- 

 ments of derelict saints from the tongues of the Mexi- 



