198 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



Visitors at Uintah. — Adventures of a trapping party. — ^The Munchies, or white Indi- 

 ans ; some account of them. — Amusements at rendezvous. — Mysterious city, and 

 attempts at its exploration, — speculation relative to its inhabitants. — Leave for Fort 

 Hall. — Camp at Bear river. — Boundary between the U. States and Mexico.- - 

 Green valleys, &c. — Country en route. — Brown's-hole. — Geological observations. — 

 Soda, Beer, and Steamboat springs ; their peculiarities. — Minerals. — Valley of Bear 

 river ; its fertility, timber, and abundance of wild fruit. — Buffalo berries — Superior 

 advantages of this section. — Mineral tar. 



*o- 



OuR stay at the Uintah was prolonged for some ten days. The gentle- 

 man in charge at this post spared no pains to render my visit agreeable, 

 and, in answer to enquiries, cheerfully imparted all the information in his 

 possession relative to the localities, geography, and condition of die sur- 

 rounding country. 



A trapping party from the Gila came in soon after our arrival, bringing 

 with them a rich quantity of beaver, which they had caught during the pre- 

 ceding winter, spring, and summer upon the affluents of that river and the 

 adjacent mountain streams. They had made a successful hunt, and gave 

 a glowing description of the country visited, and the general friendliness of 

 its inhabitants. 



The natives, in some parts of their range, had never before seen a white 

 man, and, after the first surprise had subsided, treated them with great de- 

 ference and respect. These simple and hospitable people supplied them 

 with corn, beans, and melons, and seemed at all times well disposed. 



The only difficulty encountered with them took place upon one of the 

 northern tributaries of the Gila. Two or three butcher-knives and other 

 little articles being missing from camp, the trappers at once accused the 

 Indians of stealing, and demanded their prompt restoration. The latter 

 they were either unable or unwilling to do, and thereupon a volley of riflery 

 was discharged among the promiscuous throng, with fatal effect. Several 

 were killed and others wounded, and the whole troop of timorous savages 

 immediately took to their heels, nor dared to return again. 



In narrating the events of their long excursion, an account was given of 

 visiting the Munchies, a tribe of white Indians. 



What added much to the interest I felt in this part of their story, was the 

 recollection of an article which went the newspaper rounds several years 

 since, stating the existence of such a tribe. I had disbelieved it at the time; 

 but this, and subsequent corroborative evidence, has effectually removed from 

 my mind all doubts upon the subject. 



Our trappers had remained with the Munchies for four weeks, and spoke 

 of them in high terms. 



In reference to theii color they were represented as being of a much 

 f-^irer complexion than Europeans generally, a thing easily explained if we 

 remember this one fact, i. e., my informants must have spoken compara- 



