254 A MINIAITURE OCEAN. 



in the time of Cortez; since which their posterity have lived here unknown 

 to the rest of the world. 



Tciught by tlie bitter experience of past ages to hate and distrust the 

 white man, and still cherishing their traditionary animosity, they permit 

 n >ne of that race to return who visit them, and, from the pecuiiariiy of 

 iheir position and jealous caution, have successfully maintained au uniutei-- 

 rupted ill cog. 



Several trappers rendezvoused at the Uintah being about to leave for 

 Fort Hall, on the head waters of the Columbia river, 1 improved the oppor- 

 tunity of bearing tliem company. 



My necessary arrangements were completed simply by exchanging horses ; 

 and, on the mornmg of Oct. 29th, I bade farewell to my new acquaintances 

 Rt the Fort, and joined the party en route, which, including myself and 

 compagnons de voyage from Fort Lancaster, numbered eleven in all, well 

 mounted and armed. 



The weather proved delightful considering the lateness of the season, 

 and our journey was rapid and uninterrupted. 



On leaving the Uintah we continued northward, over a rough country, for 

 some twenty-five miles, and passed the night at Ashley's Fork,* with a 

 small village of Snake Indians. 



Resuming our course through a mountainous region, diversified by beauti- 

 ful little valTeys, late in the afternoon of the third day we camped in the 

 vicinity of Brown's-hole. 



Bearing from thence a southwesterly course, two days afterwards we 

 arrived at'^Bear river, and obtained, from an adjoining eminence, a distant 

 view of the Great Salt Lake. 



Continuing down the river a few miles, we struck camp, and remained 

 §ome three days for the purpose of hunting. 



Being unwilling to leave the vicinity without a more perfect observation 

 of this vast inland sea, I improved the interval for that purpose, and, in a 

 few hours' ride, came to a point which overlooked its briny waters and 

 spread out before me an object of so much interest to all beholders. 



Its whilom waves now lay slumbering upon its bosom, for not a breath 

 of air stirred to awake them from their transient repose, save that caused 



ruined cities of Central America, puzzles us still more ; and, as the feeble ray of con- 

 jecture is the only source from nheuce hght may be thrown upon this mysterious sub- 

 ject, we would prefer the suf^gestion, that the progenitors of the Munchies, or white 

 hidians, might have bien tlicir builders; or, if the reported existence of the city of 

 the mountains as stated in the text be true, might not the ancestors of the people now in- 

 liabiling it liave had some hand in tlieir original construction? But, if the latter bs 

 tl;e case, and these relics are not the product of 3Iexican civilization, the queslioa 

 yet remains unanswered, viz : wlio are the residents of that city and wiieuce is 

 tlieir origin I 



♦This stream is named in memory of Gen. Ashley, of Mo., who, while engaged in 

 the fur trade, attempted to descend the Colorado in boats, thinking thus to reach St. 

 Louis by a direct water communication! However, he was compelled to relinquish 

 his strange enterprise at tlie mouth of tliis creek, on account of the difliculty and 

 danger attendant upon a further progress. 



