k 



ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 151 



The country then became comparatively level again to the next 

 range, where a mountain was to be ascended of the same height 

 as the last. Here we dismounted and led our horses, it being 

 impracticable, in their present state, to ride them. It was the 

 most toilsome march I ever made, and we were all so much fatigued, 

 when we arrived at the summit, that rest was as indispensable to us 

 as to our poor jaded horses. Here we made a noon camp, with 

 a handful of grass and no water. This last article appears very 

 scarce, the ravines affording none, and our dried salmon and 

 kamas bread were eaten unmoistened. The route, in the after- 

 noon, was over the top of the mountain, the road tolerably level, 

 but crowded with stones. Towards evening, we commenced • 

 descending again, and in every ravine and gulley we cast our 

 anxious eyes in search of water ; we even explored several of 

 them, where there appeared to exist any probability of success, 

 but not one drop did we find. Night at length came on, dark 

 and pitchy, without a moon or a single star to give us a ray of 

 light; but still we proceeded, depending solely upon the vision 

 and sagacity of our horses to keep the track. We travelled 

 steadily until about 9 o'clock, when we saw ahead the dark out- 

 line of a high mountain, and soon after heard the men who rode 

 in front, cry out, joyously, at the top of their voices, " water ! 

 xcater r It was truly a cheering sound, and the words were 

 echoed loudly by every man in the company. We had not 

 tasted water since morning, and both horses and men have been 

 suffering considerably for the want of it. 



2«i. — Captain W. and two men, left us early this morning for 

 Walla-walla, where they expect to arrive this evening, and send 

 us some provision, of which we shall be in need, to-morrow. 



Our camp moved soon after, under the direction of Captain 

 Thing, and in about four miles reached Utalla river, where it 

 stopped, and remained until 12 o'clock. 



As we were approaching so near the abode of those in whose 



