TRADE WITH THE YUTA INDIANS. 93 



Mr. Barrill had a fine equipment for travelling through 

 the wildernees. He had four excellent mules and one 

 swift horse, elegantly caparisoned. His packs comprised 

 some remarkable trophies, two or three beaver traps, 

 some rare articles of provision, the best of ammunition, 

 and a number of small tools for which use enough may 

 be found far away from the settlements. 



Leaving the station amid the drunken cheers of the 

 mountaineers, we sat out upon our great sporting expedi- 

 tion. We travelled leisurely, keeping a sharp look-out 

 for game. We passed Greenhorn creek without meeting 

 with any remarkable adventure. On Huerfano, or Or- 

 phan creek, so called from an isolated hutte, which stands 

 on a prairie near the stream, we fell in with a party of 

 Yuta Indians. They seemed very friendly, but I advised 

 Mr. Barrill to get out of their way as quickly as possible, 

 as they were likely enough to entertain treacherous de- 

 signs. He traded with them, however, for a few deer 

 skins, for the dressing of which they are justly celebrated. 

 We then pushed forward, and camped under the moun- 

 tain on Oak creek, in a strong position, which the two 

 of us could have maintained against a host. 



At this point is a tolerable pass through the mountains, 

 where a break occurs in a range, whence they gradually 

 decrease in magnitude until they meet the sierras of Mex- 

 ico , which connect the two mighty chains of the Andes 



