KNDLiCH.] ITINERAET. 25 



cle less inviting, certainly, but no less picturesque. Swaying from side 

 to side with the motion of the horse, carrying a child or two before 

 them and one on the back, these creatures are the picture of unalterable 

 helplessness. Haggard and worn, when old, they more closely resemble 

 the type of a witch than anything else. Surprising to the stranger is 

 the fearlessness with which small urchins and girls sit on theu" ponies. 

 Gaudy colors and i)rofuse ornamentation of both man and animal lend 

 to the Indians a peculiar charm of appearance that clothes of ciNilized 

 cut camiot replace. As compared to some other tribes, the Shoshones 

 are careful of their dress, and produce a favorable imi^ression. With 

 our introductory "How!" and the same salute at parting, the main por- 

 tion of the conversation with many of the individuals was concluded, 

 and we proceeded on our march. After a long ride, during which we 

 followed the traU down beyond the foot-hills, we reached the Muddy 

 Eiver, and that evening made our fiftieth camp of the season. The 

 river was found to contain fijie trout, and we enjoyed a change fi'om ven- 

 ison to fish. 



August 3 we marched southeastward along the base of the mountains. 

 We there observed that a subsidiary chain separated from the main range, 

 forming a series of isolated hills and groups. Cut by the drainage from 

 the mountains, the continuity of this chain is repeatedly broken. From 

 the relative elevation of the highest points, and the geognostic character, it 

 is evident that a connection formerly existed. Making stations on the 

 gTanitic hills to the left of our line of march, we reached the Big Sandy 

 on Augiist 4. Where we camped the old wagon-road, formerly known 

 as the " Oregon trail," crosses the stream. Fremont travelled along this 

 route, sometimes called Lander's Cut-off, on his way to the ISTew Forks, 

 li'om where he ascended the i^eak that bears his name. During the time 

 of the Sweetwater mining excitement this road was much used by pros- 

 pectors, who examined the lower portions of the range in the expecta- 

 tion of finding paying metalliferous deposits. Game is plentiful in the 

 region of the Big Sandy, consisting of deer and antelope, and the stream 

 contains an abundance of very fine trout. 



Eeports have been current for a long time concerning waterfalls on 

 the Big Sandy above the crossing of the wagon-road. In order to satisfy 

 ourselves upon this point we examined the river on August 5. The 

 train proceeded along the road to the Little Sandy. Following up the 

 valley, we found this soon growing narrower, until it changed into a steep 

 caiion. Within this a growth of heavy timber lined the sides, and the 

 water came tumbling and rolling down over immense bowlders, tree 

 stumps, and fallen logs. In this way, owing to the steep fall of the river- 

 bed, a series of very fine cascades is formed. No definitely developed 

 fall was found, and, although we were disappointed, the wild character 

 of the cafion and the beauty of the rushing stream amply rewarded us 

 for our imsuccessful search. 



Leaving the caiion, we made a station on one of the isolated granitic 

 hills. At the base of this the wagon -road, which heretofore had remained 

 southwest of the granite ridge, curved to the northwest and continued 

 between the outer range and the western base of the main chain. The 

 next stream eastward issuing from the mountains is the Little Sandy. 

 Descending from the liiU upon which we had made our station we turned 

 southward, in order to camp on the Little Sandy, outside of the granitic 

 ridge. To our suri)rise, we found an old buff'alo bull quietly grazing 

 near a grove of quaking asp. A lively chase and a few shots brought 

 him down. He was evidently very old, and, having turned somewhat 

 morose, left his herd to enjoy life in solitude. His meat was so tough 



