ENDUCH] ITINERARY. 31 



few wolves lying in wait, under cover of a ditcli, were fiigLitened by our 

 approach, and the bullets we sent after them had the double effect of 

 accelerating their flight and clearing the valley of game. Having ex- 

 amined the ridges in question, we returned toward the Sweetwater, 

 Before us lay that narrow chasm in the granites which is known as the 

 "Devil's Gate." A vertical opening ai^pears in a small north to south 

 ridge of red granit<i. Its width at the base is about 80 feet, and the 

 height of the Avails 400 feet. Through this fissure the river has found 

 its way, rendering it impassable. Telegraph-poles, some wire, the 

 ruins of a few old houses, and the wagon-road rounding the granitic 

 point, speak of former enterprise in this region. For many years this 

 " gap " has been a prominent landmark, and travelers associated it with 

 the not far distant Eock Independence. In the earliest times of over- 

 land travel this latter received much attention. Its comparatively iso- 

 lated position and its location at the beginning of a pleasant portion of 

 the route have alike rendered it conspicuous. During the times of Indian 

 troubles this immediate locality was considered very dangerous. We 

 found our cami) at the eastern base of Independence Kock. This monu- 

 ment of early days is about 90 feet high, situated directly north of the river 

 near west longitude 107°. Its general form resembles the upper half of 

 a round loaf of bread more than anything else, and the level accumula- 

 tion of sand surrounding it renders it very prominent. For years it 

 has been the custom of travelers to inscribe their names upon this rock, 

 and we found more than one whicb has since become well known in con- 

 nection with western exploration. The oldest date we found was 1844. 

 Fremont's cross, which he cut into the rock, we did not see. 



During the evening a herd of cattle, numbering 2,800, slowly ap- 

 proached along the wagon-road, sending a cloud of dust high up into the 

 air. It was en route for Fort Laramie, and the drover had chosen this 

 short, though perhaps more dangerous, trail. Fomteen men accom- 

 panied the herd, weU mounted and fully armed. As we sat on the top 

 of Rock Independence, near sunset, and watched the busy movements of 

 the immense mass of cattle directly in front of us, the sight was a very 

 fascinating one. Mounted on good " cow-horses " the herders proceeded 

 to " round up " the stock, preparatory to camping for the night. After 

 this process had been completed, it was astonishing to see upon how 

 small an area so many animals could be crowded together. Camp re- 

 mained stationary during the next day, while we made some explorations 

 to the north and east. Sharply-cut bluffs extend northward to the edge 

 of the plateau, from where a good view was obtained of the couiitry be- 

 yond. We there saw the region which still belonged to the district 

 assigned to us for the season's work. Lack of time forced us to abandon 

 the examination of about 1,000 square miles. Eock Independence is 

 located on the eastern border of our district, and when we left it we had 

 but the southeastern portion to complete. On the Sweetwater, below 

 the rock, we found the ruins of houses, one of which had evidently been 

 an old stage-station, while the others probably sheltered members of the 

 Eleventh Ohio Volunteers. Graves close by contained the bodies of 

 some of the latter, and by their mute presence told a tale which is but 

 too often repeated on our western border. An old bridge across the 

 river and the remains of General Crook's recent camp were further evi- 

 dence of the presence of the white man. Having concluded our work in 

 that section of country, we proceeded to march to Eawlings Springs, on 

 the Union Pacific Eailroad, where we were to find oui* last month's 

 provisions. 



