58 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIK OF UTAH. 



are encamped, one of them named Lott Huntingdon, who says he has charge of the 

 mail company's operations from Pleasant Valley to the Humboldt River. They were 

 in search of mules, which they reported as having been run off by the Indians last 

 night. They were sure of it because they had tracked them. Fortunately we had 

 fallen in with the mules, and they had joined our herd. It was also in this ravine 

 where I saw a deserted wick-e-up, in which Mr. Lee found a charred human skull — 

 whether the result of cannibalism, sacrifice, or accident, we do not know. 



The ravine in which we are encamped is also well grassed, and there, are others 

 of the same character in the vicinity. 



The Un-go-we-ah Mountain-range, which we have just crossed, is composed of 

 porphyritic rocks and altered stratified rocks (quartzite, slaty rocks, and siliceous lime- 

 stones), heaved up to the summit. 



Called at the mail-station. I find the mail company's road-party, consisting of eight 

 men, have worked the road no farther than this camp. From this point onward we 

 will have to open the road ourselves. They report a stream in the bottom of Steptoe 

 Valley, six miles distant, which we will have to cross, and cannot do without bridging. 

 Breadth 25 feet. They have been hauling logs to the spot for the purpose, and have 

 nearly all that will be required. They promise to haul the remainder to-morrow, so 

 as to enable us to build the bridge. The mail accommodations at this station are a 

 shed and tent. 



May 13, Camp No. 11, east slope of Steptoe Valley. — Altitude above the sea, 6,600 

 feet. Last evening it commenced blowing very hard, and this morning we have a 

 cold, driving snow-storm from the east. Thermometer, at 5.45 a. m., 34°. 25. Lieu- 

 tenant Murry and myself left, with a small party of soldiers and teamsters, to make 

 the bridge in Steptoe Valley, referred to yesterday, the balance remaining in camp. 

 By noon the bridge was finished except a few logs, which the mail company promised 

 to haul and put on. Lieutenant Murry deserves credit for his energy in this work. 

 It snowed and rained at times during the day, till in the afternoon the clouds broke 

 away, and the sun came out bright. The wind was high all day. 



Mr. Huntingdon has been in this region during the past winter, and says there 

 were six feet of snow in the upper portion of the canon, in which the mail-station is, 

 and two feet at the station. The mail party also infoim us that Mr. Egan, the princi- 

 pal agent of Chorpenning & Company, tried twice to get south from Ruby Valley, 

 toward Genoa, in Carson Valley, but was once defeated by the snow, and once busi- 

 ness in Salt Lake City diverted him. It is from this point, near the southern extremity 

 of Ruby Valley, Hasting^ Pass, where we reach it, that I contemplate striking off 

 southwest wardly from the route we are following, and shall attempt to get through 

 with our wagons to Genoa in that direction. 



The mail from Camp Floyd passed this afternoon, on mule-back, to California, 

 and the earner reported two stages at Pleasant Vallev Station, just through from Salt 

 Lake City. 



May 14, Camp No. 11, east slope of Steptoe Valley.— Weather still cold. Ther- 

 mometer, at 5 a. m., 28°.25. The animals have been in good grass at this camp, and 

 have recuperated by the day's halt. Moved at 5,30 o'clock. Course westwardly, 



