Got a number of the Sho-sho-nee words throu-h IV IVte from n Sho-sho-nee 

 by name Tar-a-ke-gan. Tt is to be regretted that the necessity of sending Pete 

 always with theguide, so as to enable him to «M information from the Indians in rela- 

 tion to the country south of us, makes it impossible for mo to have thai convene with 



the Indiana I meet which I would like in order to obtain a knowledge <,f their man- 

 ners, customs, &e. l>ut to get a oym.i1 wagon-road, if possible, to the south of us, is 

 of the first importance, and therefore the guide cannot dispense with his services. 

 Besides, though young, he is a capital voyayrur, and well acquainted with signs of 

 water, grass, &c. ; and already in this respect the chief guide has found him invalua- 

 ble. I can never forget the kindness of 1 >r. Hurt in recommending him to me. 



May 17, Camp No. 14, Huntim/don's Spriay, cast slope of J! ah,, Valley.— Altitude 

 above the sea, 7,190 feet. The guide leaves us again this morning with a Sho-sho-nee 

 Indian, Tar-a-ke-gan, to go south, and continue his examination of the country south 

 and west, and will join us at our first camp after leaving Ruby Valley. Pete and 

 two others of the party accompany him. 



summit of Too-muntz range (7,2X3 feet above the sea,) pass down a canon, which 1 

 call Hurry's Canon, after Lieut. Alexander Murrv, the commanding officer of the 

 escort. The rocks are more calcareous and slaty than those we passed vestenlav, and 

 are of yellowish color. Some little work done in the canon, to allow the wagons to 

 get along. In 3.9 miles we reach the mouth of the canon, and immediately cross 

 Ruby Valley, requiring 5.3 miles more of travel to mail-station in the valley, where 

 we encamp at 9.30 a, m. Journev, 9.2 miles. Road good. 



At our camp is a spring which sends out a small stream of pure water, flowing 

 along the valley northwardly. Kuby Valley is well supplied farther north with 

 streams from the Humboldt Mountains, which limit it on its west side; and some 25 

 or 30 miles north of us, in the valley, is said to be a large lake, which doubtless is 

 Beckwith's Lake Franklin. 



This valley, like all those we have crossed, has a dirty-yellowish, forbidding ap- 

 pearance; is covered with artrmis'ia, and very level, and has a thirsty appearance, though 

 doubtless farther north it is more inviting. It is said to extend north as far as the 

 Humboldt River, a distance of GO to 70 miles, and has a great deal of cultivable soil 

 in that direction, which is capable of irrigation. At the smith, about 10 miles from 

 din by the mountains, which close in from the east and west 



our camp, it is hemmed m Dy me mouniams, wnicn 



sides, showing, however, a pass through to the valley lying to the south. The breadth 



of the valley where we cross it is about 9 miles. 



Mr. Jarvis, the Indian agent, has commenced, I am informed, an Indian farm in 

 this valley, about 40 miles to the north of our camp, for the Sho-sho-nees. An abun- 

 dance of grass, water, cedar, and pine is found in the mountains on either side of the 

 valley, particularly in the Humboldt range skirting it on the west, and it is repre- 



having been more than one-half foot deep in it. In Hastings Pass, which leads 

 through the Humboldt range into the valley of the south fork of the Humboldt, the 

 snow was 4 feet deep. 



