m EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



course with him, I believe him, to be a friend of the white man, and a good, respect- 

 able, and well-behaved Indian, I bespeak for him and his people the kind treatment 

 at the hands of the travelers through their country that their recent good conduct 

 entitle them to, and which, if they continue to receive, will insure all who may pass 

 through their country safety to their persons and property. 



"J. H. Simpson, 

 " Captain 'L'<>p<><jntplii<nl 'Engineers''' 



I have made it a point to treat the Indians I meet kindly, making them small 

 presents, which I trust will not be without their use in securing their friendly feel- 

 ing and conduct. A great many of the difficulties our country has had with the 

 Indians, according to my observation and experience, have grown out of the bad 

 treatment they have received at the hands of insolent and cowardly men, who, not 

 gifted with the bravery which is perfectly consistent with a kind ;in<l generous heart, 

 have, when they thought they could do it with impunity, maltreated them ; the conse- 

 quence resulting that the very next body of whites they have met have not unfre- 

 (piently been made to suffer the penalties which in this way they are almost always 

 sure to inflict indiscriminately on parties, whether they deserve it or not. 



The mountain range which we have just crossed, and near the foot of which we 

 are encamped, is called the We-a-bah Mountains, or the mountains, as Ute Pete says, 

 of the fluttering or night bird. It is composed of sandstones, siliceous conglomerates, 

 and, distant from the road, of bluish-gray limestone. The general name for mountain, 

 among the Sho-sho-nees, seems to be Toy-ap. The pass we have come through I call 

 after the chief, Cho-kup's Pass. 



May 20, Camp No. 17, west slope of Cho-kup's Pass.-— Altitude above the sea, 

 6,018 feet. The dragoon I sent out with the guide returned last night at 10 o'clock 

 and reports water and grass 15 miles off, in the direction of pass, through the next range, 

 ahead. Thermometer at 4.30 a, m., 38°.75. Moved at 5.30 o'clock. In 1 mile reach 

 foot of pass in Pah-hun-nupe, or Water Valley. This valley apparently closed at south 

 end, say 25 miles off; at north end, some 30 miles off; low passes apparently at either 



end. The indications are that this valley can be passed througl 



i ov, 



?v to a more southern, 



southeastern, or southwestern valley by practicable passes, a h 



ICt ( 



>f significance on our 



return route. Sand-hill cranes, curlew, and other marsh Inl- 



ils i 



ibound in the valley, 



and antelope are. seen in the distance. Six and eight-tenths r 



nile. 



I farther brings us to 



a large spring, in marsh, where we water. Plenty of grass 



ab< 



nit it, though not of 



best quality. This valley is in some portions argillaceous ; 



md 



in some arenaceous. 



The latter glitter with small crystals of quartz, of very pure diameter, which we 

 amuse ourselves in picking up, and facetiously call California diamonds. The appel- 

 lation, doubtless, as veritable as the epithet of ruby, which seems to belong to the 

 precious stones said to have been found in Ruby Valley. A great deal of alkaline 

 marsh, and water in small lakes, north of route. Altitude of valley above the sea, 

 5,660 feet. 



In 5.6 miles more reach a large spring on west side of valley, at foot of mountain 

 range, where we encamp in pure salt grass, which the animals eat with avidity. 

 It is, however, not abundant. Bunch-grass can be found in canon back of camp. 



