80 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



on his account. Meantime I sent out Pete, Payte, and Sanchez to examine the pass 

 directly to our west, up Smith's Creek, and they have returned and report it impracti- 

 cable for wagons without a great deal of bridging and other work. (The diaiy of my 

 return route Will show, however, that on our return we got through this pass without 

 any great difficulty ; and though some work is necessary to make the road through 

 it what it should be, yet in grade it was far better, though 4 miles farther, than by the 

 way of the pass to the south of it, which we took in our outward route.) 



Payte and party report they saw Diggers in the mountains to the west of us 

 to-day, but that they fled as soon as they were perceived. They found one little 

 fellow, about four years of age, hid behind a sage-bush, but as soon as their backs 

 were turned the youngster put off as fast as his legs would carry him. 



On our return we ascertained that the Pe-er-re-ah range, which we crossed on 

 the 28th, is the boundary between the Sho-sho-nee Diggers (or what has been called, 

 as I think erroneously, the Pah-utes) and the Pi-utes, as the Un-go-we-ah range 

 seems to be the boundary between the Sho-sho-nee Diggers and the Go-shoots. ^ Why 

 the Pah-utes should have been thus called I am at a loss to comprehend, for their lan- 

 guage is Sho-sho-nee, and not Ute, and, therefore, they are more certainly a people 

 derived from, or cognate with, that tribe than the Ute. I also notice that the^ Pi-utes 

 and Pah-utes are designated on the maps as one and the same people. This is also a 

 mistake, and doubtless has arisen from similarity of their names. They are all, how- 

 ever, more or less Diggers; that is, they live on roots, rats, lizards, insects, grass- 

 seeds, &c. 



May 31 Camp No. 2G, Smith's Creek— Thermometer at 5.20 a. m., 29 . Mr. Keese, 

 the guide, not returning last night, I have thought it expedient to send out Payte to 

 explore to the south and west, giving l.im special instructions in the premises, so that 

 in case any accident may have happened to Mr. Reese we may at once move forward to 

 his rescue. Pete and Sanchez and two dragoons accompany him. He is to keep me 

 advised daily of the proper places to encamp ahead. The party take three days' pro- 

 visions. One of the party returned at 1 o'clock, and reported grass and water 10 

 miles ahead in a southwest direction, and a pass near, which looked favorably for 



alone. He has hitherto been very prompt in fulfilling his engagements, riding some- 

 times late at night, and, on one occasion, all night, to effect it. 1 thereto™ have sent 

 out Mr. McCarthy and two dragoons to track him, and at the same time have ordered 

 the whole party forward to the water and grass reported yesterday. This is in the 

 direction in which he told Sanrhez he would cross the next, or Se-day-o, Mountain. 



Just after commencing the inarch, I noticed apparently an old, decrepit-looking 

 man approaching the train from the west side, and supporting himself by a couple of 

 crutches or sticks. At first I took him for a Digger Indian. < >n more ch.se scrutiny, 

 however, I found it to be Mr. Reese, our guide, who, as soon as we reached him, sank 

 down exhausted into a sage-bush. His clothes were nearly torn off him, and altogether 

 he presented a most pitiable aspect. As soon as he could collect his mind he informed 



