124 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



there are water and grass 10 miles beyond that locality. This mode of guiding me by 

 notes stuck up, depending upon the contingency of 'my reaching or getting them, is a 

 new feature introduced by the guide since I have approached the desert, and is en- 

 tirely unauthorized. It is true that he sent word by Private Nune, the last man he 

 sent in, that I could continue to follow the Mormon road, and that if anything was 

 wrong he would send a man back to notify me. But this is placing me entirely at his 

 mercy, and this I do not choose to sanction. I must know what lies before me. The 

 sergeant alone came back. Collamer and Sanchez continued on to examine the water 

 and grass ahead, and are to return to us at Rush Pond, where the note was found. I 

 have concluded, therefore, to again move forward. 



Started at 5.45 and retraced our track to our old camp-ground, No. 25. A mile 

 and a half farther brought us, at 1 o'clock, to the Rush Pond reported yesterday by 

 Sergeant Barr. Journey, 20.3 miles. The rain yesterday in this valley must have 

 been very heavy. The sage-brush has been torn up by the roots and carried as if by 

 a flood down an arroyo and lodged on either side clear over its banks. Not finding 

 either Collamer or Sanchez here as I expected, and noticing with my reconnoitering 

 glass two persons coming toward us from the canon ahead of us, out of the House 

 range, I have ordered a halt till they could come up, and make their report. At 2.30 

 they arrived, and proved to be Koenig and Sanchez. Koenig reporting water and grass 

 15 miles ahead, and it being impossible for us to make the distance to advantage to-day, 

 we go into camp where we are, at the Rush Pond. A rather poor camp, but the rushes 

 will prove sufficient for our animals, and the water is sufficiently abundant. 



Koenig has come in all tattered arid torn. He has been two days without food, 

 and all on account of the guides neglecting to send a man back to report every camp 

 instead of sticking up notes which I might not, and did not, at the proper time, get. 

 His horse giving out, he was obliged to walk a great deal on foot. Collamer and 

 Sanchez happily met him this morning in the canon ahead, waiting for us, and relieved 

 him of his troubles. Collamer let him have his mule, and remains ahead of us till we 



Showers of rain around this afternoon, with slight thunder and lightning. There 

 is a spring to the north of our camp, so Sanchez reports, s.nne 5 miles off, near a small 

 mound, or hill, but no grass; he found it when examining the country on our outward 

 route. 



July 26, Camp No. 27, Rush Fowl, White Volley.— Longitude, 113° 31' 54" ; lat- 

 itude, 39° 19' 37"; altitude above the sea, 4,350 feet; thermometer at 5 a. m., 56°. 

 Decamped at 5.30 o'clock. Continue on old Mormon road, north of east to mouth of 

 canon, leading to pass through House range. To get to it, cross an alkali flat, 3 miles 

 wide, which, in wet weather, must cut up very much. It can be avoided, doubtless. In- 

 bearing around more southwardly. After crossing flat, pass through a mile of sand 

 knolls, where the pulling is difficult. Reach foot of canon, 8 miles from camp, and 4.1 

 miles further, by a good grade, except near summit, where for about 100 yards it is 

 rather steep, we reach the culminating point of pass. Elevation above the sea, 6,674 

 feet. The bluffs at the entrance of this canon are tremendously high and massive ; 

 that on the right very high, probably 1,500 feet, and like a dome. Call the canon, 



