478 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



has given this creek the name of Walnut Creek, from one of his trappers having brought 

 into his camp a twig of that tree found near its head; a tree scarcely known so far west 

 as this. Camped on Walnut Creek, having made 14J miles. 



November 8. — At about 6 miles from our camp of last night, we struck Ogden's River- 

 It is about 25 feet wide here and about 2 feet deep, with a tolerable current. Cross- 

 ing without difficulty, we struck the emigrant wagon- trail. Continuing down it for a 

 few miles, we encamped a little below where the river receives a tributary of consid- 

 erable size, coming from the northwest. Made to-day about 14 miles. 



November 9. — Still on the emigrant trail. This has proved of great assistance to 

 our tired animals ; they appear to have new life. Met to-day several Sho-sho-nee Indians, 

 who report three separate parties of emigrants having passed this fall. About four 

 miles above our camp of to-night are some hot springs, too hot to bear one's hand in. 

 Walnut Creek empties into the river about 1J miles below our camp. Made 19 miles. 



November 10. — Crossed the river several times. At one point, the high, rocky 

 ridges that bound the bottom came so close to the banks of the river, we were obliged 

 to pass in the water. The timber is principally cottonwood. 



November 1 1 . — We left the river to avoid a bend it makes. Ascending some grassy 

 hills, encamped at several springs. Bunch-grass plenty; 11 miles. 



November 12. — Continued among the hills for about five miles, when we again struck 

 the river. The country is becoming more open. The hills on the right make a wide 

 sweep from the river, returning to it again at our camp of this evening, November 13. 

 On the left bank the mountains are close and high and rugged in their character. Near 

 our camp cm this bank they make a bend forming a valley, through which one would 

 suppose the river to flow. The character of the rocks is changing; more bold, 

 basaltic. 



The river presents but little variety, always the same winding, crooked stream. 

 On the 23d November, we arrived at the sink or lake. This lake is about 8 miles 

 long by 2 in width ; it is marshy, overgrown with bulrushes, at the upper end. On 

 the eastern side is a range of low hills at the upper, and increasing in height at the 

 lower end of the lake. On the western side is a level plain of clay mixed with sand. 

 The country here becomes more desolate in its appearance. We have been fifteen 

 days on this river, making a distance of nearly 200 miles. The grass has been gen- 

 erally good. The only timber is a few cottonwood trees and willows; the latter are 

 in great abundance on its banks, though veiy small. The river-bottoms vary from 4 

 to 20 miles in width. Vegetation failing as we approach the sink, the soil becoming 

 more sandy and sterile. The Indians we first met were better clad than one would 

 suppose ; having also a few horses among them. As we approached the sink, how- 

 ever, they appeared much more indigent and shy, hiding from us on our approach ; 

 raising smokes and other signs of warning to their friends of the approach of strangers. 

 They belong to the Bannack tribe of Diggers, and are generally badly disposed toward 

 the whites. Walker was attacked some two years since by a party of them number- 

 ing, he thought, near 600 ; these he defeated without loss to his own party. The loss 

 on the part of the Indians numbered 16. Walker was engaged at that time exploring 

 for a route into California, through the Sierra Nevada. 



