490 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



follows the right hank of the San Francisco, but leaves it before he reaches its mouth, 

 and arrives at the Rio de San Xavier, which is evidently what we call Grand River. 

 Kscalante states that the Vutas call it "Tomiche," and he also says that, in the year 

 1765, D<»n Juan Maria de Ribera came to the San Xavier at a point a little below the 



lie describes the San Xavier as being formed by four smaller rivers or forks (of 

 course he means above his crossing-place), and this corresponds remarkably with the 

 Uncompagre River, Grand River, Smith's Fork, and another large fork, all of which are 

 represented on our maps as coming together a short distance above Escalante's sup- 

 posed crossing- It seems evident that, after crossing the San Xavier, he follows up 

 stream a different fork from what we call Grand River, but which fork he considers 

 the main river, or San Xavier. The mouth of this fork is indicated on the map of 

 Captain Gunnison's explorations. After having followed this fork for many leagues a 

 little east of north, Kscalante comes upon a large " ranch eria" of Indians, and pro- 

 cured from them a couple of guides. Hence he travels northwesterly until he arrives 

 at the San Rafael, quite a large river This is clearly the Blue River of our maps, the 

 main fork of Grand River, and which ought, therefore, to have been so called, instead 

 of the smaller and more southerly branch which goes by that name. He fords the San 

 Rafael at a place where it separates into two branches (probably forming an island), 

 and m other respects describes the locality in such a manner that it might easily be 

 recognized by a person acquainted with the river. From the San Rafael to the San 

 Clemente (now called White River) his course is about northwesterly, and thence 

 nearly west to the Rio de San Buenaventura, which he crosses at a very remarkable 

 ford. I his, together with its neighboring landmarks, he describes most minutely. 

 The San Buenaventura of Escalante is evidently Green River, and he strikes it in 

 about latitude 40 c 19 , and some 1 2 or 15 leagues above the mouth of White River, com- 

 ing from the eastward, and the Uintah River from the westward. He travels down the 

 right bank of the San Buenaventura to within a short distance of the mouth of the 

 Uintah (which he calls Rio de San Cosme), and then strikes westwardlv over to the 

 bitter, and follows ite northern bank until he crosses what is now called Duchesne 



Af T v' Vil ^ • ! ' iS ' aH<l makiU " hLS Wa ^ with £ reat labor westwardly through the 

 U M " mitams (to which Kscalante does not give any particular name), he 

 descends into tl u , more level country at the southern end of Lake Utah, and goes to 

 that lake winch he says the Indians call "Timpanogo." 



Of this lake and its vicinity he gives a very particular description. He speaks of 

 the livers that enter it, and ot its connection by a narrow outlet with a much larger 

 lake or body ot hikes, to the northward, which are ccr, ,„//, &c , ; but this l ar „ e h ^ y 

 ot salt water he did not visit. & y 



After spending a few days among the Lake Indians, or "Timpanogotzis " Esca 

 J"? I t t T l V Umh ^ aUd ™ t0 the Sevier River > which he call Santa 

 wl uVI. th« rh ■ r ^'f 1 ^ 8 ^ fifteen or more leagues, in the salt plain through 



, , ' un>, and then leaves it in order to follow a southerlv course ; ,'m 



and without coming upon the salt lake or marsh, which he is told that it enter d 

 subsequently leaves to run westwardly. ' 



