— 174 J 120 
-of finding some convenient point of passage for the road of emigration, 
which would enable it to reach, on a more direct line, the usual ford o 
the Great Colorado—a place considered as determined by the nature of the 
~country beyond that river. It is singular that, immediately at the foot of 
the mountains, I could find no one sufliciently acquainted with them to 
guide us to the plains at their western base ; but the race of trappers, who 
formerly lived in their recesses, has almost entirely disappeared—dwindled 
perfectly well known, as he had grown gray among them. 
Through this portion of the mountains, also, are the customary roads of 
the war parties going out against the Utah and Shoshonee Indians; and 
occasionally parties from the Crow nation make their way down to the 
southward along this chain, in the expectation of surprising some strag- 
ging lodges of their enemies. Shortly before our arrival, one of their par- 
ties had attacked an Arapaho village in the vicinity, which they had found 
unexpectedly strong ; and their assault was turned into a rapid flight and 
a hot pursuit, in which they had been compelled to abandon the animals 
they had rode, and escape on their war horses. 
* Into this uncertain and dangerous region, small parties of three or four 
trappers, who now could collect together, rarely ventured; and consequently 
it was seldom visited and little known. Having determined to try the 
passage by a pass through a spur of the mountains made by the Céche-a- 
éa-Poudre river, which rises in the high bed of mountains around Long’s 
peak, I thought it advisable to avoid any encumbrance which would. oc- 
asion detention, and accordingly again separated the party into two. divi- 
sions—one of which, under the command of Mr. Fitzpatrick, was directed 
to cross the plains to the mouth of Laramie river, and, continuing thence 
its route along the usual emigrant road, meet me at Fort Hall, a post be- 
longing to the Hudson Bay Company, and situated on Snake river, as it is 
commonly called in the Oregon Territory, although better known to us as 
uewis’s fork of the Columbia. The latter name is there restricted to one 
of the upper forks of the river. 3 : 
_ Our Delaware Indians having determined to return to their ho 
necessary to provide this party with a good hunter; and I ac 
homes, it 
accordingly 
s EXD: ng the Indians. In courage and profes- 
was 2 formidable rival to Carson, and constantly afterwards 
est and most efficient of the party, and in difficult situa- 
lculable value. Hiram Powers, one of the men belonging 
tty, was discharged at this place, Fy 
aiscna 
n’s fort, 
6. 
= 
¥ 
: 
a 
