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167 [ 174 ] 
appearance of finer weather. The.road for several miles was extremely 
rocky, and consequently bad; but, entering after this a sandy country, it 
became very good, with no other interruption than the sage bushes, which 
covered the river plain so far as the eye could reach, and, with their uni- 
form tint of dark gray, gave to the country a gloomy. and sombre atte 
ance. All the day the course of the river has been between tebe the 
black volcanic rock, a dark line of the escarpment on the opposite 
pointing out its course, and sweeping along in foam at places wtieee the 
mountains which border the valley present always on the left two De 
the lower one a spur of the higher ; and, on the opposite side, the Sa 
river mountains are visible at a great distance. Having made 24 mi 
_we encamped about 5 o’clock on Rock créek—a stream having considera: 
ble water, a swift current, and wooded with willow. 
September 30 —Thermometer at sunrise 28°. In its progress towards 
the river, this creek soon enters a chasm of the voleanic rock, which in 
“places along the wall presents a columnar appearance ; and the road be- 
comes extremely rocky whenever it passes near its banks. It is only about 
twenty feet wide where the road crosses it, with a deep bed, and steep banks, 
covered with rocky fragments, with willows and a little grass on its narrow 
bottom. The soil appears to be full of caleareous matter, with whi 
rocks are incrusted. The fragments of ae which had been removed by ; 
the emigrants in making a road where we ascended from the bed of this 
creek were whitened with lime; and during the afternoon’s march [ Tre- 
—: in the soil a considerable quantity of caleareous concretions. To- 
wards evening the sages became more sparse, and the clear spaces were oc- 
cupied by tufts of green grass. The river still continued its course th 
a trough or open cajion ; and towards sunset we followed the trail of several 
wagons which had turned in towards Snake river, and encamped, as they 
had done, on the top of the escarpment. There was no grass here, 
soil among the sage being entirely naked ; but there is occasionally a litde 
bottom along the river, which a short ravine of rocks, at rare interval 
leaves accessible ; and by oné of these we drove am animals down, an 
found some tolerably good grass bordering the wat af 
Immediately opposite to us, a subterranean river aa out directly from 
the face of the escarpment, and falls in white foam to the river below. I 
the views annexed, you will find, with a sketch of this remarkable fall, a 
representation of the mural precipices which enclose the main river, ia 
which form its characteristic feature along a great portion of its course 
melancholy and strange-looking country—one of fracture, and violence, and 
fire 
We had brought with us, when we separated from the camp, a large 
gaunt ox, in appearance very poor ; but, being killed to-night, to the great 
Joy of the people, he was found to be remarkably fat. As usual at such oc- 
rences, the evening was devoted to gayety and feasting ; abundant fare 
sone made an epoch among us; and in this laborious life, in such a coun’ 
as this, our men had but little « else to enjoy. The temperature at sunset 
was 65°, with a clear sky and a very high wind, By the observation of 
‘the evening, the encampment was in longitude 114° 25° 04", and in” 
38’ 44", 
og 
tober 1.—The morning clear, with wind from the west, snie these 
mometer at 55°. We descended to the bottom, taking with. — i 
the purpose of visiting the fall in the opposite cliffs ; and while it was 
tude 42° 
Oc 
1 
= 
