213 [ 174 J 
grassy hollow, I determined to follow it, in the hope that it would Wintlaet 
us to'astream. We followed a winding descent for several miles, the hol- 
low gradually broadening into little meadows, and becoming the bed of a 
stream aS we advanced; and towards night we were agreeably surprised 
by the appearance of a willow grove, where we found a sheltered camp, 
with wWater‘and excellent ‘and abundant grass. The grass, which was cov- 
ered by the snow on the bottom, was long and green, and the face of the 
mouwiitain had a more favorable character in its vegetation, being smoother, 
and covered with good bunch grass. The snow was deep, and the night ; 
very cold. A broad trail had entered the valley from the right, and a short — 
distance below the camp were the tracks where a considerable party of 
Indians had passed on horseback, who had turned out to the left, appa- 
rently with the view of crossing the motintains to the eastward. 
December 30.—After following the stream for a few hours in a south- 
easterly direction, it entered a canon where we could not follow; but de- 
terminéd not to leave the stream, we searched a passage below, where we 
could regain it, and entered a regular narrow valley. The water had now 
more the appearance of a flowing creek ; several times we passed groves 
of willows, and we began to feel ourselves out of all difficulty. From our 
position, it was reasonable to conclude that this stream would find its outlet 
in Mary’s lake, and conduet us into a better country. We,had descended 
rapidly, and here we found very little snow. On both sides, the mountains 
showed often stupendous and curious-looking rocks, which at several places 
so narrowed the valley, that scarcely a pass “was left for the camp. It was 
a singular place to travel through—shut up in the earth, a sort of chasm, 
the little strip of grass under our feet, the rough walls of bare rock on 
either hand, and the narrow strip of sky above. The grass to- base was 
abundant, and we encamped in high spicits 
December 
ore us again lay one + 
whieh brought us in a few miles, a by a descent of several hundred 
into’ ndther “pin broad basin, in whieh we found the bed of a stream, a 
obtained sufficient water by cutting the ice. The grass on the bottoms 
was salt and unpalatable. 
Here we eoncluded the year 1843, and our new year’s eve was rather 
a gloomy one. The result of our journey began to be very uncertain; the 
country was singularly unfavorable to travel; the grasses being frequently 
of a very unwholesome character, and the hoofs of our animals were so 
worn and cut by the rocks, that many of them were lame, and could 
New Year's day, 1844 844.—We continued down the valley, between a dry- 
i black ridge on the left and a more snowy and high one on the 
r road was bad along the bottom, =r, broken by gullies and 
31 2 tell an hour’s ride this a Wok our hopes were once 
mc 
right. 
impeded by sage, and sandy on the hills, where there is not a blade of © 
ass, nor does any a r on the mountains. The soil in man places” 
Sonllintw Of of a fine potdery sand, covered with a saline siateiccdied and 
the general charaeter of the country is desert. During the day we di- 
our course towards a black cape, at the foot of which a column of 
smoke indicated hot springs. 
—wWe were on the road early, the face of the country 
& 
by fallbap now: We travelled along the bed of the stream, in ity Figen os 
