ie] 222 
The road led us upthe creek, which here becomes a rather rapid moun- 
tain stream, filty feet wide, between dark-looking hills without snow ; but 
immediately beyond them rose snowy mountains on either side, timbered 
principally with the nut pine. On the lower grounds, the general height” 
of this tree is twelve to twenty feet, and eight inches the greatest diameter ; 
it is rather branching, an@ has a peculiar and singular but pleasant odor. ° 
We followed the river for only a short distance along a rocky trail, and 
crossed it at a dam which the Indians made us comprehend had been built 
to catch salmon trout. The snow and ice were heaped up against it three 
or four feet déep entirely across the stream. ene 
Leaving here the stream, which runs through impassable caiions, we con- 
‘tinued our road over a very broken country, passing through a low gap be- 
tween the snowy mountains. The rock which occurs immediately in the 
pass has the appearance of impure sandstone, containing scales of black 
mica. This may be only a stratified lava; on issuing from the gap, the 
compact lava, and other voleanic products usual in the country, again oc- 
curred. We descended from the gap into a wide valley, or rather basin, and 
encamped on a small tributary to the last stream, on which there was very 
good grass. It was covered with such thick ice, that it required some labor . ; 
with pickaxes to make holes for the animals to drink. The banks are 
_ lightly wooded with willow, and on the upper bottoms are sage and Fre- 
montia with ephedra occidentalis, which begins to occur more frequently. 
» The day has been asummer one, warm and pleasant ; no snow on the trail, 
. Which, as we are all on foot, makes travelling more agreeable. The hunt- 
_ ers went into the neighboring mountains, but found no game. We have 
~ five Indians in camp to-night. _ 
ee 25.—The morning was cold and bright, and as the sun rose the 
day became beautiful. A party of twelve Indians eame down from the 
dian, his friendly salutation consisted in offering a few nuts to eat and to 
trade ; their only arms were bows and flint-pointed arrows. It appeared _ 
were gradually entering the heart of the mountains. Accompanied by all 
the Indians, we ascended a long ridge, and reached a pure spring at the 
__and where the greater part of them left us. Our pacific conduct had quieted 
._ their alarms ; and though at war among each other, yet all confided in us. 
Thanks to the combined effects of power and kindness—for our arms in- 
red respect, and our little presents and good treatment conciliated their 
dence. Here we suddenly entered snow six inches deep, and the 
| ittle rocky with volcanic fragments, the mountain appearing 
is be osed of such rock. The timber consists principally of nut pines, 
NUS. 7, { 1 es 
us,) which here are of larger size—1I2 to 15 inch 
of cones lying on the ground, where the ‘Indians have 
om 
