RE RV [ 174 ] 
sight of an Indian who could not ride. He could not even guide the ani- 
mal, and appeared to have no knowledge of horses. The snow was three 
or four feet deep in the summit of the pass; and from this point the guide 
pointed out our future road, declining to go any further. Below us was a 
little valley ; and"beyond this, the mountains rose higher still, one ridge 
above another, presenting a rude and rocky outline. We descended rap- 
idly to the valley ; the snow impeded us but little; yet it was dark when — 
we reached the foot of the mountain. 
The day had been so warm, that our moccasins were wet with meltin 
snow ; but here, as soon as the sun begins to decline, the air gets suddenly 
cold, and we had great difficulty to keep our feet from freezing—our moc- 
casins being frozen perfectly stiff. After a hard day’s march of 27 miles, 
we reached the river some time after dark, and found the snow about a foot 
deep on the bottom—the river being entirely frozen over. We found 
a.comfortable camp, where there were dry willows abundant, and we soon 
had blazing fires. A little brandy, which I husbanded with great care, 
remained, and I do not know any medicine more salutary, or any drink 
{except coffee ) more agreeable, than this in a cold night alter a hard day’s 
march. Mr. Preuss questioned whether the famed nectar even possessed 
so exquisite a flavor. All felt it to be a reviving cordial. . 
The next morning, when the sun had not yet risen over the mountains, 
the thermometer was 2° below zero; but the sky was bright and pure, and 
the weather changed rapidly into a pleasant day of summer. I remained 
encamped, in order ta examine the country, and allow the animals a day 
‘of rest, the grass being good and abundant under the snow. 
The river is fifty to eighty feet wide, with a lively current, and very 
clear water. It forked a little above our camp, one of its branches com- 
ing directly from the south. At its head appeared to be a handsome 
ass; and from the neighboring heights we could see, beyond, a compara- 
tively low and open couniry, which was supposed to form the valley of the 
Buenaventura. The other branch issued from a nearer pass, in a direction 
8. 75° W., forking at the foot of the mountain, and receiving part of its 
waters from a little lake. I was in advance of the camp when our last 
uides had left us; but, so far as could be understood, this was the pass 
which they had indicated, and, in company with Carson, to-day I set out 
to explore it. Entering the range, we continued in a northwesterly direc- 
tion up the valley, which here bent to the right. It was a pretty, open bot- 
tom, locked between lofty mountains, which supplied frequent streams as 
we advanced. On the lower part they were covered with nut-pine trees, 
and above with masses of pine, which we easily recognised, from the darker 
color of the foliage. From the fresh trails which occurred frequently during 
the morning, deer appeared to be remarkably numerous in the mountain. 
We had now entirely left the desert country, and were on the verge of 
aregion which, extending westward to the shores of the Pacific, abounds : 
in large game, and is covered with a singular luxuriance ate life. 
The little stream grew rapidly smaller, and in about twelve miles we 
had reached its head, the last water coming immediately out of the moun- 
tain on the right; and this spot was selected for our next encampment. 
The grass showed well in sunny places; but in colder situations the snow 
was deep, and began to occur in banks, through which the horses found 
some difficulty in breaking a way. eis Ded 
To the left, the open valley co 
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