[174] 228 
tions. I told them that we had come from a very far country, having been. 
travelling now nearly a year, and that we were desirous simply to go across 
the mountain into the country of the other whites. There were two who 
appeared particularly intelligent—one, asomewhatold man. He toldme 
that, before the snows fell, it was six sleeps to the place where the whites 
lived, but that now it was impossible to cross the mountain on account of 
e deep snow ; and showing us, as the others had done, that it was over 
our heads, he urged us strongly to follow the course of the river, which he 
said would conduct us toa — in which there were many, large fish. 
There, he said, were many people ; there was no snow on the ground ; 
and we might remain there until the spring. From their descriptions, we 
were pag a to judge that we had encamped on the upper water of the 
n Trout river. . It is hardly necessary to say that our communication 
was as by signs, as we understood nothing of their language ; but they 
Ori Says aga pi rapidly and vehemently, explaining what they con- 
d the folly of our intentions, and urging us to go down to the lake. 
, a word signifying snow, we very soon learned to know, from its 
freqdlent repetition. I told him that the men ant the horses were strong, 
that we would break a road through the snow; and spreading be- 
fore him our bales of scarlet cloth, and seleein: showed him what we 
would givefor a guide. It was necessary to obtain one, if possible ; for - 
had determined here to attempt the passage of the mountain. Pallin 
bunch of grass from the ground, after a short discussion among ‘pam ten, 
the oldman made us comprehend, that if we could break through the snow, 
at the end of three days we would come down upon grass, which he 
showed us would be about six inches high, and where the ground was en- 
tirely free. So far,he said, he had been in hunting for elk ; but beyond that, 
(and he closed his eyes) he had seen nothing; but there was one amon 
them who had been to the whites, and, going out of the lodge, he returned 
with a young man of very intelligent appearance. Here, said he, is a 
ung man who has seen the whites with his own eyes ; ine he swore, 
first by the sky, and then by the ground, that what he said was true. With 
a large present of goods, we prevailed upon this young man to be our 
guide, and he acquired among us the name Mélo—a word signifying friend, 
which they used very frequently. He was thinly clad, and nearly barefoot ; 
his moccasins bet about worn 1 out. We gave him ‘skins to make a new 
interm ited inthe end th eat 6 ling again in the : of the ° 
hight, and it snowed steadily all day. in te morning I acquainted the 
with my decision, and explained to them that necessity required us to 
great effortto clear the mountains. I rem \inded them of the beau- 
ul valle e Sacramento, with which they were familiar from the de- 
riptions. ‘of Carson, who had been there some fifteen years 12805 and who, 
r late prin , had delighted us in speaking of its rich pastures and 
abounding ga me, and drew a vivid contrast between its summer climate, 
less than a miles distant, and the falling snow around us. — I in- 
experience had given them confidence in my ob- 
ments) that almost directly west, and only about 
farming establishment. nt of Captain Sutter—a 
