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The day was perfectly clear, and, while the sun was in the sky, warm 
‘and pleasant. . Cj 
* By observation, our latitude was 38° 42’ 26”; and elevation, by the 
‘boiling point, 7,400 feet. 
uary 6.—Accompanied by Mr. Fitzpatrick, | sat out to-day with a 
‘reconnoitring party, on snowshoes. We marched all in single file, tramp- 
fing the snow as heavily as we could. Crossing the open basin, in a march 
of about ten miles we reached the top of one of the peaks, to the left of 
the pass indicated by our guide. Far below us, dimmed by the distance, 
was a large snowless valley, bounded on the western side, at the distance 
of about a hundred miles, by a low range of mountains, which Carson 
recognised with delight as the mountains bordering the coast. ** There,” 
said he, “is the little mountain—it is 15 years ago since I saw it; but I 
am just as sure as if I had seen it yesterday.” Between us, then, and this 
low coast range, was the valley of the Sacramento ; and no one who had 
not accompanied us through the incidents of our life for the last few months 
could realize the delight with which at last we looked down upon it: At 
the distance of apparently 30 miles beyond us were distinguished spots of 
prairie; and a dark line, which could be traced with the glass, was im- 
agined to be the course of the river; but we were. evidently at a great 
“height above the valley, and between us and the plains extended miles 
of snowy fields and broken ridges of pine-covered mountains, 
It was late in the day when we turned towards the camp ; and it grew 
_ gapidly cold as it drew towards night. One of the men became fatigued, 
and his feet began to freeze, and, building a fire in the trunk of a dry old 
pone 
dar, Mr. Fitzpatrick remained with him until his clothes could be dried, 
and he was in a condition to come on. After a day’s march of 20 miles, 
we straggled into camp, one after another, at night fall; the greater num- 
ber excessively fatigued, only two of the party having ever travelled on 
| aS = are 
th one party drawing sleighs loaded with baggage vanced to-day 
miles along the trail, and encamped at the first grassy spot, where 
i 7; bring our horses. Mr. Fitzpatrick, with another party, re- 
The Pe. has been extremely cold; but perfectly still, 
elear. Before the sun appeared this morning, the ther- 
selow zero; 1° higher, when his rays struck the lofty 
y reached our camp. ; 
