285 [ 174] 
to be extremely r , that the right-hand branch led to no pass, I pro- 
vate of flowers, on at this place I noticed, among p< abby Seeclipess 
montana, whose bright yellow color makes it a showy plant This has 
been a characteristic in many parts of the country since reaching the Uintah 
waters. With fields of iris were uquilegia cerulea, ap esparcette, and 
straw berries. 
-. At dark, we perceived a fire in the ‘edge of the pines, on the opposite 
side of the valley. We had evidently not been discovered, and, at the re- 
port of a gun, and the blaze of fresh fuel which was heaped on our fires, 
those of the strangers were instantly extaguished. In the morning, they 
were found to be a party of six trappers, who had ventured out among the 
mountains after beaver. They informed us that two of the number with 
which they started had been already killed by the Indians—one of them 
but a few days agente the Arapahoes we had lately seen, who had found 
him alone at a camp on this river, and carried off his traps and animals. 
As they were doitiows to join us, the enue returned with them to their 
ncampment, and we continued up the valley, in which the stream rapidly 
diminished, breaking into small tributaries—every hollow affording water. 
At our noon halt, the hunters joined us with the trappers. While preparing 
to start from their encampment, they found themselves suddenly surround- 
ed by a party of Arapahoes, who informed them that their scouts had dis- 
covered a large Utah village in the Bayou Salade, (South Park,) and that a 
large war party, consisting of — every man in the village, except those 
who were too old to go to —— e going over to attack them. The main — 
body had ascended the left fork of the river, which afforded a ‘better pass 
than the branch we were on and this party had followed our trail, in order 
that we might add our force to theirs. Carson informed them that we were 
too far ahead to turn back, but would join them in the bayou; and the In- 
dians went off apparently satisfied. By the temperature of boiling water, 
our apg here was 1,430 feet; and still the pine forest continued, and 
grass was goo 
In the: aperntitel we continued our wiaricucscaioeelii ‘through open 
pines, with : very gradual ascent. We surprised a herd of igs cnios ing 
the shade at a small lake among the pines; ‘and they made the dry ccmies 
erack, as a broke through the woods. In rideoteout three-quarters. 
of an hour, and having ascended perhaps a08 feet, we reached the sum- 
MIT OF THE DIVIDING RIDGE, Which would thus have an estimated height 
of. 11,200 f feet. Here the river spreads itself into small branches and springs, 
nearly in the summit of the ridge, which is very narrow. -Imme- 
diately below us wasa green valley, through which ran a stream; and a short 
di oppssite rose snowy mountains, whose summits were formed into 
ae of naked rock. We soon afterwards satisfied ourselves that imme- 
diately. beyond these mountains was the main branch of the Arkansas 
river—most. probably heading teas with the little — below us, 
which gathered its waters in the sn pisses sy near 2 
of the rugged character of the ceunthion around sie hen of the Arkan- 
sas, which their appearance amply justified, detextatl me from making any 
2 
