92 BLACK CANON TO GREAT BEND —SITGREAVES'S PASS. 
Ascending to the first slope of the Gravel desert, we directed our course towards the gap in 
the Black mountains, by which Captain Sitgreaves and Mr. Beale approached the river. This 
gap appears to be the only pass that exists in the portion of the range south of the Black canon. 
For nine or ten miles the road was good, and led over a succession of gravel terraces and 
slopes to the base of the mountains. Before entering the pass I turned to take a last look at 
the Mojave valley. The view was extensive, comprising the whole region between the 
Needles and the Black cafion. The Dead mountain range, the Pyramid and Painted cafions, 
and Mount Davis, were raised in bold relief upon the low country near the river. The beau- 
tiful valley was enveloped in the delicate blue haze that imparts to it so softened and charming 
a glow, and the windings of the Colorado could be traced through the bright fields and groves 
till the river disappeared in the Mojave cafion. 
Following Sitgreaves’s Pass we traversed a rocky ravine for two or three miles, and, coming 
to some water holes and a patch of grass, at the advice of Ireteba made a halt, and, for the 
first time during the expedition, pitched camp out of sight of the Colorado. — 
