CHAPTER VII. 
MOJAVE VALLEY TO BIG CANON, AT MOUTH OF DIAMOND RIVER. 
MEADOW CREEK.—IRETEBA’S MOUNTAIN.— VALLEY.—RAILROAD PASS,—PROFILE OF CUT-OFF FROM BIG SANDY, VIA RAILROAD PASS, TO 
COLORADO.——-CERBAT RANGE.—TOPOGRAPHY NEAR GREAT BEND.—AQUARIUS MOUNTAINS.—PBRACOCK’S SPRING. -—-HUALPAIS 
GUIDES.—-APPEARANCE OF GAME.—COLORADO PLATEAU AND CANON.—NEW RIVER.—SIDE CANON OF DIAMOND RIVER.—-HUALPAIS 
REATS.—-APPEARANCE OF INHABITANTS.—DIAMOND RIVER.—B1G CANON OF THE COLORADO.—GEOLOGICAL EXPOSURES.——ASCENT 
OF SIDE CANON.—TEMPORARY EMBARRASSMENT.— ARRIVAL AT HUALPAIS SPRING.—-DEPARTURE OF IRETEBA AND MOS G 
Sipe caNons OF THE COLORADO. 
Camp 61, Meadow creek, March 25.—The grazing at the camp in Sitgreaves’s Pass was poor, 
and the mules were ill prepared for the rough road before them. A few miles brought us to 
the base of a steep and difficult ascent that led to the summit of the Black mountains. The 
path was narrow and devious, and attended with hazard to the weak and heavily-loaded beasts. 
All of the party had to clamber up on foot, leading their riding animals; and as the ascent was 
accomplished under a burning sun, it was a matter of some congratulation when the top of the 
as 
A 
Fig. 26.—Meadow Creek. 
pass was attained. A wide and beautiful valley divided the Black mountains from a high snow- 
capped chain called by Lieutenant Whipple, who had seen it from the east, the Cerbat range. 
A rapid descent led through a ravine to the eastern base of the range we were crossing. 
When nearly down the hill the head of a creek was encountered, and half a mile from the 
valley the ravine spread out for a few hundred yards, forming a snug meadow carpeted with 
