PREPARATION FOR EXPLORATION. 97 



CHAPTER VI. 



RECONNOISSANCE OP THE DESERTS AROUND THE WESTERN SHORES OF 



THE GREAT SALT LAKE. 



The two following days were busily occupied in making prepa- 

 ration for an exploration around the western shore of the lake, 

 which I desired to complete previous to entering upon a more 

 minute survey of its waters. The expedition was deemed neces- 

 sary, to enable me as well to ascertain its general features as to 

 gain some knowledge of the means and appliances necessary to 

 carry on the survey with safety and expedition. By the old moun- 

 tain-men such a reconnoissance was considered not only hazardous 

 in the highest degree, but absolutely impracticable, especially at 

 so late a season of the year. In this opinion they were confirmed 

 by the representations of the Indians, who represented water to 

 be extremely scarce and the country destitute of game. It was 

 affirmed that the contemplated circuit had been repeatedly at- 

 tempted by old and experienced trappers, in search of beaver, but 

 always without success ; the adventurers being invariably obliged 

 to return with the loss of most of their animals. This was dis- 

 couraging; but in addition to these objections, it was known that 

 mortal offence had been taken by the Shoshonee or Snake Indians, 

 (through whose country we would be obliged to pass,) arising from 

 a gross and wanton outrage which had been a short time before 

 inflicted upon them by a company of unprincipled emigrants, by 

 whom their women had been most brutally treated, and their 

 friends murdered while attempting to defend them. Fears were 

 entertained lest, in the wilds of this inhospitable region, where 

 foot of white man had never trod, we should fall a sacrifice to the 

 just vengeance of those infuriated savages. 



Having determined, however, that the examination was necessary 

 to enable me to carry out the instructions of the department, I re- 

 solved to proceed, or at least to make the attempt. My prepara- 

 tions were simply to kill a beef and dry as much of the flesh as we 

 could carry upon our pack-mules ; since it would have been unsafe to 

 risk the existence of the party upon the chances of killing game by 



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