"THE church" — PILOT BUTTE. 2B1 



rise the thermometer stood at 22°. Shortly after leaving camp we 

 ascended a hill opposite the mouth of the Muddy, and reached a 

 remarkable isolated butte, to which the traders have given the name 

 of "The Church." It is composed of green and brown indurated 

 clay and brown sandstone, seamed and furrowed by the elements 

 into fantastic and picturesque forms, resembling somewhat the 

 ruins of a huge antiquated castle. Following the old road for a 

 couple of miles farther, over a level country of sand and clay, al- 

 most denuded of vegetation, except occasional patches of artemisia, 

 which seems to claim as its peculiar property soil where nothing 

 else will grow, we came in sight of a high butte, situated on the 

 eastern side of the Green E-iver Valley, some forty miles distant : 

 a landmark well known to the traders, and called by them Pilot 

 Butte. 



Leaving the emigrant road here, we struck for this prominent 

 elevation, passing, on our way to it, over a barren plain formed by 

 the washings from the hills, which had covered up every vestige of 

 vegetation, and presented an aspect of dreary desolation saddening 

 to the heart. Passing a small brackish spring, which issues from 

 the base of some coarse brown sandstone rocks, rising abruptly 

 from the level plain to the height of twenty feet, we halted to take 

 a meridian observation, which gave for latitude 41° 31' 08''. 5. 

 The mouth of Ham's Fork bears north 20° west, distant four 

 miles, the mouth of Black's Fork being about thirty miles below. 

 From this point the land descends gently for twelve miles to Black's 

 Fork, which we crossed at an excellent ford, and encamped on its 

 left bank, amid thickets of willows, and fine grass for our ani- 

 mals. The stream was about a hundred and forty feet wide, 

 and easily forded. In times of high water it is probably from two 

 hundred to two hundred and fifty feet wide, with a depth of from 

 six to eight feet. 



The vegetation, to-day, has been very sparse, and consists princi- 

 pally of dwarf sage and grease-wood bushes, with low bunch-grass. 

 Black currants abound on the banks of the stream. In many 

 places the ground has been thickly strewn with gravel and pebbles, 

 mostly siliceous, with occasional appearance of argillaceous lime- 

 stone. Day's travel, twenty-five and a-half miles ; total from Fort 

 Bridger, forty-seven and a-half miles. 



Friday, September 13. — Morning overcast, and threatening rain. 

 Ther. 47°. As we were in the act of leaving the camp-ground, 

 an alarm was given that a body of armed men on horseback was 



