GREEN RIVER — BITTER CREEK VALLEY. 233 



At this point we crossed the river, between banks some thirty 

 feet high and eight hundred feet apart. The deepest water found 

 in crossing was three feet, but in high stages it is a formidable 

 stream, and will require to be ferried. The bottom is about a 

 mile in width, and is covered with thickets of willows and abun- 

 dance of grass. Following down the left bank of the river, we 

 encamped in a clump of bitter cotton-woods, where, owing to the 

 suspicious vicinity of our Indian acquaintances of the morning, 

 the animals were securely picketed and the guard doubled for the 

 night. Two or three Indians had followed us all day, and, after 

 partaking of a hearty supper, left us just before dark — as they said, 

 to rejoin their companions. We did not, however, feel called upon 

 to place the most implicit confidence in their statements, and the 

 necessity of increased vigilance during the night was impressed 

 upon the guard, lest, upon waking in the morning, we should find 

 that our animals had disappeared. The weather began to clear 

 before night, and enabled us to obtain an observation of Altair, 

 which gave for latitude 41° 30' W,5, longitude 109° 38' 40''. 

 Day's march, thirteen and a half miles; and sixty-one miles from 

 Fort Bridger, by the route we have pursued, which, with a little 

 care, can be much improved and shortened. 



Saturday, September 14. — Ther. at sunrise, 46°. A dense 

 fog concealed every thing from view. The night had passed 

 without disturbance, which led me to suppose that the Indians 

 yesterday had really no design upon our horses, as I had suspected. 

 As it was impossible to move while the fog continued, the men 

 were occupied in cleaning their arms, wetted by yesterday's rain. 

 Black currants and bufialo-berries abound upon the banks of the 

 river. The latter grow in great profusion upon a shrub about 

 fifteen feet high. The berry is about the size of a pea, of a bright 

 scarlet colour, and contains but one seed. It has a pleasant acid 

 flavour, and would make an excellent jelly. The Indians are said 

 to be extravagantly fond of it. 



Before noon the fog lifted, with the promise of a fair day; 

 we saddled up and started on our journey, directing our course up 

 the valley of Bitter Creek, which enters Green River about a mile 

 below. Crossing the bottom of Green River Valley, we passed the 

 mouth of Bitter Creek, and ascended it the whole day's march. 

 For the first half-dozen miles, the valley is much cut up by deep 

 gullies, worn by the water from the rapidly decomposing hills on 

 each side of the stream. These, however, present no serious ob- 



