HEADS OF BITTER CREEK — BRIDGER'S FORK. 237 



Several bands of antelope were seen, and one of the hunters 

 brought in a noble buck. Grouse, also, were abundant, and very 

 fat. A bear, too, was seen taldng a good look at us, but, not liking 

 our appearance, he made off with all haste before we could get a 

 shot at him. 



The trace for a road has been good, and the distance travelled 

 in nearly an eastern direction was twenty-two miles. Our observa- 

 tions gave for latitude 41° 28' 9''; longitude 108° 41' 9''. 



Tuesday, September 17. — Our course to-day was up the east fork 

 of Bitter Creek, about south 70° east, for eighteen miles, when 

 we reached its head, ascending very gently to the dividing ground 

 between it and the waters of Muddy Creek, an affluent of Little 

 Snake River, which flows into the Yampah, about twenty miles 

 above the entrance of the latter into Green River. Here we leave 

 the valley of Bitter Creek altogether, having followed it from its 

 mouth for seventy miles. On the level table forming the ''divide" 

 is a butte composed of sand and clay, a hundred and fifty or two 

 hundred feet high, standing isolated and detached from the range 

 of bluffs to the south and east of it, and to which, from its shape, 

 we gave the name of ''The Haystack." From this landmark we 

 travelled in nearly an eastern direction, gradually descending, for 

 six miles, to the valley of a small branch of the Muddy, to which 

 we gave the name of "Bridger's Fork of Muddy," and encamped in 

 its valley, although the water was so strongly impregnated with 

 alkali that the animals drank it with evident reluctance and disgust. 



The valley is here much cut off by abrupt gullies and ravines, 

 formed by the wash from the hills, and in many places the ground 

 is covered with a crust of impm^e soda to the depth of half an 

 inch. The grass, since our noon halt, has been very scarce, and 

 our poor mules have fared rather badly. Several buffalo were seen 

 to-day, and one antelope killed. Our hunters are calculating 

 largely upon the sport before us as we approach the buffalo range, 

 and are much excited at the prospect of once more revelling in 

 their favourite fare. Day's travel, twenty-six miles. Lat. 41° 

 28' 39"; long. 108° 14' 24". 



Wednesday, September 18. — Ther. at sunrise, 44°. A slight 

 "stampede" occurred among the horses last night, owing to the 

 blundering of an old -buffalo bull into the camp. Several of the 

 animals broke from their fastenings and fled in dismay, but wero 

 all ultimately recovered. ' 



