Rocky Mountains. 5 



sible on the north side of the river, which was opposite 

 our encampment. The river was here about four feet deep, 

 and the strength of the current such as to render it impos- 

 sible for a man to keep on his feet, in the deepest part of the 

 stream. As some of the party destined for the mountains 

 could not swim, it was thought hazardous for them to at- 

 tempt to cross by fording. To obviate this difficulty two 

 men were sent with a long rope, which they were directed 

 to stretch across the river, making the ends fast on either 

 shore. This was readily accomplished, one of the men 

 swimming across with an end of the rope in his teeth. By 

 the aid of this the detachment were enabled to keep their 

 feet in crossing, though with extreme difficulty as the bed 

 of the river was uneven and rocky. They all however ar- 

 rived in safety on the left bank about sunrise. 



After passing the region of inclined sandstone, which 

 is about two miles in width, they began to rise upon what 

 may be considered the base of the mountain. As the day ad- 

 vanced the heat became oppressive, and they found them- 

 selves somewhat exhausted, before they had crossed the 

 sandstone hills, which appeared so inconsiderable from our 

 encampment, that the labour of crossing them had been al- 

 most forgotten in estimating the toils of the day. The first 

 range of primitive rocks they found far more abrupt and 

 rugged than the sandstone hills they had already passed. 

 Its sides are destitute of vegetation, except a few priclcly 

 pears and yuccas, with here and there a stinted oak or ju- 

 niper, and so steep that great exertion as well as the utmost 

 caution are necessary in ascending. 



The rock is an aggregate of feldspar and hornblend, ap- 

 proaching in character some of the common varieties of 

 Sienite. On the eastern side, where the feldspar is in the 

 greatest proportion, it is flesh-coloured and its structure 

 crystalline, the fractured surface of the mass being uneven 

 like that of coarse granite; advancing towards the west, horn- 



