260 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



On reaching the Sacramento, it had been recommended to Lieu- 

 tenant Emmons to procure canoes, if possible, either by purchase or 

 constructing them, in consequence of the belief that both his party 

 and the animals would have been nearly if not quite worn out. No 

 canoes, however, were to be found, and, as has been seen in my 

 account of that river, none were used by the Indians. Neither could 

 any timber be obtained without much detention, of which to con- 

 struct one. It was, therefore, necessary for him to keep on to Captain 

 Suter's, where he expected to find boats to take them to the ship as 

 soon as possible. From what Lieutenant Emmons could learn, there 

 was no difficulty in proceeding in canoes from this place, though 

 there would have been some obstacles to surmount, particularly the 

 fish-weirs, which exist below. 



On the 11th, they took leave of the friendly Indians, who had, 

 during the night, been as watchful as themselves, passing the word 

 among their look-outs, as if they had been regular sentinels. The 

 party proceeded down the western bank of the Sacramento, over a 

 rolling prairie country, which they characterize as the most worthless 

 they had met with. The soil consists of gravel, coarse pebbles, and 

 large stones, mixed with sand. They frequently met the beds of 

 streams three hundred yards wide, which intersect this part of the 

 country, the pebbles in which are chiefly composed of jasper, or 

 milky quartz, with a few of basalt, pudding-stone, and pieces of slate. 

 They made this day, twenty-five miles — the longest day's ride on the 

 journey. 



On the 12th, Lieutenant Emmons determined to ford the river, as 

 it was doubtful whether he would have so good an opportunity 

 lower down. Inass, one of the hunters, was found sitting -beside 

 his horse, on the opposite side of the ford, loaded with the meat and 

 skin of a large grisly bear which he had killed. The river was 

 about three feet deep, and two hundred yards wide. They stopped 

 at a place known among the- hunters as Bear-camp, from the 

 number of grisly bears found here. Five of them were shot the 

 same afternoon, with three deer, which were seen feeding within sight 

 of the camp, all in excellent condition. The country on the east side 

 of the river was more level than on the west, and the soil was thought 

 to be better. Few plants, however, were seen, in consequence of the 

 country having been burned over. 



The country continued much the same until, on the 15th, they 

 came in sight of the Prairie Butes, a regular collection of hills, rising 



