244 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



has a sharp deer's horn to confine the two prongs, and is attached to 

 the spear by a small lanyard, which in entering the fish slips off, and 

 retains its hold. 



At the rancheria, several dances were performed ; and it was ob- 

 served that many of the women were tattooed on their arms and body. 



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 construct 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 and 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 



