DISTANCES ASTD HEIGHTS. 43 
pumpkins, melons, and other vegetables. Most of the crops are looking 
well, and it is rather surprising with what pride they show us that they are 
able to cultivate crops like white men. They are still occupying lodges, 
and refuse to build houses, assigning as a reason that when any one dies in 
a lodge it is always abandoned, and very often burned with all the effects 
of the deceased, and when houses have been built for them they have been 
treated in the same way. With their unclean habits, a fixed residence 
would doubtless be no pleasant place. This beautiful valley has been the 
home of a people of a higher grade of civilization than the present Utes. 
Evidences of this are quite abundant ; on our way here yesterday we dis 
covered, in many places along the trail, fragments of pottery; and wander 
ing about the little farms to day, I find the foundations of ancient houses, 
and mealing stones that were not used by nomadic people, as they are too 
heavy to be transported by such tribes, and are deeply worn. The Indians, 
seeing that I am interested in these matters, take pains to show me several 
other places where these evidences remain, and tell me that they know 
nothing about the people who formerly dwelt here. They further tell me 
that up in the canon the rocks are covered with pictures. 
July 5. The last two days have been spent in studying the language 
of the Indians, and making collections of articles illustrating the state of arts 
among them. 
Frank Goodman informs me, this morning, that he has concluded not 
to go on with the party, saying that he has seen danger enough. It will be 
remembered that he was one of the crew on the "No Name," when she was 
wrecked. As our boats are rather heavily loaded, I am content that he 
should leave, although he has been a faithful man. 
We start early on our return to the boats, taking horses with us from 
the reservation, and two Indians^ who are to bring the animals back. 
Whirlpool Canon is fourteen and a quarter miles in length, the walls 
varying from one thousand eight hundred to two thousand four hundred 
feet in height. The course of the river through Island Park is nine miles. 
