48 EXPLORATION OF THE CANONS OF THE COLORADO. 
plateau being about eight thousand feet above the level of the sea, brings it 
into a region of moisture, as is well attested by the forests and grassy val 
leys. The plateau seems to rise gradually to the west, until it merges into 
the Wasatch Mountains. On these high table lands, elk and deer abound ; 
and they are favorite hunting grounds for the Ute Indians. 
A little before sunset, Rowland and I meet again at the head of the 
side canon, and down we start. It is late, and we must make great haste, 
or be caught by the darkness; so we go, running where we can; leaping 
over the ledges; letting each other down on the loose rocks, as long as we 
can see. When darkness comes, we are still some distance from camp, and 
a long, slow, anxious descent we make, toward the gleaming camp fire. 
After supper, observations for latitude are taken, and only two or three 
hours for sleep remain, before daylight. 
July 11. A short distance below camp we run a rapid, and, in doing 
so, break an oar, and then lose another, both belonging to the "Emma 
Dean." So the pioneer boat has but two oars. 
We see nothing of which oars can be made, so we conclude to run on 
to some point, where it seems possible to climb out to the forests on the 
plateau, and there we will procure suitable timber from which to make new 
ones. 
We soon approach another rapid. Standing on deck, I think it can be 
run, and on we go. Coming nearer, I see that at the foot it has a short 
turn to the left, where the waters pile up against the cliff. Here we try to 
land, but quickly discover that, being in swift water, above the fall, we can 
not reach shore, crippled, as we are, by the loss of two oars; so the bow of 
the boat is turned down stre'am. We shoot by a big rock; a reflex wave 
rolls over our little boat and fills her. I see the place is dangerous, and 
quickly signal to the other boats to land where they can. This is scarcely 
completed when another wave rolls our boat over, and I am thrown some 
distance into the water. I soon find that swimming is very easy, and I can 
not sink. It is only necessary to ply strokes sufficient to keep my head out 
of the water, though now and then, when a breaker rolls over me, I close 
my mouth, and am carried through it. The boat is drifting ahead of me 
twenty or thirty feet, and, when the great waves are passed, I overtake it, 
