POTJNS-A-GUNT PLATEAU. 107 
Dirty Devil River, the mouth of which stream is but a short distance below 
the junction of the Grand and Green. 
The Pouns-a'-gunt Plateau terminates in a point, which is bounded by 
a line of beautiful pink cliffs. At the foot of this plateau, on the west, the 
Rio Virgen and Sevier Rivers are*4ovetailed together, as their minute upper 
branches interlock. The upper surface of the plateau inclines to the north 
east, so that its waters roll off into the Sevier; but from the foot of the cliffs, 
quite around the sharp angle of the plateau, for a dozen miles, we find 
numerous springs, whose waters unite to form the Kanab. But a little 
farther to the northeast the springs gather into streams that feed the Paria. 
Here, by the upper springs of the Kanab, we make a camp, and from 
this point we are to radiate on a series of trips, southwest, south, and east. 
Jacob Hamblin, who has been a missionary among the Indians for more 
than twenty years, has collected a number of Kai' -vav-its, with Chu-ar'-ru- 
um-peak, their chief, and they are all camped with us. They assure us that 
we cannot reach the river; that we cannot make our way into the depths of 
the canon, but promise to show us the springs and water pockets, which are 
very scarce in all this region, and to give us all the information in their power. 
Here we fit up a pack train, for our bedding and instruments, and sup 
plies are to be carried on the backs of mules and ponies. 
September 5, 1870. The several members of the party are engaged in 
general preparation for our trip down to the Grand Cation. 
Taking with me a white man and an Indian, I start on a climb to the 
summit of the Pouns-a'-gunt Plateau, which rises above us on the east. Our 
way, for a mile or more, is over a great peat bog, that trembles under our 
feet, and now and then a mule sinks through the broken turf, and we are 
compelled to pull it out with ropes. 
Passing the bog, our way is up a gulch, at the foot of the Pink Cliffs, 
which form the escarpment, or wall, of the great plateau. Soon we leave the 
gulch, and climb a long ridge, which winds around to the right toward the 
summit of the great table. 
Two hours' riding, climbing, and clambering brings us near the top. We 
look below, and see clouds drifting up from the south, and rolling tumult- 
uously toward the foot of the cliffs, beneath us. Soon, all the countr^ 
