222 
The Colorado River 
righted. It has always seemed strange to me that Powell on 
this crucial expedition did not provide himself and his men 
with cork life-jackets, a precaution that suggests itself imme¬ 
diately in such an undertaking. No one ought ever to attempt 
a descent without them. 
The next day they reached a clear little stream coming in 
through a deep canyon on the right, and because they had 
honoured the devil by conferring his name on a river higher 
up, Powell concluded to honour the good spirits by calling this 
Bright Angel River. In its narrow valley ruined foundations 
Bottom of the Grand Canyon. 
Looking down from foot of Bright Angel Trail. 
Photograph by T. Mitchell Prudden. 
of houses and fragments of pottery were discovered. There 
were also indications of old trails by which the builders had 
made their way about. By the 17th of August, the rations 
were reduced to musty flour enough for ten days, a few dried 
apples, and plenty of coffee. The bacon had spoiled and was 
thrown away. Now the problem of food was a paramount 
consideration. Should they be detained by many bad places 
they might be forced by the food question to abandon the 
river, if possible, and strike for the Mormon settlements lying 
to the north. The barometers were rendered useless, so that 
they could not determine the altitude to see what proportion 
