62 
NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY—PIT RIVER VALLEY, 
which thus remains at the bottom of the wound. It is said that these savages sometimes poison 
their arrows by exposing a piece of liver to the repeated bites of a rattlesnake, and, after bury¬ 
ing it for a short time, smearing the point with the half decomposed mass. 
For about five miles to-day, the pedregal continued to he as rough as it was yesterday, and we 
could advance only with great difficulty. At length, however, we entered a pine forest, and 
soon after struck an Indian trail, which rendered travelling very much easier. It conducted us 
to the hank of Canoe creek, which we found flowing through a fine, grassy meadow. Again 
entering the forest, and continuing our course for a few miles further, we discovered a second 
fine valley, carpeted with grass and clover. Near the northern side of it flowed a tributary of 
Canoe creek, at least five times the size of the main stream. We encamped near the junction 
of these creeks, with an abundant supply of wood, water, and grass. 
August 3.—Some little doubt had arisen whether the large tributary on which we were en¬ 
camped was not Pit river, and Lieut. Williamson determined to leave the main party in camp 
to-day, and go himself, with the dragoons, to explore. He returned about noon, having fol¬ 
lowed down Canoe creek to where it discharged into Pit river. It flowed between precipitous 
hanks, with many cascades and rapids. At its mouth it was eighty or ninety feet in width. 
It received no important tributary below our camp, except a branch from Lake Freaner, which 
flowed into it over a trap dike about fifteen feet in height. 
in the afternoon, Lieut. Williamson sent one of the party to follow up the large tributary of 
Canoe creek. On his return, the man reported that, about two miles above camp, the water 
gushed furiously from some fifteen crevices in the rocks, thus forming brooks, which united and 
formed the stream. He walked entirely round its sources, and returned dry shod on the bank 
opposite the one on which he started. 
August 4.—This morning the party separated. Lieut. Williamson started with the dra¬ 
goons, to explore the lower canon of Pit river, giving me directions to advance, with the main 
party, to a point on the river near the mouth of Canoe creek. After leaving camp, we soon 
found ourselves among thick pine timber and underbrush, which greatly delayed the cart, and 
rendered it necessary to carry most of the instruments by hand. In some places the trail fol¬ 
lowed along the side of steep hills, and several men were constantly employed in preventing 
the vehicle from overturning. At length, in attempting to run over a manzanita hush in one 
of these places, it turned completely over; so that the mule lay on his back, struggling violently 
in the thick underbrush. After crossing one smaller branch, we finally succeeded in reaching 
a fine, grassy meadow on the hank of Pit river, about two miles above the mouth of Canoe 
creek. Here we encamped. 
Lieut. P. H. Sheridan, 4th infantry, overtook the party to-day, with orders to relieve 
Lieut. Hood, who was instructed to return to the eastern States and join his regiment without 
delay. 
The following extract from Lieut. Williamson’s journal shows the result of his exploration 
to-day. 
“We followed nearly the same trail as yesterday for about five miles, and then took a trail 
running east, which led to Stoneman’s ridge. I went to the highest' point, and obtained 
hearings to Mount Shasta, Lassen’s Butte, and other peaks. I then ordered Bartee to follow 
the ridge towards the south until he found a low depression, and then to endeavor to find a 
good route from it to the river near Canoe creek. This he did. I next went to the entrance of 
the canon. We found it impossible to go through it on foot, on account of the precipitous 
