NAH-UN-KAH-REA OR BLUE RIVER. 
57 
up to secure their presence in the morning. Our elevation was perhaps 150 feet above the river, 
and during the afternoon we had repeatedly to cross deep ravines entering the river in canones, 
in trap-rock or in sandstone and clay-slate, where they overlie the trap. The land rises from our 
camp to the river, distant half a mile, and beyond it is soon elevated into a mountain: the 
stream flowing, consequently, in an immense chasm along the mountain side, made, doubtless, 
by volcanic action. Much “cutting and filling” would be required in constructing a railroad near 
this canon, which the Utahs call Una-weep, or Red canon. It extends from a short distance 
below Roubideau’s old fort to near the junction of Grand river with the Blue or Nah-un-kah- 
rea of the Indians. The Utahs also give the name of Una-weep to a small stream which enters 
Grand river from the south, in this canon. 
September 18.—At break of day we moved forward for 8.45 miles, over a country like that of 
yesterday, but less broken, and encamped on a small stream from the west end of the Elk mount¬ 
ains, which are on our right, our course being northwest. This little stream the Indians who 
visit us call Kah-nah. The grass, though not abundant, is sufficient for our stock. Descent 
from the Uncompahgra, twenty-nine feet per mile, in round numbers. 
September 19.—Four miles and a quarter from camp we came to a small creek, running be¬ 
tween clay banks twelve feet in depth, which detained us an hour in crossing. The canon of 
Grand river disappears at this point on this bank, and the bottom is covered with a small field of 
cotton-wood; but we saw no grass either on the creek or river, which is again soon walled in by 
rocks of sandstone, numerous bluffs of which we passed. The light friable soil of the last two 
days continued to the Nah-un-kah-rea river, which we reached in a march of 12.32 miles. The 
eastern bank of this stream, for miles above and below where we struck it, is perpendicular, and 
from forty to eighty feet in height—the top of clay and the base of shale. A small gully afforded 
us the means of cutting a very steep path for our wagons to the river, which we crossed a few 
hundred yards below, at a point where it was but a little over two feet deep and a hundred yards 
wide, with a clear and very rapid current—the volume of water being twice that of Grand river. 
The opposite bank, although but six feet high, the moment it was cut down and moistened by 
the water thrown up by the leading horses, became so miry that we were occupied three hours 
in crossing, and encamped near the ford—the grass being coarse, and gritty from a recent over¬ 
flow. This river enters this valley through a canon or immense gorge, which separates the Elk 
mountains on the east from the Roan or Book mountains to the west, and, bending from its 
southern course, unites with Grand river just below us. Roan mountain, which derives its 
name from the color of its sides of red, gray, white and blue clay, in horizontal strata, destitute 
of vegetation and washed into many deep gorges and fanciful forms, sweeps round to the west, fol¬ 
lowing a course some miles from the river. The west end of the Elk mountains is terminated with 
a similar formation; and that to the southwest of Grand river, before its junction with the Blue, 
resembles it, although more rocky, and some of its bluffs are scantily dotted with small cedars 
and pines. The valley, twenty miles in diameter, enclosed by these mountains, is quite level 
and very barren, except scattered fields of the greasewood and sage varieties of artemisia—the 
margins of Grand and Blue rivers affording but a meagre supply of grass, cotton-wood and 
willow. 
The latter stream at the season of melting snows is greatly swollen, and at every step we see 
evidences of the great volumes of water which at such times roll forward in its channel or 
spread out over its bottom, in the deep channels, now dry, and island now part.of the main land, 
covered with huge trees cast up and left by the angry stream. Average descent during the 
day, nineteen feet per mile. 
Sgr 
