FROM GRAND TO GREEN RIVER. 
of the country for passing safely through the Indian bands along his route. Day’s march, 21.74 
miles; ascent, 9 feet 9 inches per mile. 
September 26.—Having passed three days in camp, keeping our animals at the river to graze, 
we this morning resumed our march and determined to continue our course back of the river hills. 
We were not without hope that the fine rain of the previous night (falling freely for two or three 
hours) would furnish a supply ot water in pools or in creeks from the mountains. At break of day, 
therefore, I started, accompanied by one man, armed, as I observed after riding some time, only 
with a spade and hatchet—a gross neglect—to find water, if possible, and grass for a camp; and, 
if successful, a smoke was to guide the party to the point selected. The first two or three creeks 
passed within a short distance poured down small muddy streams; but as the sun rose hot and 
drying, a few hours drained off the surface water, and the beds of creeks soon contained but a 
few holes of water, and by 10 o’clock even these were fast disappearing. As soon as I had 
ridden far enough for the day’s march, I began my search for grass and water—indispensable 
items for the camp of a party of exploration, with jaded and weak animals, and months of labor 
before them. So fruitless was the search, however, that it was not deemed possible to find 
water; but an extensive view from an elevated position convinced me of the error of deviating 
from this course, and I therefore made the concerted signal of a camp, trusting to the fortune 
of a more diligent search ; in which threatening showers promised to aid us, and eventually 
swelled the rain-water creek on which we encamped to the size of a respectable stream, on 
which and the adjacent hills we found a little bunch-grass. The train arrived, after a march of 
16.28 miles, a little before sundown, having passed during the day but one or two small hills and 
a few gullies. As night closed in, clouds gathered around us; and, as I write, occasional flashes 
of lightning and steady falling rain threaten us with a comfortless night. Average descent during 
the day about two feet per mile. 
September 27.—It continued to rain most of the night, and increased in violence until 10 o’clock 
in the morning, when it ceased, and we moved slowly forward over a very slippery and miry 
soil—all the beds of creeks, recently dry, pouring down torrents of water, and water filling every 
little depression on the surface of the ground; yet the earth was not moistened more than two 
inches deep, the wagon-wheels turning up the dry earth onto the brick soft clay of the surface. 
At 12 o’clock-a passing shower sent down such a torrent from the mountain, that, although the 
leading wagons had crossed it without difficulty, the others were unable to follow for some hours; 
and we therefore encamped just west of this stream, on a hill finely dotted with bunch-grass, 
after a march of 5.66 miles. Our route here lies but two or three miles from the base of Roan 
mountain, and is much more direct from Salt creek than by following the river to the Spanish 
trail, and thence crossing to the ford on Green river, and is less interrupted by deep gullies; but 
in wet weather it would be impossible to follow us with heavy loads, and in the dry season no 
water is known to exist on this path, between Grand and Green rivers. 
Captain Gunnison indicates the choice of localities for a railroad track as lying still nearer the 
base of the mountain, where, however, “much cutting and filling would be required, and many 
large culverts necessary.” The thunder-showers of the morning covered Salt mountain with 
snow, the effects of which we feel as the wind sweeps round from that quarter, for we can get 
no wood, and only sage enough to cook our coffee. Ascent, 71 feet per mile. 
September 28.—We delayed our march until 8 o’clock, to derive as much benefit from the sun 
and morning drainage as possible, and it was difficult, even at that hour, to make any progress— 
mules miring and wagons stalling even on the descent of the hills, which were destitute of a turf 
or sward, the whole surface to a considerable depth being of the character of stiff brick-yard clay; 
but after going two or three miles, the soil became more shaly and gravelly on the ridges, and 
eventually over the whole surface. We descended a steep bluff in the morning, and passed over 
two gentle swells during the day, the last of which was the divide between the waters of Grand 
and Green rivers, and after a march of 16.71 miles, in which we descended 12 feet 10 inches 
