FROM GREEN TO WHITE RIVER. 
63 
hills, the upper strata of which were red, and the lower resembling the yellow argillaceous sand¬ 
stone of the Arkansas river near Bent’s Fort: a few slate ledges also crop out. We passed but 
very little grass, and but few cotton-wood trees were seen along the dry streams, sage covering 
the bottoms. At our camp to-night, on the hills, we have bunch-grass, and a fine cool spring of 
water, called Akanaquint by the Utahs. Average ascent per mile, 35 feet. 
October 3.—Travelling sometimes in the bed of the creek, (dry above the spring,) and at others 
over the rocky, friable soil of the hills, we made but slow progress this morning—about six miles 
in as many hours—on the Spanish trail. * Its course then bore off more strongly to the west, over 
very rocky, broken hills—and we left it, taking a northwest and a north-northwest course by com¬ 
pass, leaving these rocky hills to the left, and skirting along others to the right, as rocky but per¬ 
haps less broken and cut up transversely by canones. Following for some miles the bed of a 
dry creek which lies at the base of one of these innumerable bluffs, we eventually came upon 
the divide between the waters of White and Green rivers, and then, for four miles, descended 
the bed of another dry creek, running, as before, at the base of immense bluffs of sandstone, and 
very winding in its course, so that we travelled west, north and east, alternately, and once or 
twice a little south—encamping just as the sun went down, after a march of 15.77 miles, on a 
little bunch-grass, where a small supply of saltish water leaks from the strata into the bed of the 
stream. These bluff ridges were apparently formed by the upheaval of the strata of sandstone, 
giving a long gradual ascent on one side, while they are. broken off on the other nearly perpen¬ 
dicularly j.„and they succeed each other like rows of bricks laid in a receding manner, with the 
front ends tilted up and the opposite covered with earth. In a few instances the strata of red, 
yellow, gray, and white sandstone were observed bent; but they were generally in right lines, with 
a dip to the east-northeast. We passed occasional masses of conglomerate rocks, and on the hills 
scattering cedar trees and some fine fields of bunch-grass. The day was oppressively hot as we 
moved along the bluff's, the sun’s rays being reflected with great force until he ceased to shine 
above the horizon. Ascent per mile, for 4.6 miles, 119 feet, and for 1.14 mile to where we left 
the Spanish trail, 165.7 feet per mile; but this last distance can be greatly increased. From this 
point, for 6.08 miles, the grade is upon the summit-level to the south of White river, succeeded 
by a descent, for 3.96 miles, of 111.3 feet per mile. 
October 4.—We followed the dry bed of the creek in which we had encamped for five miles, 
turning northwest as we approached White river, which we crossed nine miles from camp. This 
is a small stream, of cool muddy water, eight inches in depth by twenty-five feet in width, with 
a moderate current. Coarse dry cane-grass covered the bottom, where we came to the river 
among a grove of cotton-wood and willows ; and dense fields of sage formed the border between 
it and the nearly barren hills. We encamped a mile above the crossing, on the thin bunch- 
grass of the hills. Average descent per mile, 16.4 feet. 
October 5.—Our course for five miles lay along the base of the mountain, with inclined benches 
intervening some four miles in width, cut transversely by dry mountain streams. White river 
winds very much among high hills, frequently impinging against their bases, and at various points 
passing through narrow canones, rendering it quite impracticable to follow near it. Turning more 
westerly, we descended a dry creek for two miles and came upon Clever creek, a small branch 
of White river from the northwest, winding between high hills and bluffs, and encamped after a 
march of 8.72 miles—being timid about leaving the grass, which Was here more than usually 
abundant. The soil to-day was less friable than heretofore ; and the artemisia, except for a half 
mile just below camp, did not interfere with our progress. The night was cool and the morning 
chilly, making fires desirable; but before noon the sun was very hot. Average ascent, 41.85 feet 
to the mile. 
October 6.—Our northwest course was continued for four miles and a half, when we left the 
branch on which we had encamped, turning to the west up a narrow valley, which we followed 
for some three miles, and then took an Indian trail leading W. S. W., crossing a low ridge to 
