64 
FROM WHITE RIVER TO THE SAN RAFAEL. 
another creek, which the trail descended for a couple of miles, and then ascended a hill towards 
White river, until we overlooked that stream just at our feet. But the descent was so steep that 
we were forced to turn from our southwest course directly north; and were then occupied two 
hours in descending the half mile of bluff to the river bank, crossing the stream and encamping 
on the opposite hill, having travelled by an unnecessarily serpentine path, 11.11 miles. The 
bunch-grass was thin on the hills and in the ravines, and the river-bottom only afforded willow- 
bushes and dry cane-grass. Buffalo-berries grow in great abundance at our camp, and are es¬ 
teemed very edible by the party, and are a fine relish when stewed. Latitude, by noon obser¬ 
vation, 39° 27' 00''.4. Average ascent, 23 feet per mile. 
The Little mountain, sometimes from the regular appearance and variegated color of its strata? 
like the Roan, called the Book mountain, lay during to-day’s march plainly in view from Green 
river north and west, to where it apparently joins the first range of the Wahsatch—a low mount¬ 
ain, resembling the former in all respects, which extends aroi nd to the west and southwest, 
White river coming from a low depression in it nearly north of our present camp. Latitude 
39° 26' 48". 
October 7.—The thermometer at sunrise indicated 31°, and at noon in the shade '82° Fahren¬ 
heit. Passing from the bluff on which we encamped last night, over rolling barren hills, we 
entered a small valley coming from the southwest, in which we again came upon the trail we 
were forced by the hills to leave yesterday, and followed it during the day in a very direct course, 
passing small pools of water occasionally, and fields of bunch and grama grasses. Our camp, 
after a march of 13.26 miles, without reaching the summit of the hills drained by White river, is 
at one of these pools, in the bed of a creek, and the valley and hills promise favorably for our 
animals to-night. Ascent, 38 feet per mile. 
October 8.—Two miles from camp we passed the divide between the waters of the White and 
San Rafael rivers; and in eleven miles reached and crossed the latter stream, which at present, 
without the appearance of being swollen, is twice the size of the former, its waters deriving a 
milky appearance from the clay of its banks. There is not a tree at the point where we crossed 
this stream; a narrow bottom is covered with dry grass and willow-bushes, intermixed with the 
buffalo-beiry bush thickly covered with fruit. Two miles and a half from the San Rafael we 
came upon a branch of that river of half its size, with dry grass covering bottom-lands a half 
mile in width, with the usual bushes and a few cotton-wood trees on the margins of the creek. 
Captain Gunnison, who was in advance as we approached camp, observed an Indian ascending 
the opposite side of the valley, and, discharging his pistol, made signs for him to approach, which 
he did after some hesitation, galloping at a rapid rate with his rifle held ready for action, fearing 
we were Mormons, with whom he informed us his people were at war, boasting of their feats 
of prowess. At this camp the cochineal insect was observed on the prickly pear. Day’s march, 
13.17 miles. At sunrise the following morning the thermometer stood at 26°, and ice formed, in 
basins of water, a quarter of an inch thick; but before noon the thermometer was again above 
summer heat. Average descent, 22 feet to the mile. 
October 10.—Two miles from camp, in a nearly southern course, we came again upon the 
Spanish trail, which we left a week ago to avoid the rocky hills which lay in front of us, passing 
to the north by a route which, from a want of knowledge of what route exactly to pursue to 
secure the best road and a supply of grass and water, may have been extended too far. We 
struck lower down on White river than it would be necessary to do if the march from Akana- 
quint spring to that river could be made in one day, or if water could be found at some interme¬ 
diate point. The distance from the spring to the river, at a point near the northwest end of the 
Rock hills, can probably not exceed twenty-five miles. The Spanish trail itself, however, if it 
can be followed with wagons, is much shorter than the route here indicated; and I see no reason 
to apprehend any insurmountable obstacle from the appearance of the country, much of which 
was in view as we passed around it. But the distance from the Akanaquint spring to the San 
