Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-30

TO camp, after remaining here an hour two
panied by number Of Indians
In order recruit little the strength Of animals
obtain acquaintance with the locality remained her,
for the remainder of the day By observation, the latitude
the camp 42o Sc ST. and the diameter Of the lake.
meadow has been nmated, about 20 miles 1t is pic
uresque and beautiful spot and under the hand of cuva
ton, might become little paradise. Game found in thu
forest tmbered and snowy mountains skirt it, and fertility
chaactezes IT, Situated the heads of three rivers AM
the line of inland communication with California and nea
to Indians noted for treachery, will naturally in the pro
gess Of the settlement OF Oregon become point for mita
occupation and settlement
From Klamath lake. the further continuation of our voyage
assumed character OF discovery and exploration which
from the Indians here, could obtain no information to M
rect and where the imaginary maps OF the country instead
assisting, exposed suffering and defeat In our iourne,
across the DESERT Marys lake. and the famous Buenavenu
river, were two points which relied TO recruit the animal
and repose the party Forming agreeaby the best map
IN my possession, connected water-ne from the Rocky
mountains the Pacific ocean, felt other anxiety than
pass safely the intervening desert TO the banks OF the
Buenavenura where the softer climate Of southern
latitude, horses might find grass to sustain hem and
selves be sheltered from the gors Of winter and from the
hospabe desert The guides who had conducted far
journey about to and endeavored vain TO OBJ
tain others to lead us for few days. in the direction
(eas which wished to go. The chief TO whomI applied
alleged the want OF horses and the the mountains
across which would carry and the sickness OF
his family, reasons for refusing to go with US
heard the sound of gaopng horses and agreeaby
psed by the unexpected arrival of Klamath chief with
several Indians He seemed TO have found his conduct in
hospabe in letting the sangers depart without guide
through the snow, and had come with few Others to pilot
US day or two on the way.
On the 18th the party struck which, subsequent
information satisfied Capt F., the principal branch of the
Sacramento rivers and, consequently that this main auent
Of the bay OF San Francisco had its within the limits
the United States, and opposite tributary to the Columbia
and the head of the Klamath river which goes to the
north Of 42o, and within the United States
g December ia present. consisting of useful goods af
oded much satisfaction guides and showing them the
national flag explained that symbol of nation
and they engaged always TO receive in friendly manner
The chief pointed course, by following which we would
arrive at the big water, where be found
On the 9th of December we have the following
vivid description of the position of the expedition
and of the scenery which surrounded them:
We travelled this morning through about three feet
eep which, being crused very much the feet Of our
animals The mountain still gradually rose crossed
vera spring heads covered with quakng asp otherwise
all pine forest The air dark with falling snow which
where weighed down the The depths Of the for
est profoundly STILL and below felt breath of
the wind which whred the through their branches
found that required exeron of constancy to adhere
steadily to through the woods when we were I'M
certain how far the forest extended what lay beyond and
account of animals would be bad TO spend another
night the mountain Towards the forest looked clear
point could Riding rapidly ahead to this
spot found ourselves the verge of vertical and rocky
wall of the mountain. AT feet-more than thousand
feet belowwe looked into green prairie country in which
beautiful lake, twenty miles in length, spread
along the foot of the mountains its shores bordered green
Tass Just then the broke out among the Clouds and
Illuminated the country below, while around us the storm
ragged hercely Not particle of ice to be the
lake, its borders and all like summer or spring
The glow of the the valley below frightened up our
hearts with sudden pleasure and made the woods ring with
joyful shouts to those behind and gradually each came
up he stopped enjoy the unexpected Shiverng on
three feet deep. and stenng cold north wind we
exclaimed at that the of Summer Lake and Win
Ridge should be applied TO these proxmae places of
such sudden and violent contrast.
'sWe were Immediately on the verge of the forest
land, in which had been travelling many days and
looking forward to the east, be seen
Viewed from elevation, the face of the country exhibited
only rocks and grass and presented region which the
emisla became the principal wood furnishing to its scattered
inhabitants fuel for their fires building material for their hu
and shelter for the small game which ministers to their hun
and nakednes Broadly marked by the boundary of the
mountain WALL and Immediately below us were the first wa
tiers Of that great interior basin which has the Wahsach and
Bear river mountains for its eastern, and the Sierra Nevada
for its western m and the edge of which had entered up
wards of three months before at the Great Salt lake
g when we had sufficiently admired the below we
began to think about descending which here impossible
and turned towards the NORTH travelling always along the
rocky wall We continued for four five miles, making
Intellectual attempts several places and length succeeded
getting down at one which was extremely difficult of de-
cent Night had closed before the foremost reached the
,ottom and il dark before all found ourselves toge
her in the valley. There three four half dead dry
cedar trees the Shore and those who first arrived kndled
bright fires to light the others. One Of the mules rolled
and two three hundred feet into ravne but re-
covered HIMSELF without any other injury than his pack
and the howtzer was left midway the mountain until morning
BY observation the latitude of this 400 T 22
delayed until the day recover ourselves
and put every thing in ORDER and made only short camp
along the western shore of the lake, which, in the
temperature we enjoyed to-day, justified the we had
given It, Our course would have taken the other shore
and the highlands beyond but dstrusted the appear
ance OF the country, and decided follow plainly beaten
Indian trail leading along this side of the lake. We were now
IN country where the scarcity Of and of grass makes
travelling dangerous, and great caution necessary"
On Christmas day the party had made tour of
400 miles from the Dales, and were in latitude 40
deg. 90 min. 09 sec. andlongtude (about) 12l deg,
consequently on the dvision-line between Oregon
and Mexico. The narrative says:
"We reused Christmas morning by discharge from
the small andhowzer with which people sauted the
day. and the Of which bestowed the lake II was
the st time, perhaps in this and desoste REGION
which had been commemorated. Always, days Of
gous or national commemoraoD, voyageurs expect
unusual allowance and, having nothing else gave them
each little brandy (Which carefully guarded one Of
the most useful articles traveller carry) with some cof
fee and sugar, which here, where eaabe
sufficient to make them feast The day sunny and
warm and esuming our journey, crossed slight d
vdng grounds into similar basn walled in on the right bv
lofty mountain ridge. The plainly beaten trail still conn
ued and occasionally passed camping grounds OF the In
daD which indicated that on one of the grea,
thoroughares Of the country In the afternoon attempted TO
travel in eastern direction but after a few laborious
miles, beaten back into the basin by an impossible coun
try There fresh Indian tracks about the valley AMI