Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-09-13


and often steril enough Asia people still in
the elementary state of ia nihes, living in deserts, with
other occupation than the animal search tor food, may
still be in that ancient quarter Of the globe but in Amer
lea such things new strange and
and dsceded when related But fatter myself that what
discovered, though enough satisfy curiosity su
excite it. and that subsequent explorations will
plete what has been commenced ttAA
This account Of the Great Basin win be remembered
belongs to the Alta California and has application Ore
gon whose capabilities may justify separate remark Re.
ferng to Journal for particular descriptions and for
tonal boundaries between good and bad Districts can only
say general and comparative terms that in that branch
of agriculture which implies the cultivation Of grains and staple
crops would be inferior TO the Atlantic Sates though many
parts superior for wheat while the rearing of focks
and herds would claim high place Its grazing capabilities
are great and even in the Indigenous grass there,
element of individual and national wealth may be found In
fact the valuable grasses begin within one hundred and fifty
miles Of the Missouri frontier and extend the Pacific
East OF the Rocky Mountains is the short curly grass
which the buffalo delight feed whence its Of buffalo,
and which still good when dry and apparently dead West of
those mountains it larger growth in clusters and hence
called bunch grass and which has second fall growth Plains
and mountains both exhibit them and have good pas
turage at elevation OF ten thousand feet In this spona
neous product the trading travelling find sub
sistence Tor their animals and in military operations
her OF cavalry may be moved and number OF cattle may be
driven and thus and horses be supported long exped
tons, and in winter in the sheltered situations.
Commercially the value Of the Oregon country must be
great washed it is by the north Pacific oceanfrontng
Asa-producing many of the elements of commensurate
and healthy in its cimate-and becoming naturally will
thoroughfare for the East India and China trade"
But little novelty of incident befe our travellers
during their comparatively easy journeying home
ward. On the 18th June they were about two de-
grees south of the South Pass in the Rocky Noun
tains, and
Sour course home says Capt F. "woud have been east
wady but that would have taken ground already
amned and therefore without the which would excite
curiosity souhwardy there were objects worthy to be
ploed to wit the approximation of the head-waters OF
three different rvethe Platte the Arkansas and the Grand
River fork of the Rio Colorado of the Gulf Of California the
Passes the heads of these and the three remarkable
mountain called Parks, in which they took their rise
One OF these Parks of the western side the
dividing ridge and visit would require once more
the summit of the Rocky Mountains the west and
then to the making, ALL with the transit
had just accomplished three crossings of that mountain
this section of its But mattel The coves the
heads of the rivers the approximation of their waters the
of the mountain passes and the locality of the
THREE all objects of interest," and although well
to hunters and appers unknown science and
history We therefore changed our course and turned up
the Valley of the Platte instead Of going down it.
"We crossed several small afiuents, and again made
fortified camp in grove The country had now become very
beautuirich in water and and to these
added the charm of scenery and pleasant weather"
After an interesting visit to the {" New and Old
Parks" which are described being fertile and
well wooded and watered valleys, and ga paradise
to all grazing animals" the party arrived on the
22d June at the summit Of The dividing ridge,
10 which Capt. F. gives estimated height of
| 300 feet.
Son the 23d met by party of Utah women who
told that the other side of the ridge their village
fighting with the Arapahoes As they had given us
this information, they filled the air with and lamentations
which made understand that of their chiefs had been
killed.
piney ridge leaving between and the small open
which the Utahs had very nudciously placed their
village, which, according the women numbered about 300
warriors Advancing in the Of the pines, the Arapa
hoes about daylight charged into the village, driving off
number of their horses and killing four among
them the principal chief Of the village They drove the horses
perhaps mile beyond the village the end Of hollow where
they had previously foed the edge of the pines Here
the Utahs had instantly attacked them in turn and according
to the report Of the getting rather best of the
day. The women pressed eargerly to join with their peo
pe and would Immediately have provided with the best
horses at the village but for interfere such
conflict Neither party friends, under pro
lection and each ready prey upon that could But
could not help feeling unusual excitement being
within few hundred yards of fight in which 500
closely engaged and hearing the sharp cracks Of their rifles
We in bad position and subject be attacked in it.
Either party which might meet victorious defeated
certain to fall upon and, gearing up Immediately we kept
close along the pines Of the ridge having between and
the village and keeping the scouts the summit give
notice Of the approach of Indians As passed by the vii
lage, which Immediately below us, hosemen gal
Looping and fro and groups Of people gathered around
those who wounded and Dead and who were being
brought in from the field We continued press on and
crossing another fork which in from the right after hav
ing made fifteen miles from the village, fortified ourselves
strongly in the pines short distance from the river.
The party arrived al Bent's Fort on the lst July,
where they were received
"With cordial welcome and friendly hospitality in the
enjoyment of which spent several agreeable days. We
were in the region where mountaneers
toned to live, and all the dangers and difficulties Of the road
being considered past four Of them including Carson and
w alker remained al the fort"
The expedition reached the little town of Kansas
on the banks of the Missouri river on the 3lst of
July, having made journey of 3,702 miles from
the Dalles of the Columbia, and of 1850 from Capt
Suffers settlement at New Helvetia.
During protraced absence Of fourteen months in the
course Of which had necessarily been exposed great
varieties Of weather and of climate, one case of sickness
had ever occurred among u.s.
Here ended our land journey and the day following our
ARRIVAL we found ourselves board steamboat rapidly gill
ding down the broad Missouri Our trayeworn animals had
not been sold and dispersed the country to labor
but were placed at good pasurage the frontier and are
now ready to do their part in the coming expedition.
The narrative concludes with the arrival at ST.
Louis on the 9th Of August where the party was
disbanded.
"Andeas Fuentes remained here having readily found
employment for the winter and of the men engaged TO
accompany me the present year.
Pablo Hernandez remains in the family OF Senator Benton
where he well taken Of and conciates good will by
his doclity, intelligence, and ainably General Almontc
the Mexican Minister at Washington TO whom he was Of
made KNOWN kindly offered take charge Of him and
TO carry him back Mexico but the boy preferred 10 remain
where he until he got an education for which he how
equal ardor and aptitude
"Ou Chinook Indian had his wish 10 zoe The whites 6I