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

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the upper water Of the Salmon Trout river II was hardly
necessary say that communication was only by signs
as understood nothing OF their language but they spoke
notwithstanding, rapidly and vehementy, explaining what
they considered the folly of Intentions and urging us To 90
down to the lake. Iah-pe a word signifying, now we
very learned to know, from lis frequent repetition
told him that the and the horses were strong and that we
would break road through the and spreading before
nm our bales OF scarlet cloth and nke showed him what
we would give for guide Il necessary to obtain one
possible for had determined here attempt the passage
of the mountain Pulling bunch of grass rom the ground
after short discussion among themselves, the old man made
US comprehend that If could break through the snow
the end of three days would down upon grass which
ne showed would be about inches high and where the
ground was entirely free So far he sad he had been in
hunting for elk but beyond that and he closed his ewes
ne had seen nothing but there among them who had
been to the Whites and going of the lodge he returned
with young of very intelligent appearance. Here said
he, is young who has the whites with his own eyes
and he swore first by the sky and then by the ground that
what he said With large present of goods we
prevailed upon this young to be guide, and he ac
CURED among the Meo-a word sgnifyng friend
which they used very frequently He hinly clad, and
nearly barefoot his moccaslns being about out We
gave him skins to make pair and enable him to per-
form his undertaking to The Indians remained in the
camp during the night and kept the guide and two others
sleep in the lodge with usCarson lying across the door
and having made them comprehend use of our firearms
The snow, which had nieted in the evening" commenced
falling again in the course of the night and it showed steadily
all day In the morning acquainted the with my deci-
great effort to clear the mountains reminded them of the
beautiful valley Of the Sacramento with which they were ia
mar from the descriptions of Carson who had been there
some fifteen years ago, and who late priyaons had
delighted in spanking OF its rich pastures and Astounding
game, and drew vivid contrast between its summer climate
less than hundred miles distant and the falling snow around
u.s. informed them (and long experience had given them
confidence in my observations and good nstruments that al
most directly west and only about seventy miles distant was
the great farming establishment of Captain Suer-a GENTLE
man who had formerly lived in Missouri, and emgnting
this country had become the possessor of princpaty
assured them that from the heights Of the mountain before us
should doubtless the valley of the Sacramento river
and with effort place ourselves again in the midst of
plenty The people received this decision with the cheerful
obedience which had always characterized the and the day
Immediately devoted the preparations to en-
able to carry into effect Leggings moccasins cloth
ng-a put into the best resist the cold Orr
guide was not neglected Extremity Of suffering might make
him desert therefore did the best could for him Leg
gng, moccasns articles of clothing and large green
blanket in addition to the blue and scarlet CLOTH were avshed
him, and to his great and evident He ar
ayed himself in all his colors and clad in green blue and
scarlet he made gaylooking Indian and with his various
PRESENTS probably richer and better clothed than any of
his tribe had ever been before
have already said that provisions very low we
had neither aow grease OF any kind remaining and the
want of salt became of greatest pvatons The poor
dog which had been found in the Bear valley and which
had been conpaa0n de royde snce had become
fat and the to which belonged requested to
kill it. Leave granted. Spread the snow the
meat looked good and made strengthening meal for
the greater part Of the Indians brought three
rabbits during the day, which purchased from them
tTo-nght Oath of February continues the narrative,
we had shelter but made large fire around the
trunk of one Of the huge pnes and covering the with
small boughs which spread blankets soon made
ourselves comfortable The night very bright and clear
though the thermometer only at l0o strong wind |
which sprang sundown made intensely cold, and this
Of the btterest nights during the journey.
"Two Indians joined our party here, and Of them,
old Immediately began to hangue us saying that
selves and animals would perish the snow and that il we
would go back he would show another and better way
the mountain. He spoke in very loud voice. and
there singular repetition Of phrases and arrangement of
words which rendered his speech striking and not unusca
We had now begun to understand words and, with
the aid of signs, easily comprehended the old mans simple
ideas. Rock upon rock-rock upon rock-snow upon
upon snow, said he seven you get the snow
yon will not be able to get down from the mountains He
made the of precpces and showed how the of
the horses would slip and throw them off from the narrow
trails which led along their Sides Our Chinook who com
pretended readily than ourselves believed our
situation hopeless covered his head with his blanket and be-
gan weep and lament Il wanted TO see the whites
said he Il away from my people to see the whites
and wouldn't care to die among them but here and he
looked around into the cold night and gloomy forest and
drawing his blanket his head began again lament
Seated around the tree, the fire Illuminating the rocks and
the tall bos OF the pines around about and the old Indian
harangung presented group of very serious faces
February 5.The night had been cold to Sleep and
up very early Our guide standing by the fire
with all his fnery on and seeing him shiver in the cold
threw his shoulders Of my blankets We missed him
few minutes afterwards and never him again. He had
deserted His bad faith and reachery in perfect keep
ing with the estimate of Indian character which long
with this people had gradually forced upon my mind
On the ION of February, the wind kept the air filled
with during the days the sky very dark in the south
west though elsewhere very clear The forest here has a
BILE appearance the tall cedar abundant its greatest height
being 80 feet and circumference 90 three above
the ground and here for the first the white pine
Of which there magnificent Hemlock spruce
among the TIMBER occasionally large eight diameter
four feet above the ground but in ascending apers rapidly
to less than foot at the height of 80 feet have
higher than 80 feet and the slight upper part frequent
ly broken off by the wind The white spruce is frequent
and the red pine, (pnus colorado Of the Mexican which
constitutes the beautiful forest along the TANKS Of the Sierra
Nevada to the nohwad, is here the principal tree,
tanning greater height than 40 feet though with sometimes
diameter Of TO- Most Of these appear differ slightly
from those Of the kind the other side Of the continent
The elevation Of the camp, by the boiling point is g. 050
feet We 1000 feet above the level Of the South
Pass in the Rocky mountains, and still not done
cendng The top Of fiat ridge bare Of snow, and
very well spnked with bunch grass sufficient 10 pasture the
animals two three days and this TO be their main
point Of support This ridge is composed Of compact trap
basat Of coumnar structure the surface scat
tered large boulders Of porous trap The hills in many
places entirely covered with small fragments Of volcanic rock
February l3."The meat train did not arrive this
ing, and gave Cooley leave to kill our little dog, (Tamath
which he prepared in Indian fashion, scoching of the hair
and washing the skin with soap and and then cutting
il up into pieces, which laid the Shortly af-
swards the sleigh arrived with supply Of horse meat and
had to night extraordinary dinner-pea SOUP mule,
and dog"
On the goth Of February, we encamped with the animals
and all the md Of the camp the summit Of the Pass in
the dividing ridge 1000 miles by travelled road from the