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

seven eight miles along the ridge bordering the valley
eneamped where there few lunches of grass the
bed OF hill torrent without water There large
aemislas; but the principal plants chenopodaceou:
shrubs The rock composing the here changed
suddenly into white granite The fog showed the tops of
hills at sunset and stars enough for observations in the early
evening" and then closed before Latitude by OBJ
servaton 400 49, 49,"
g January 4.--The fog to-day still more Dense and
the people again were bewdered We travelled few miles
around the western point of the RIDGE and encamped where
there few tufts of grass but water. Our animals
now were in very alarming stae and there increased
anxiety in the camp"
January 5-Same dense fog continued and one of the
mules died III camp this morning. have had
mark, such these that animals which are about
to die leave the band, and coming into the camp lie down
| about the fires"
On the 9th January they arrived says the narrative
the most extraordinary locality of hot springs had dur
ing the journey The basin OF the largest one has crcum-
ference Of several hundred feet but at one extremity
circular space OF about fifteen feet in diameter entirely occ
pied by the boiling water II bols up at irregular Intervals
and with much noise The water is clear and the spring
deep pole about sixteen feet long easily immersed in
the CENTRE but had Of forming good idea Of the
depth 1t was surrounded the margin with border Of
green grass and near the shore the temperature of the
was 2o6 We had means of asceraning that Of the
ire where the heat greatest but by Distressing the wa
e with poe the temperature at the margin increased
TO 20S and IN the centre il doubtless higher By y-
ing the pole towards the bottom the water was made to boil
up with increased force and noise There several other
they would require long description The water inpreg
mated with common salt but much SO as to render il
unit Tor general cooking and mixture of made plea
SAINT to drink"
which gave out from the injured condition of their feet and
those stolen by Indians had lost since leaving the Daes
OF the Columbia fifteen animals and Of these nine had been
lett IN the last few days. therefore determined until
should reach country OF water and vegetation feel our
way ahead by having the line of route explored fifteen
or twenty miles in advance, and only to leave present
campment when the succeeding known
Taking with me Cooley and Carson | made to-day
thorough exploration of the neghbong Valleys and found
ravne in the bordering mountains good camping place.
where was water in springs, and sufficient quany Of grass
for night 0vershadng the springs were some trees Of
the sweet which, after long interval of absence
we saw again with pleasure regarding them harbngers Of
better country To they eloquent green praries
and buffalo. We found here broad and plainly marked
trail which there tracks Of horses and we appeared
to have reganed Of the hooughares which pass by the
watering places Of the country. On the mountains Of
the valley, with which this Of the boiling spring communicates
we remarked scattered cedapobaby indication that we
were the borders of the tmbered region extending to the
Pacific We reached the camp sunset after DAVIS ride of
about forty miles The horses we rode were in good order
being OF that kept for and rarely used
Mr. Preuss had assembled of the mountains and
cupled the day in sketchng the country and Mr. Fitzpatrick
had found few miles distant hollow Of excellent grass and
pure water, to which the animals driven as remained
another day TO give them opportunity recruit their
strength Indians appear be every where providing about
IKE wild animals, and there fresh trail the
the valley near.
Latitude of the boiling springs, 400 80, 49,"
On the 18th of January the expedition reached
the inlet of large resh-water stream, which, says
Captain F.
s'We all at satisfied was neither Mary's river
nor the waters of the Sacramento but that had discovered
large interior lake. which the Indians informed US had no
outlet about thyfve miles long, and, by the mark of
the waterne along the Shores the spring level twelve
chi
ing IN loud voice approached and parties Of Indians
armed with bows and issued from the thckets We
selected strong place for encampmen-a grassy bottom
nearly enclosed by the river and furnished with abundant
wood The village, collection of straw hus was few
hundred yards higher up. An Indian brought in large fish
to trade which we had the nexpressbe satisfaction find
was salmon trout gathered around him eagerly The
Indians were amused with delight and Immediately brought
in numbers that the camp stocked Their flavor
excellent superior fact any fish have known
They of extraordinary szeabout large the Co
unbia river salmon-genealy from two to four feet in
length"
These Indians very fat and appeared live an easy
and happy life. They crowded into the camp than
consistent with safety, retaining always their and
they made unsatisfactory demonstrations, they
given understand that they would he permitted to come
armed into the camp and strong guards kept with the
horses Strict vigilance maintained among the people,
and one-thd at time kept guard during the night
There is to doubt that these dispositions uniformly
preserved, conducted party securely through Indians fam
ed for reachery.
" In the tme such salon-trout feast as is seldom
seen going camp and in every variety Of man
ner in which fish could be peparedboed fried and roasted
in the asheswas put into requision and every few mi
nutes Indian would be running off to spear fresh
Whether these Indians had seen whites before we could
not be certain but they evidently communication
with others who had Of them had brass buttons
and noticed several other articles Of civilized manufacture
We could obtain from them but little information respecting
the country They made the ground drawing Of the
river which they represented issuing from another lake in
fnurI
west Of south beyond which, they drew mountain and
further STILL two rivers Of which they told us that
people like ourselves travelled Whether they alluded TO the
settlements on the Sacramento, party from the United
States which had crossed the Sierra about three degrees TO
the southwark few years since, unable to determine
"ltned unsuccessfuy to prevail Of them to guide
US Tor few days on the road but they only looked each
other and laughed"
On the 24th OF January we meet with the fol-
lowing traits of Indian life and manners:
CA discovered running towards the camp as we
were about TO start this morning. who proved an Indian
Of rather advanced age-a Of foorn hope who seemed
TO have been worked up into the resolution Of visiting the
strangers who were passing through the country He seized
the hand of the first he met as he came IN ont Of
BREATH and held on to himself of protection He
brought with him in little skin bag few pounds OF the
seeds of pine tree which to-day we saw for the first time
and which Dr. Torcy has described new species under
the name OF pnus nonophyHus: in popular language Il
might be called the nut pine We purchased them all from
him. The nut oily, of very agreeable flavor and must be
very nutritious as constitutes the principal subsistence Of
the tribes among which now travelling By present
Of scarlet cloth and other striking articles we prevailed upon
this man TO be our guide Of two days journey As clearly as
possible by signs made him understand our object and
he engaged to conduct in sight Of good pass which ne
knew Here we ceased to hear the Shosonee language that