Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-10-18
From the Evening Post.
captain Fremont's second Expedi-
fcoNCLUDED.)

tribe of Indians yet discovered on our
routinent-the root diggers: 81
awe had now entered country IN
babited by these people; and as in the
course of our voyage we shall frequent
10 meet with them in various stages of
Existence, it will be well to inform you
that scattered over the great region
vest of the Rocky Mountains and south
Of the Great Snake river. are numerous
Indians whose subsistence is almost
solely derived from roots, and seeds,
and such small animals as chance and
GREAT good fortune sometimes bring
within their reach. They are misera-
bly poor, armed only with bows and ar
rows, or clubs; and as the country they
;rhabit is almost destitute Of game, they
have no-meaas OF obtaining better arms.
In the northern part Of the region Just
mentioned, they live generally in sol
itary families; and farther to the south,
they are gathered together in villages.
Those who live together in villages,
strengthened by association, are IN ex-
elusive possession of the more genial
and richer parts Of the country; while
the others are driven to the ruder
mountains, and the more inhospitable
parts Of the country. But simply OBJ
serving, in accompanying us along our
road, you will be better acquainted with
these people, than we could make you
in any other than very long descrip-
ton, and you will find them worthy Of
your interest.
''Roots, seeds, grass, and every vege-
table that affords any nourishment, and
every living animal thing, insect or
worm, they eat. Nearly approaching
to the lower animal creation, their sole
employmentis to obtain food, and they
are constantly occupied in struggle
TO support existence.
On September 6, the party obtained
the first view of the object of their anx-
ious search. the Great Salt Lake:
"The waters Of the Inland Sea,
stretching in still and solitary grandeur
far beyond the limit of our vision. 1t
was one Of the great points OF the ex'
plorat,on; and as we looked eagerly
over the lake in the first emotions Of
excited pleasure, amdoubtful If the fol-
lowers of Balboa felt more enthusiasm
when, from the heights of the Andes,
thew saw for the first time the Great
Western Ocean. 1t was certainly a
magnificent object, and noble ter
minus to this part of our expedition;
and to travellers so long shut up among
mountain ranges, sudden view over
the expsnse of silent waters had in it
somthing sublime. Several large is
lands raised their rocky heads out OF
the waves; but whether or not they
were timbered was still left to our i'm
agination. as the distance was TOO great
to determine if the dark heaps upon
them were woodland or naked rock.
During the day the clouds had been
gathering black over the mountains to
the westward, and while we were look
ing, a storm burst down with sudden
fury upon the lake, and entirely hid
the islands from our view. So far as
we could see, along the shore there
was not a solitary tree, and but little
appearance of grass; and on Wcber's
Fork, few miles below our encamp-
ment, the timber was gathered into
groves, and then disappeared entire
ly."
The voyage on the lake and the pre-
liminary anticipations are thus graphi-
cally described:
"Wi,h Mr.. Preuss and myself. Car.
son, B-rnier and Basil Lajcunesse, had
been selected for the boat expedition
the first ever attempted on this in
terror sea; and Badeau. with Dcrosier,
and Jacob. the colored many were TO be
left in charge Of the camp. We were
favored with the most delightful wea-
Their. Tonight there was brilliant
sunset of goldren orange and green,
which left the western sky clear and
beautifully pure; but clouds in the east
made US lose an occultation. The frogs
were singing around US, and the even
ing was very pleasant, with a temper
AZURE of 60 degrees-a night Of more
southern autumn. For our supper we
had yampah, the most agreeably ia
vored of the roots, seasoned by small
fat duck, which had come in the way
of Jacobs rifle. Around our FIRE to-
night were many speculstions on what
tomorrow would bring forth, and in