The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-29

sixty eet WIDE and TWO fcct deep, with clear water
and swirl current over bed composed entirely OF
bottom here, on which were many lodge-poles lying
about and in the edge Of the surrounding timber
were three strong forts that appeared TO have been
recently occupied. At this place became first ac-
quein'ed with the yanPqt, CdtsiAuh grapeoisns,)
which ! found our Snake woman engaged in
digging III the low timbered bottom of The creek.
Among the Indians along the Rocky mountains,
and more particularly among the ,Shoshonee or
Snake Indians, In whose territory il is very
abundant, this is considered the best among the
roots used for food 10 ue, 1t was an interesting
plantA litts link between the savage and civilized
life. Here, among the Indians, its root is com
mon article Of food which they take pleasure in Of
portion OF America and Europe, the seeds are used
TO flavor soup. 1t grows more abundanuy, and in
greater luxuriance on of the neighborng tribu-
taries of the Colofado THANH any other part Of ths
region and On that stream, 10 which thu Shakes are
accustomed 10 RESORT every year 10 procure sup
name of Ydmpah river. Among the rappers, it is
generally known as Little Snake river; but, 10 this
and other instances, where il illustrated the history
of the people inhabiting the country, have pre-
erred retain on the map The aboriginal name BY
mcridional observation, the latitude is 40 as
59'."
On the 4th Of August he crossed the "North fork
an excellent ford. The hunters obtained abundance
of provisions. Strata of coal were also observed h
he BLUFFS.
From the quantity of game in this vicinity, Ere
mont determined to lay in store; and while engaged
upon il, one of those incidents occurred, to which
these expeditions are particularly liable, and which
show how unceasing has to be the vigilance of the
commander. We will relate 1t in his own words:
Gas we had large supply Of meat In the camp,
which it was necessary to dry, and the surrounding
country appeared to be well stocked with buffalo,
which ii was probable, after day or two we would
not see again until our return to the Mississippi wa
tiers, determined to make here provision Of dried
meat, which would be necessary for our subsistence
in the region we were about entering, which was
said to be nearly destitute Of game. Scaffolds were
accordingly soon erected, fires made, and the meat
cut into thin slices to be dried; and all busily
occupied when the camp was thrown into sudden
tumult, by charge from about 10 mounted Indians,
the low hills at the upper end of the little bot
tom. Fortunately, the guard, who was between
them and our animals, had caught glimpse Of an
Indians head, as he raised himself in his stirrups to
look over the hill, moment before he made the
charge; and succeeded in turning the band into the
camp, as the Indians charged into the bottom with
the usual yell. Before they reached us, the grove
on the verge of the little bottom was occupied by
our people, and the Indians brought to sudden
halt, which they made in time to save themselves
from howitxer shot, which would, undoubtedly,
have been very effective in such compact body;
and further proceedings were interrupted by their
signs for peace. They proved TO he war party Of
Arapeho and Cheyenne Indians, and informed us
that they had charged upon the camp under the be-
lief that hostile Indians and had discovered
their mistake only at the moment of the attack -an
excuse which policy required US to receive true,
though under the full conviction that the display of
our little howtzer, and favorable position in the
grove certainly saved our horses and probably our
Id
been a war party, and had been defeated, and
were, consequently, in the state of mind which ag-
gravates their innate thirst for plumber and blood
Their excuse, however, was taken in good part and
the usual evidences Of friendship interchanged The
pipe went round, provisions were spread, and the
tobacco and goods furnished the customary presents
which they look for even from traders, and much
more from government authorities"
We cannot forbear INDUCING here in a reflection
upon the necessity that these expeditions should be
well supplied with presents for the lndians-ihe
only cnecual means OF appensng their anger and Of
insuring their friendship. How is it that in all our
wars, the Indians have been against us9 How is it,
unless il be that We are always taking from them
others always giving to hems Our presents are scam
~ and mean--those of others abundant and sumptu-
An Indians idea of greatness is a compound of
vaor and generosity. Mere bravery is not sufi-
cent. They are themselves brave; but they are
not generous, because they are poor; and cannot
DC Intue 10 DeicVc tnat any ndtlOn BTeht WHICH
not generous Fear may keep them in subsection;
but il ID the subsection Of chained dog, who will
bite whenever at liberty and has no affection except
for the hand that feeds him. Our frontier is always
in fear of the Indians; the frontiers of other nations
are not; and we know of no reasons why it should
be so, unless it be those we have stated. Ncces
sty has obliged to purchase their lands, to dis
possess them Of their homes; but necessity has not
obliged us TO do this with harshness, with penu-
rous hand, with miserly policy, and then to treat
them as aliens TO the human race. Our policy must
be changed in these respects, if do not desire to
have old scenes recnactcd upon the Texan frontier.
On the 9Th, he left his encampmcnt at the "ford."
On the 7.h, he changed his route northwardly to
the valley of the Sweet Water
"Our road the next day was through continued
and dense field of ariemisia, which entirely
cred the country in such luxuriant growth that il
was difficult and laborous for foot to force
his way through, and nearly impracticable for our
light carriages. The region through which we were
travelling was high plateau, constituting the divi
ding ridge between the waters Of the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, and extending to considerable dis
lance southwark, from the neighborhood Of the Ia
bic rock, at the southern side Of the South Pass.
Though broken up into rugged and rocky hills Of a
dry and barren nature, it has nothing Of mountain
GUS character; the small streams which occasionally
occur belonging neither to the Platte nor the Colo
rado but losing themselves Either in the sand or in
small lakes. From an eminencc, in the afternoon,
a mountainous range became visible in the north, in
which were recognised some rocky peaks belonging
to the range of the Sweet Water valley; and, deter
mining to abandon any further attempt to struggle
through this almost impractcabe country, we turn
ed our course directly north towards pass in the
valley of the Sweet Water river. A shaft Of the
gun carriage was broken during the afternoon,
causing considerable delay; and il was late in an
unpleasant evening before we succeeded in finding
very poor encampm1ent, where there was little wa
- - L. ~...L II
grass among the shrubs All the game here con
sisted in few struggling buffalo bulls; and during
the day there had been but very little grass except
in some green spots where it had collected around
springs or shallow lakes.
"On the evening Of the 9th, we encamped on one
Of these fresh-waer lakes, which the traveller con-
sders himself fortunate to find; and the next day,
in latitude by observation 400 90 o., halted to
noon Immediately at the foot Of the southern side of
the range which wills in the Sweet Water valley,
on the head Of small tributary to that river.
.Continuing in the afternoon our course down
the stream, which here cuts directly through the