Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-09-18

OF the most degraded rlOe OF Indians vet discovered
on contiuent-the root-diggers
1--WE had now entered a country inhabited by these
people and as in the course Of our voyage we shall
frequently meet with them in various stages of exis
tence, it will be well to inform you that scattered over
the great region west Of the Rocky Mountains and
south of the Great Snake river are numerous Indi-
ans whose subsistence is almost solely derived from
roots and seeds, and such small animals as chance
and great good fortune sometimes brings within their
reach. They are miserably poor, armed only with
bows and arrows, or clubs; and as the country they
inhablt is almost destitute of game, they have
means of obtaining better In the northern part
of the region just mentioned, they live GENERALLY in
solitary families and farther the SOUTH they are
gathered together in villages Those who live to-
gether in villages, strengthened by association, are
in exclusive possession of the genial and richer
parts Of the country while the others driven TO
the ruder mountains, and the more inhospable parts
Of the country. But by simply Observing iii accom-
panying along road, you will become better
acquainted with these people than could make you
in any other than very long description, and you
will find them worthy Of your interest
"Roots, seeds and grass, every vegetable that at
fords any nourshment, and every living animal thing
insect or worm, they eat. Neatly approaching to
the lower animal creation, their sole employment is
to obtain food and they constantly occupied in a
struggle 10 support existence"
On September 6, the party obtained the first view
of the object of their anxious Search the Great Salt
Lake:
sThe waters of the inland sea- stretching in still
and solitary grandeur far beyond the limit of vi
sion 1t was of the great points of the explora
ton; and we look eagerly the lake in the first
emotions of excited pleasure, ] doubtful if the
followers of Balboa felt more enthusiasm when, from
the heights Of the Andes they for the first time
the great western ocean. 1t certainly magni-
cent object, and noble terminus TO this part of our
expedition and to travellers SO long shut up among
mountain ranges, a sudden view over tie cxpanse of
had or,bl1
large islands raised their high rocky heads of the
waves but whether or not they were timbered was
still left TO our Imagination the distance too
great to determine whether the dark hues upon them
were woodland or naked rock. During the day the
clouds had been gathering black the mountains
to the westward, and while we were looking, storm
burst down with sudden fury upon the lake, aud
tirely hid the islands from our view. So far we
could along the shore, there not a solitary
tree and but little appearance of grass and, We
ber's fork, few miles below our last encampment,
the timber gathered into groves, and then disap
peared entirely"
The voyage on the lake and the preliminary anti
cipations are thus graphically described:
"Wlth Mr.. PreusS and myself, Carson, Bernier,
and Basil Laeunesse had been selected for the boat
expedition-the first attempted this interior
sea and Badeau, with Derosier, and Jacob, (the
lored man) were to be left in charge Of the camp
We were favored with most delightful weather To-
night there was brilliant sunset of golden orange
and green, which left the western sky clear and beau
tifally pure but clouds in the made me lose an
occulation. The frogs were singing around us, and
the evening was very pleasant, with temperature
of 60 deg.-a night of southern autumn. For
our supper had yampah the most agreeaby fla
vored Of the roots, seasoned by small fat duck which
had come in the way of Jacobs rifle. Around our
fire tonight were many speculations on what tomor
row would bring forth, and in our busy conectures
fancied that we should find every of the large
islands tangled wilderness of and shrubbery,
teeming with game of every description that the
neghboring region afforded, and which the foot Of
white man or Indian had never violated. Frequently
during the day clouds had rested on the SUBMITS of
their lofty mountains, and we believed that we should
find clear streams and springs of fresh water and
INDUCED in anticipations of the luxurious repasts
with which to indemnify ourselves for past
| privations Neither, in Our discussions, the
whirlpool and other mysterious dangers forgotten,
which Indian and hunters stories attributed to this
UNEMPLOYED lake. The men had discovered that, in
stead of being strongly sewed (ike that of the pre-
ceding year, which had so trumphatly rode the cam
of the Upper Great Platte) present boat
only pasted together in very Insecure manner. the
maker having been allowed so little time in the con-
struction, that he obliged to crowd the labor of
] two months into several days.
The insecurity of the boat was sensbly felt by us
and, mingled with the enthusiasm and excitement
that we all felt at the prospect of undertaking
which had never before been accomplished, was a
/ n
rious character to- our conversation. The momenta-
ry view which had been had Of the lake the day be-
fore, its great extent and rugged islands, dimy
amidst the dark waters in the obscurity of the sudden
storm, were well calculated to heighten the idea of
underlined danger with which the lake generally
associated.
"SeptemJer s-A calm, clear day, with sunrise
temperature of Al deg In view of our present enter
prise, part of the equipment of the boat had been
made to consist in three alright bags about three
feet long, and capable each of containing five gallons
These had been filled with water the night before
/ and were now placed in the boat with blankets
and Instruments consisting of sextant, telescope,
spy-gass, thermometer, and barometer"
ION September Q, the day was clear and calm the
thermometer at sunrise at 40 deg As is usual with
the rappers on the eve Of any enterprise our people
had many dreams, and theirs happened to be bad
one-oue which always preceded evil-and conse-
quently they looked very gloomy this morning but
we hurried through breakfast in order make
early start and have all the day before for our ad-
venture The channel in short distance became so
shallow that navigation at end, being
merely sheet of soft mud, with few inches of
ter and sometimes none at all forming the low water
shore of the lake. All this place absolutely COW
cred with hocks of screaming plover; We took of
our clothes, and, getting overheard commenced drag
ging the boat-making by this operation very curl
Gus tral and very disagreeabc smell In stirring up
the mud, as we sank above the knee at every step.
The water here was still fresh, with only an insipid
and disa greeable taste, probably derived from the bed
of fetid mud. After proceeding in this way about a
mile we to a small black ridge the bottom,
beyond which the water became suddenly SALT be-
ginning gradually to deepen, and the bottom was
dy and firm. 1t remarkable DIVISION separat-
ing the fresh water of the rivers from the briny
ter of the lake, which was entirely saturated with
common salt. Pushing our little vessel across the
narrow boundary we sDranu on boar and at length