Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-09-06
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
CAPTAIN FREMONT's SECOND EXPLORING
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

terminated with the departure OF the expedition from
Captain Suffers hospitable settlement at New Hell
veta, on the banks OF tributary stream TO The
Sacramentos river, which falls into the Pacific by
The Gulf of San Francisco The party were now
further from home than they were four months be-
fore, when at the Dales of the Columbia, but they
took up the homeward line of march with cheerful
ness and resolution.
On the 9th March they had advanced through
the beautiful valley Of the Sacramenos and lis trl-
butaries, a distance of ninety miles from New
Helvetia.
ssAbout o'clock" says Captain F., 'swe again
among innumerable flowers and few miles further, fields
of the beautiful bluehowerng upne, which seems to love
the neighborhood Of WATER indicated that approach
ing stream We here found this beautiful shrub in thick
et of them being twelve feet in height Occasionally
three or plants clustered together forming grand
bouquet about feet circumference and feet high
the whole covered with spikes of flowers, the perfume
of which very sweet and grateful lover of natural beau
can imagine with what pleasure rode among these flow
ering groves, which filled the air with light and delicate fra
GRANGE We continued road for about halt mile, inter
spesed through open grove of live oaks, which, form,
the symmetrical and beautiful had yet in
this country The ends Of their branches rested ON the
ground forming somewhat than half sphere Of very
full and regular figure with leaves apparently smaller than
usual
"The Californian poppy, of rich orange color, nu-
to-day Elk and several bands of antelope made their
appearance.
Sour road continued enjoyment and il was
pleasant riding among this assembage OF green pastures with
varied flowers and scattered groves and of the green
spring. look the rocky and snowy peaks where lately we
had suffered so much"
On the lst of April the party met with bands Of
elk, one OF which numbered about two hundred.
On the 4th they were still on the banks of the San
Joaquin.
Here the country appears very fiat oak trees have
trey disappeared and replaced by large willow nearly
equal TO in size. The about hundred yards in
BREADTH branching into slough and ntespersed with islands
Al this time appears sufficiently deep for small steamer
but Its navigation would be broken by shadows low
" The praries along the left bank alive with immense
droves Of wild horses and they have been during the
day every opening through the woods which afforded
view the Latitude by observation, 37o 0S O0"
longitude 1909 AS 22"."
The route of the expedition led through tolera-
bly, fertile and pleasant country until the 18th April
when the soil became sandy and vegetation meager.
Towards the close of the afternoon reached ocrably
large river which emptes small lake the head Of the
valley is about thirty five yards wide, with stoRey
gravey bed and the swtest have crossed
leaving the bay The bottoms produced grass though
well numbered with willow and cottonwood and after ascend
ing for several miles, made late encampment little
bottom, with scany In greater part the vegetation
along road consisted of and unusual plants
among which many entirely new.
On the l3th we reached the bottom of creek without
water, which the sandy beds dispersed in many
branches. Immediately where struck it the timber ermi
mated and below to the right broad bed Of dry and
bare sands There many tracks of Indians and horses
imprinted the sand which, with other indications, informed
Us was the creek issuing from the pass aud which the map
have called Pass creek We assembled trail for a few
miles along the creek and suddenly found stream Of
five feet wide, running with lively bat losing itself
almost Immediately. This little showed plainly the
which the mountain lose themselves sand
at the eastern foot Of the Sierra leaving only parched desert
and arid plains beyond. The enlarged rapidly and
the timber became abundant assemble species
Of pine made It's appearance with seve kinds Of oaks and
variety Of trees and the country changing appearance
denly and entirely found ourselves again travelling among
the old orchard-lke aces Hero selected delightful
encamPmen in handsome green oak hollow where, among
the bols OF the trees abundant sward of grass
and pea vines In the evening Christian Indian rode into
the camp well dressed with long spurs, and soDbreo and
speaking Spanish fuenty Il Unexpected appaon
and strange and pleasant sight in this desoae gorge Of
mountainan Indian face, Spanish costume ngng spurs
and horse equipped after the Spanish He informed
that he belonged Of the Spanish missions the
South, distant three days de and that he had obtain
ed from the priests leave to spend few days with his relations
IN the Sierra Having us enter the pass he had come
down to visit He appeared Familiarity acquainted with
the country and gave definite and clear information
regard the desert region OF the mountains had
tered the pass with strong disposition 10 vary my route and
20 travel directly towards the Great Salt Lake. tn,
view Of obtaining acquaintance with the interior Of h,
Great Basin, while pursuing direct for the frontier
but his representation which described arid and barren
DESERT that had repused by its ery all the attempts Of The
Indians to penetrate IL determined for the present TO
nqush the plan and agrceaby his advice, after crossing
the Sierra continue intended along its base
to the Spanish trail By this route party OF six Indians
who had come from great in the eastern part Of h,
desert trade with his people, had just started their
He would himself the day TO San Fcman
do and roads would be the for days. he Of
fered his services to conduct far way His offer
gladly accepted"
"AprI 4-0ur guide joined this morning on the trail
and arriving a short distance open bottom where the
creek orked continued up the ghhand branch, which
enriched by profuson flowers and handsomely wooded
with sycamore, oaks cottonwood, and willow with Other
trees and shrubby plants 10 its long strings Of bale
this sycamore differs from that Of the United States and The
pdtd1us occideRds Of Hookera Species recently de-
scbed among the plants collected III the voyage Of the Sui
phur The cottonwood varied foliage with white tufts, and
the feathey seeds flying pentuly through the air
Gooseberes nearly ripe very abundant the noun
tain and passed the dividing grounds which not
very easy ascertain, the air filed with perfume,
we entering highly cultivated garden and, instead o.
pathway and the sides covered with
fields Of yellow flowers which here the prevailing color
whose and floral beauty offered delightful contrast to
sight on the 6ut Of the mountain which owncd down upon
US on The nigh, bot behold with feelings Of pleasant
security as We rode along between green trees and flowers
win hunmng birds and other ieaercd friends Of the traveller
tNehihs we serene spring air. As reached the summit
:" hs beautiful pass, and obtained into the eastern
<untY W saw ~ once that hero tho place take leave
AZ such pleasant scenes those around The distant
hs were now hd rocks again aud below the land had any
oo' pui green aslng INTO consideration the nature Of the
oea we found this pass excellent for horses
and with ttue labor perhaps with more perfect exami-
nation Of the localities il might be made sufficiently
for wagons It's latitude longitude NAV m ina,
of our last encampmcnt only U r,lo ,ga, Tho oto,.