Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-09-20

Lsggings, moccasias, clothing-all were put |
into the best state to resist the cold Our guide
was not neglected. Extremity OF suffering ,
might make him desert we therefore did the !
best we could for him. Leggings, moccasins, |
some articles OF clothing, and large green
blanket, in addition to the blue and scarlet cloth,
were lavished upon him, and to his great ard
evident conten,ment. lie arrsyed himself in
all colors and, clad in green, blue, and scarlet,
we msde this gay looking Indian and, with
his various presents, was probably richer and
better clothed than any of his tribe had ever
been before
81 have already said that our provisions were
very low we had neither tallow nor grecse of
any kind remaining and the want of salt De.
came our greatest priyaion. The poor dog
which had been found in the Bear river valley,
and which had been chamrcgncn de roy0ge
ever since, had now become fat, and the mes
to which it belonged requested permission to
kill it. Leave was granted. Spread out on the
snow, the meat looked very good and it made
strengthening meal for the greater par, of the
camp. Indians brough; in two or three rabbits
during the day, which were purchased from
them"
"To night" (ith OF Fcbrunry) continues the
narrative" we had had no shelter but we made
large fire around the trunk ut one of the huge
pines, and covering the snow with small boughs
on which we spead our blankets, soon made
ourselves comfortable. The night was very
bright aud clear, though the theimomcer was
only at 10 deg A strong wind, which sprang
up at sundown, made it intensely cold, aud was
one OF the bit,erest nights during the journey.
"Two Indians ined our party hero, snd one
of them, an old man, Immediately began 10
harangue us, saying that ourselves and animals
would perish ir the snow, and that # we would
90 back he would show us another and better
way across the mountain lie spoke in very
loud voice, and there was singular repetition
Of phrases and arrangement of words, which
rendered his speech striking and not unmnscal.
ave had now began TO understand some
words, and, with the aid of signs, easily com.
pretended the old mans simple IDEAS. Rock
upon rock-rock upon rock--snow upon snow
snow upon snow snid he; 'even if You get
from the maintains He made lis signs of pre-
cipices, and showed US how the feet OF lh'
horses would slip and throw them of from the
narrow trails which led along their sides Oul
Ii I,
than ourselves, and believed our situation hope
less covered his heal with his blanket, nnC
began to weep and lament. 4 wanted to see tn,
/ whites said he Il came away from my owl
people 10 see the whites, and wouldn't cnr'
to die among them; hut here'-and he locke,
around into the cold night and gloomy forest
aud drawing his blankut over his head, began
! TO lament
"Ssated around the tree, the fire illuminate,
the rocks and tall bols of the pines aronn
about, aud the old Indian haranguing, we pre-
sented a group Of very serious faces.
"February 5-The night Ind been too col
to sleep, and we were up very early, Oar gurd
was standing by The fire with all his fnery OF
and, seeing him shiver in the cold, threw o
his shoulders one of my blankets We misse
him few mnutrs afterwards, and never say
him again. He had deserted. lis bad ia'
aud treachery were in perfect keeping wit
the estimate of Indian character which Ion
intercourse with this people gradually force
upon my mind
On the IO'h of Eejrpary, ",he wind kept III
mir filled with snow dnriug the day; the *
was very dark IN the southwest, though e's'
where very cl,ar The forest here has mob
appearcuce the tall cedar is abundant, lis gres
est heigh, being 1870 feet, and c'rcumleren'
r %. three or four feet above IN" grohnd' al
here see for the irs, time the white plhe'
! which there are some magnificent trees. ties
lock snrucc is among the timber, occasional
, as large as eight tee, III diameter iuht i''' 7h"'
} the ground but in ascending, II lapers RAPID
: to less than one foo, at tie height ci II lee
n | have not seen any higher than l3O feet n
s the slight upper parts is frequently broken oil
l. the wind. The white spruce IS ifequeni' a
n the red pine (pinus colorado Of the Mexican
d which constitutes the beautiful forest elong I
y banks Of the Sierra Nevada TO the no'ihwa
J. is here the principal tree not attaining gre
E. ter height than l40 feet, though with son
G times a diameter OF ~. Most Of these ire
s. appear to differ slightly ffcm those Of the sal
at kind on the other side OF the continent.
'e "'fhe elevation OF the camp ~ the bol'i
n. point is $3.50 feet. We are now l,c00 {
a. above the levei of the South Pass IN the :
a. | Aountsins md still a. are uos