Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-02-25

" Ddio3h Iell more enthusiast
when, from the heights of the Andes, the
, % saw Tor The first time The great Wester
ocean II was certainly magnificent OF
- Ieet, and noble terminus TO this part {
! our expedition; and TO travellers SO lon
: smut up among mountain ranges, sudde
d view over the expanse OF silent water
had ~ II something sublime. Severn
afge islands raised their high rocky head
: out OF the waves; but whether or not the,
were llmbered, was suIl left to our inagi
nation, as the distance was too great 10 de
termne if the dark hues upon them wer,
: woodland OF naked rock During The day
me clouds had been gathering black over
me mountains to the westward, and, while
we were looking, storm burst down with
sudden Jury upon the lake, and entirely
ma the Islands from our view. So far as
we could see, along the shores, there was
not solitary tree, and but little appear,
ance OF grass; and on Weber's fork, n
lew miles below our last encampment, the
timber was gathered into groves, and then
disappeared entirely. AS this appeared
TO be the nearest point TO The lake, where
a suitable camp could be found, we direct.
ed our course to one of the groves, where
we found handsome encampment, with
good grass and an abundance of PUSHES.
Sept. The day was spent in active
preparation Tor our intended voyage on The
lake. On the edge of the stream a layo
raole spot was selected in grove, and
telling the timber, we made strong pen
Tor the animals, and little fort for The
people who were 10 remain. We were
now probably in the country of the Utah
Indians, though none reside upon the lake.
The lndla-rubber boat was repaired with
prepared cloth and gum, and filled with air.
IN readiness for the next day.
The provisions which Carson had bro't
with him being now exhausted, and our
stock reduced TO small quantity of roots.
determined to retain with me only a suf. |
hclent number Of men for the execution Of
our design; and accordingly seven we're
sent back TO Fort Hall, under The guild
ance OF Francois Laieunesse, vino, bay.
ing been Tor many years a tiapper in tho
country, was considered an experienced 4
mouhtalneer. Though they were provid.
ed with good horses, and the road was
remarkably plain one ofonly four days Jour.
ney Tor a horseman, they became Devil.
dered, las we afterwards learned,) and
losing their way, wandered about in the ,
country in parties of one or two, reaching i
The tort about a week afterwards. Some
itsagged in Of themselves, and the others i
were brought in by the Indians who had h
picked them up on Snake river, about six. S
y miles below the fort, travelling along I,
he emlgrant road in full march for the /
over Columbia. The leader of this adj t
'enlurous party was Francois. V
We formed now but small family - tt
With Mr. Preuss and myself, Carson, Ber- f
ier, and Basil Laieunensse, had been &C. a
eced for the boat expedition the first ev- d
r attempted on this interior sea; and Ba. II
eau, with Derosier, and Jacob, were to be "
stt in charge Of The camp We we're "a v
ored with most delightful weather. For "
ur supper we had yampab, the most Il
greeably favored Of the roots, seasoned ii
y small fat dnck, which had come in ct
le way Of Jacobs rifle. Around our fire III
"night were mahy specuIatons on what cl
'-mcrrow would bring forth, and in our q
lsy conJectures we lancied that we th
louid find every one Of the large islands W
tangled wilderness Of trees and shrubbe. m
:, teeming with game Of every descrip. ar
"a mat The nelghboring region afforded, 70
I'd which the foot Of white man had "
ever violated. Frequently, during the tn
y, clouds had rested on the SUBMITS Of 10
cir loiiy mountains, and we believed that ell
should ind clear streams and springs mt
fresh water; and we INDUCED ia ann. W.
Dations Of the luxurious rcpasts with thu
hich we were 70 indemnify ourselves for ini
st prgatlons. Neither, in our Discus SCI
ms, were the whirlpool and other mysle- on
JUS dangers forgotten, which Indian ana sal
nter's stories attributed 10 this unexp5r- PR
lake. The men had discovered that. thu
stead Of being strongly sewed (like that div
the previous year, which had so trium- an
anily rode the canons Of the Upper bel
reat Plaite,) our present boat was only air
sled together IN a very insecure man to
r, the maker having been allowed so t. wo
time IN the construction, that he was cha
llged 10 crowd the labor Of two months the
% several days The insecurity Of the ven
at was sensihIy felt BY US; and mingled pei
III The enthusiasm and excitement that low
all felt Of the prospect Of an undertak Of
, which had never before been accom- The
shed, was certain impression OF dan see
r, sufficient 10 give a serious character
our conversation. The nomentary we
w which had been had of the lake the VIII
7 before, is great extent and rugged VIII
ands, dinly seen amidst the dark wa. end
! in the obscurity Of the sudden storm, as
re- well calculated to beighlen the idea aloi