Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-01-28

lrult.
Great South Pass
August S.--About six miles from our
encampment Drought US to the summit -
Tho ascent had been so gradual, that, with
all the intimate knowledge possessed by
Carson, who had made this country hi,
home for seventeen years, we were oblig
ed 10 watch very closely TO find the place
at which we had reached the culminaung
point This was between two low hills,
rising on either hand fifty or sixty leet---
When looked back al them from the foot
OF the immediate slope on the western
plain, their submits appeared 10 be about
100 feet above. From the impression on
my mind at this time, and subsequently, on
our return, ! should compare the elevation
which we surmounted immediately at the
Pass, TO the ascent OF the Capitol hill from
the avenue at Washington. II is difficult
Tor me to fix positively the breadth Of this
pass. From The broken ground where it
commences, at the foot of the Wind river
chain, the view to the southeast is over a
champaign country, broken, at the dis-
tanco OF nineteen miles, by the Table
rock; which, with the other isolated hills
in the vicinity, seems to stand on com.
paraliye plain. This judged to be its
termipalion, the ridge recovering lis rug.
ged character with the Table rock II
will DO seen that it in no manner resem.
bles the places 10 which the term is com.
monty applied-nolhing Of the gorge.llkc
character and winding asceots Of the All
leghany passes in America; nothing of the
Great 81, Bernard and Sumption passes in
Europe, Approaching it from the mouth
of the Sweet Water, sandy plain, one
hundred aud twenty miles long, conducts
the traveller, by gradual aud regular as.
cent, to the summit, about seven thousand
feet above the sea; and, without being 70
minded " any change, by loiIsome ascents,
he suddenly finds himself on the waters
which tiow to the Pacific ocean. By the
route wo had travelled, the distance from
Fort Laramie is 800 miles, Or $50 from the
mouth Of the Kansas.
SAWbNG Htt NbhWtuibos
August l0.--The air at sunrise is clear
and pure,-and the morning extremely cold,
but beautiful A lofty snow peak Of the
mountain is glitiering in the first rays Of
the sun, which has not yet reached us.
The long mountain wall TO the east, rising
two thousand feet abruptly from the plain,
behind which we see the peaks, is still
dark, and cuts clear against the glowing
sky. A fog, just risen from the river, lay
along the base OF the mountain. A lat
Tie before sunrise, the thermometer was al
80, and at sunrise, at 33. Water lroze
last night, and fires are very comfortable.
The scenery becomes hourly more lnte-
resting and grand, and the view here is
truly magnificent; but indeed il needs
something to repay the long prairie Jour
ney Of thousand miles. The sun has
just shot above the walls, and makes n ma.
glcaI change. The whole valley is glow.
ing and bright, and all the mountains are
cleaning ike silver. Though these snow
mountains are moi the Alps, they have
their own character Of grandeur and mag
nilicenre, and will doubtless find pens AMI
pencils TO do them justice. We were now
approaching the loftiest part Of the Wind
river chain. Winding our way up long
raylne, we came Unexpectedly in view of
a most beautiful lake, set like gem in the
mountains. Following its bank TO the
Southern extremity, view Of the utmost
and grandeur burst upon
our ewes. With nothing between us and
their feet to lessen the effect Of the whole
height, grand bed Of snow-capped noun.
lains rose before Us, pile upon pile, glow
ing in The bright light Of an August day
Immediately below them lay the lake, be.
tween two ridges, covered with dark pines,
which swep, d wn from The main chain Ia
The spot where we stood. Here, where
the lake gliltered in the open sunlight, ils
banks Of yellow sand, and the igh foliage
Of aspen grow es contrasted well with the
gloomy pines "Neyer before,n said Mr..
Prouss, "in this country or in Europe,|
have seen such magnificent grand rocks. "
| was so much pleased with the place, that
| determined 10 make the main camp here,
where our animals would find good pastu.
rage, and explore the mountains with
small party Of men. The lake is about 3
miles long, Of irregular width, and is the
head waters Of the third New Fork. ri.
bniary to the Colorado Of the West. -
Longitude ITO: 0s 90 west Of Greenwich,
latitude 43; 40: 40.
As will be seen on reference 10 a map,
On this shorl mountain chain are the head
waters Of four great rivers; namely, the
Colorado (oi California; Columbia, Mis-.
souri,, and Platte rivers.
Our animals had become very much
worn with the length Of the journey; game
was very scarce; and, though II does moi
appearin The course Of the narrative, Us
have avoided dwelling upon trihing inci.
dents not connected with The objects OF the
expedition,) the spirits Of the men had