Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-07-15

ShFis Aiihs hNFkllbNo W.
"We continued short distance down
the creek, in which our guide informed US
that the water very soon disappeared nnd
turned directly to the southwark along the
foot of the mountain; the trail on which
we rode appearing TO describe the eastern
limit of travel, where water and grass ter
minated. Crossing low spur, which Dor
dered the creek, we deseened to a kind Of
plain among the lower spurs; the desert
being in full view on our left, apparently
ilimitable A hot mist lay over il to day,
through which it had a white and glisten-
ing appearance; here and there lew dry
looking buttes and isolated black ridges
rose suddenly upon it. 'There,' said our
guide, stretching out his hand towards it,
there are the great IldHos, (plains y no hay
aqua; no hay sGcate--ndda: there is nei-
Their water nor grass nothing; every ami
NAL that goes out upon them Dies Il was
indeed dismal TO look upon, and hard to
conceive so great change in SO short a
distance. One might travel the world
over, without finding valley more fresh
and verdant--more floral and sylvan -
more alive with birds and animNls--more
bounteousely watered--lhan we had left
in the San joaquin: here, within few
miles ride. vast desert plain spread he.
fore us, from which the boldest traveller
turned away in despair"
Their course was now necessarily south,
for this impossible desert lay on the east,
and the Sierra on the west; but on the l7lh
they arrived at little salt lake, in about
lat. 31t deg NJ, where they turned to the
east, travelling some distance through a
beautiful country OF flowers and green val
leys. The route cotinued eastward, close
at the foot of lofty mountains. over rocks
and sand, with the great desert on their
left. Vegetation was scarce, and sutil-
cheney Of grass obtained with difficulty,
On the 18th of April they struck the great
object Of their search, the Spanish Trail
the track which was to lead them 10 the
United States Ever since December
they had been prevented from moving
eastward, first by the Sierra Naveda, un-
Ill they found their way over It by the pass,
and afterwards by the desert, which lay
between them and the Spanish Trail
This long desired object they at last at
tained after passing quite around the south
ern extremity Of the desert. AT the time
of reaching the trail its coruse was nearly
north, and it beingS hard beaten track
they made rapid progress. The general
course of the trail is northeast This trail
! =, al D,,,It. IL ln, h, IDp
near the Pacific, to Santa Fe. Capt, F..
says "we found it The toughest and rock.
lest road we had seen in the country, and
il nearly destroyed our band of fine mules
and horses, Many animals are destroyed
on it every year, by disease called the
foot evil and traveller should never ven-
ture on it without having his animals well
shod,and also carrying extra shoes" Much
of this route is almost destitute Of water
or grtss, there being many intervals OF
from 40 to so miles entirely without wa.
Ter. The risks Of these intervals are sut-
ficiently marked, by the bones Of animals
that strew The way
On the 22d, they were in about lat. "a
deg. "a min. and Ion II deg. W. on the
banks Of a river running north, but which
was found TO be entirely swallowed up,
often short distance in The hot sands Of
the plains. Instead Of growing larger,
as usual, in It's course, It grew smaller,
until, from a stream sixty feet broad and
several feet deep, it disappeared IN the
sands. The route was mountainous. Con-
! a., lira,ttpn ,,lY tho lpeI
alter an interval Of sixteen miles the wa
ter re.appeared in low places where there
was timber This river, which finally dis
appears entirely, Is called, on Capt. Ere
mont's map, the Mohahpe. On the 25th,
the country had assumed the character of
an elevated mountainous desert, its gene
raj features being black rock ridges, bald
and destitute of timber, with sandy basins
between. Through these sandy basins
there struggled occasionly, scanty stream
or occurred hole Of water. The NOON
tain tops were covered with SHOWS and the
road was rough with stones of various sizes,
washed down from the ridges. The naked
barren aspect OF the route was relieved by
many beautiful plants and Towering shrubs.
Day after day, the party suffered extreme.
ly for want Of water. Often when found
it was salt To avoid the heat they tra-
yelled sometimes during the night and
moslened their mouths by chewing juicy
roots and vegetables. Like the camels in
the deserts OF Arabia, their mules scented
water al the distance Of two or three miles,
and ran with all their strength ill they
arrived al il.
The party we're much annoyed by the
predatory habits Of the Pah-uah Indians
who occupy the country between lat. SO
deg. and 81 deg. N. These Indians crow.
ded about the party in large numbers,
and strict guard was required to be