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

August S.-About six miles from our
encampment Drought US to the summit
The 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 to watch very closely to find the place
at which we had reached the eliminating
point. This was between two low hills,
rising on either hand fifty or sixty leet-i
When looked back at them from the foot
of the immediate slope on the western
plain, their SUBMITS appeared 10 be about
100 Ieet above. From the impression on
my mind at this time, and subsequently, on
our return, should compare.the elevation
which we surmuunted immediately at the
Pass, to the ascent Of the Capitol hill from
the avenue at Washington. Ii is difficult
for me to fix positively the breadth of this
pass. From The broken ground where il
commences, at The foot of the Wind river
chain, the view to the southeast is over a
champaign country, broken, at the dis
lance of niReteen miles, by the Table
rock; which, with the other isolated hills
IN the vicinity, seems to stand on a com
paraive plain. This | Judged to be It's
termination, the ridge recovering It's rug
ged character with the Table rock. Ii
will be seen that it in no manner resem-
bles the places TO which the term is CON-
monty appied-no,hing OF the gorge-Ike
character and winding ascents of the Al
leghany passes in America; nothing of the
Great St. Bernard and Simplon passes in
Europe. Approaching it from the mouth
of the Sweet Water, sandy plain, one
hundred and twenty miles long, conducts
the traveller, by d gradual and regular as
cent, to the summit, about seven thousand
feet above the sea; and, without being re-
minded of any change, by toisome ascents,
he suddenly finds himself on the waters
which flow to the Pacific ocean. By the
route we had travelled, the distance from
Fort Laramie is 800 miles, or $50 from the
mouth of the Kansas.
Among the Mountains.
August l0.-The air at sunrise is clear
: hand pure, ana 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
d sky. A fog, just risen from the river, lay
] along the base of the mountain. a lit
j tie before sunrise, the thermometer was a
! 80, and at sunrise, at 30. Water frOZe
;. last night, and fires are very comfortable
i. The scenery becomes hourly more Int
n resting and grand, and the view here /:
: truly magnificent; but indeed it need:
d something to repay the long prairie jour
+ ney of thousand miles. The sun ha:
t Just shot above the walls, and makes ma
It glcal change. The whole valley is glow
) ing and bright, and all the mountains arr
o cleaning like silver Though these snoS
n mountains are not the Alps, they have
their own character of grandeur and mag
d nificenre, and will doubtless find pens an
n pencils to do them Justice. We were nov
e approaching the loftiesi part of the Win
n river chain. Winding our way up lon!
y ravine, we came Unexpectedly in view @
1t most beautiful lake, set like gem in n
y mountains. Following its bank 10 tn
/ southern extremity, view of the uimOS
; magnifcence and grandeur burst upor
x our ewes. With nothing between us an
II their feet to lessen the effect of the Who'll
e height, grand bed of snow capped noun
], lains rose before US. pile upon pile, glow
e ing in the bright light of an August day
e Immediately below them lay the lake, be
e tween two ridges, covered with dark pine:
ID which swept .wn from the main chain {
* the spot where we stood. Here, wher
n the lake giiltered in the open sunlight, II
to banks of yellow sand, and the light folIag
g. of aspen groves conirasted well with tn
1r gloomy pines "Never BEFORE" said NJ
o. Preuss, Sin this country or in Europe
a have seen such magnificent grand rocks.
lie | was so much pleased with the place, tn;
determined to make the main camp here
lie where our animals would find good pastr
d, rage, and explore the mountains with
W small party of men. The lake is about
I'd miles long, of irregular width, and Is tn
at head waters of the third New Fork, a tr
4 butary to the Colorado of the West
lg Longitude 10: 0s: O3 west Of Greenwic
IN latitude 43: 40: 40.
"a As will be seen on reference TO a ma
e, on this short mountain chain are the hes
ur waters of four great rivers; namely, II
d, Colorado Got California; Columbia. Mi
ed souri,, and Platte rivers.
e, Our animals had become very mnC
Ie, worn with the length Of the journey; gan
as was very scarce; and, though IT does n
re appear in The course oil the narrative, las
n have avoided dwelling upon triAing in'
All dents not connected with the objects of Il
ge expedtion,) the spirits of the men hi