Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-17

by extensive gades Of cotonwoods offered delightful
feeling Of security, though within
the confines Of civilization
| We travelled the Mormon wagon trail leading
to San Bernardno in the south Of California We had
heard Of route leading OWENS river thence
through pass in the Sierra Nevada which leads into
Tuare Valley the head Of the four creeks but un
fortunately unable to take this route, for
could neither obtain guide nor information the
subject and moreover, il would have been departing
from his views Of examining the country the Mo-ha-
yeh for the purpose of locating Indians there for Mr.
Beae have altered his The by Ovens
river shorens the distance nearly two hundred miles,
cutting off the large elbow the southwest and accord
ing to the accounts had received it conducts
tolerably level well watered, and grassy country.
We rested for short time at noon, and then travelled
until 10 r. NJ over level plain and good wagon road,
on each side of which much dry grass but
no water until encamping pega Ia meadow which
we reached through gap in the mountain left
This meadow about miles in extent penetrating
deep into the mountains and, although there little
running water yet the grass every where green and
tetelar 2-.iL-- i,aQl- ruffes.
August 5.-We returned the plain and continued to
travel south by west until noon when encamped in
the most southern of the which beautiful
than any had seenrch in waving grass and watered
by numerous rils 1t is enclosed by low ridge hills
Its decty is mostly to the being the edge
OF the Great Salt Lake Basin in fact the divide for
portion Of its waters into the Basn whilst the Rio de
Santa Clara, which into the Rio de 10 Virgin
butary of the Great Colorado, takes its rise here
These pe2aS are called by the Mormons the mountain
meadows"
In the afternoon, travelling south, we descended q
slope which brought us after dark to the Santa Clara
creek, near which encamped.--28 miles; 1,419.
Angaa 6.-The Santa Clara, where we encamped, is
slender rill but few miles lower down its volume is
considerably increased by the accession Several streams
we we're now approaching the desert, and this day
travelled only ten miles, to allow animals recruit
By rest aud food The road followed down the stream
aud, although level, was much overgrown with bushes
After travelling few miles met small party of
PahUtah indians who evnced great JOY at seeing us.
accosing with confidence and without fear On ap-
proachng their village, collection of miserable bush
huts, met by an aged Indian apparently their
chief holding in his hand pipe, the stem Of which
reed and the bowl piece of tim With much gravity he
bade welcome to his village, and, after blowing three
wreahs Of smoke towards the sun, he offered their
symbol Of friendship, with whchFwe initiated his exam
pie. As soon we had dismouned venerable squaw,
lsborng under great excitement, rushed towards Mr.
Beale, and sczng his hands, forced into them couple
o.green tnias prcky pears which she invited him to
eat, ceremony, have doubt having meaning as
my stical the first And thus, having entered into
bonds TO keep the peace and complied with all the exi
genees Of etiquette were considered the guests of the
nation.
Among these Indians witnessed one of the benefits
which they derive from their intercourse with the Nor
mons, who take every opportunity to ameiorate the
diton Of this wretched tribe Near their village
large and well-irrgated field, cultivated with care and
planted with cora, pumpkins, squashes, and melons.
The Pah-Utah Indians the greatest horse thieves
the continent Rarely attempting the bold coupsde
Of the Utahs they generally dog travellers during
their march aud follow their trails like jackals
ting of any straggers whom they surprise and
power and picking up such animals stray from the
band lag behind from fatigue At night lurking around
the camp and conceaing themselves behind rocks aud
bushes they communicate with each other by mtatngthe
sounds Of birds and auimals They ride, but
food the horses aud mules they STEAL and, If within
arow-shot of Of these animals, poisoned shaft
cures him as their prize. Their bows and ar
rows tipped with obsdian, and lances sometimes pointed
with iron which they obtain from the wrecks Of wagons
found along the road they used pronged stick to
drag lizards from their holes.
The Indians being apprehensye that animals might
respass their field which was without enclosure,
permitted them TO drive the band several miles up the
stream, where had noticed abundance of white clo
and whilst thus eonfding in them had security
for their honesty by several Indians passing the night in
camp, where they laid the fire, coied up like
dogs besides which their and children and entire
crops which they depended for their subsistence dur
ing the approaching winter, were also in our power
In the afternoon visited their huts which presented
squaid of dirt aud wretchedness When the
men approaching they concealed their children.
fearing that might wish TO carry them off Noticing
that ehing moved under large wicker basket one
Of us examined Its contents, which found to be
little naked fellow, his teeth chattering with fear.
Yearly expeditions fitted out in New Mexico to
trade with the for their children aud
often had to foul to force their parents to part
with them So il TO make rad for this pur-
pose that it is considered Objectionable than
TO go on buffalo or mustang hunt One Of our men,
Jose Gaego, who old hand a this species of man.
hunting, related to us, with evident gsto
ecdotes this subject; and approached the viii
age, he rode up Mr. Beae and eagerly proposed to
him that should charge il like HI, kill the
mans, and maybe catch Of the little boys and gals"
Our camp was All day crowded with men and squaws;
the former had reduced their costume to first principles
and the latter were attred in style OF the most
primitive simplicity They spoke with great volublity
and yehemence, using many gesculaons regardless of
the of other Indians Of speaking but
at time II appeared though they thought aloud,
and not addressing any one ia particular. Our
ragged and orlon appearance, unshsven chns and
SCARED yisages excited great nerrimen and they used
ceremony in pointing and laughing at uss-.0 miles,
|, ,429 miles
August The Indians drove our animals into camp
before dawn and the road at SUNRISE travel
ling down the Santa Clara In ten miles the road dyerg
ed the right from the creek and for eight miles passed
through region Of rugged and arid mountains and
canous when it entered upon inclined plane leading
the Rio de IA Virgin. Although generally level twas
rough road for wagons, aud with the exception Of
good spring, four miles from the Santa Clara
water until encamped on the Virgin scanty growth
Of cactus agars Amcrcdna greaseWood and small esdars
the only vegetation after leaving the creek. Pah
Utah handed OF wheat the grains Of which
preserved and he stated that il grows Spontaneously
the Santa Clara 1t Is from this stock that the New
Mcxicans have obtained the seed which they call Pahs
rledt aud the Mormons Taos VksaL IL has been much
improved by cultivation, and i considered the best IN
New Mexico and Utah. party Of Indians accompanied
us for twelve miles begging for tobae, aud we nouced
several soss during the day aud fires after dark made
by the natives the Virgin 70 warn the country Of our
approach We double guard At night and the mules
eynced by their resesness and uncasness the vicinity
\ of Pah- Utahs.-3j miles 40 miles.
1ggnst S-The RIO yIRGrs is y turbid and shall
I,w stream about twelve yards in breadth Ii flows with
4 rapid current over a sandy bcd and, descended
r. the growth Of coonwoods gave place aesqmt trees
- .sstt8Yf frnn huuwa -. a. -