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

left 10 the hot and sterile pain eight miles efo4a
extending between the Virgin and the No Atasepsp,
Muddy Greek Ii thckly covered with sharp nlBta.
and bore scany growth Of stunted mss9s bushes AMI
for couple Of miles from each stream the counry sss
much broken by rayines.
in many places quite deep; its water i clear and y de-
rives its from the Shiny and mry nature u 10 banks
and bed.-lS miles; 1911 miles.
August l0-We again had Indians around as all night
making their usual signals but by keeping strict doH-
BILE guard they prevented from stealing or wgundhg
animals. Soon after sunrise party 81 PAht tabs
showed their heads from behind some rocks near the
camp and shouted us and finding that did not at
tempt modest them, they cautiously exposed more u
their persons and finally dropped among by wos AMI
threa until they numbered fifteen They professed en-
tire innocence of being concerned in the proceedings Of
the previous night laying them all 10 the charge Of ether
Pah Utahs and expressed for US the warmest attach
ment At this time strange figure suddenly made bis
appearance the summit of rock thirty yards from
he entirely Invested of clothing his face covered
with thick coating of crimson paint and slender bone
eight inches in length thrust through the cartilage
of his nose In his left hand he carried bow and q
bunch of This worthy addressed long speech
introducing himself The great chief Of all the Pah
Utahs (which was false they recognise chief in
tmatng that the monotonous existence which he had
hitherto been leading irksome 10 him. and that he
wished TO travel and the white mans world and that
If consented to admit him into party he would
deayor to smake himself generally useful" He ended
by offering to give himself away any who would
accept of him Although any accession TO number
all desirable yet have refused his request
would have nipped in the bud the aspirations Of this
bilious youth aud Mr. Beale allowed him Join par
handing bisp p.r Of old buckskin pants and WOOL
len shirt which he at donned feeling very prvu
but very uncomfortable
The first Tornado IA long distance between watersl
the desert the Muddy and the heat
this season rendering it dangerous travel il during
the day. did not resume journey until the after
The road led for six miles up broad and sandy
ravine issuing from which entered upon extensive
and unduating plain whose sandy and stony soil pro-
duced other vegetation but artemisia We travelled
all night during which hot wind blew from the south
ward.
August 11.-Dawn found US still on the Jornada be-
tween Muddy creek and the 0o del Gdedn Spring of
Gaetan Vega Quntano, as this meadow is sometimes
called which we reached A. NJ without the loss Of
animal. Thus far we had lost three mules; one was
drowned in the Uncompagre another left the Vir
gn and the third at the Muddy Both of the latter were
animals that had obtained the journey, and being
nnshod they became tenderooed and could not keep
with the train.
The Vega Qinanq is meadow several thousand acres
extent watered through its centre by deep but
of clear and icy cold water. 1t shaded in
many places with esq trees and willows and with vines
covered with clusters of small but sweet grapes Two
Pah Utahs, who were gathering mesquit beans fled in
alarm at approach, and numerous coveys Of
California partrdges
This oasis deserves the name of The Diamond of the
Desert beautiful and bright does it appear in the
tire of the dreary that surrounds it. Dusty and
weary after long and tosome ride, bath
in the brook luxury in which we INDUCED more
than during the day that we spent here-f5 miles;
i ,556 miles.
August 1--we reached the second Vega Quintana at
i A. NJ, after riding seventeen miles SW by W.; the
road passed stony desert which produced other
vegetation than tunted artemisa and occasional
tus and mesquit bush The rvule which here fertizes
the ground and produces verdure issues from the
mountains through a bald and rugged gap !.
This Vega is favorite camping place of the Mormons
and it is covered with the wrecks of wagons and Of stoves
and other iron work.
All provisions, except pinole, exhausted
As this only dependence, made fair division
of what remained between the ten persons who snce
the Pah Utah had joined us) composed party. We
found that by using only six table spoonsfu each per
day the pnoe might be made to last until arrival in
the settlements of California. We had seen game for
many days. did expect to meet any until reach
ed the Mohaveh.--1T miles; |, 573 miles.
August 13.-Wearied with watching oil night
sumed our journey at dawn. Indians were around
usual, and many signs of their vicinity, which would
have escaped our notice, were pointed out to US by
Pite," as we named our new follower. We had no
started before torrent of yells and abuse
poured in upon from every side We perceived
but every rock and bush concealed Indian. Pte
not slow in replying them and for moment they
silent with astonshment receiving in such pure
nacular, reply TO their insults. Soon however, the
of words recommended with renewed fury, and no
doubt, had understood them would have enjoyed
very choice specimen Of Pah-Utah Billingsgate. Pte
prudently kept close among u.s.; brave he with
his tongue, he entertained wholesome fear of falling
into the hands of his felowcountrymen for they
would have brought his travels TO a close.
Our road led through the Gallon chasm which we
had entered the previous day. il followed the bed of the
stream and much Distracted by heavy sand and scat
tered rocks We passed two singular caves Of which
presented close resemblance the cycopean order of
architecture with the principle Of the arch and keystone
admirably preserved The other forci6y reminded Of
the facade Of old Catholic church. such as often
seen in Italy.
After travelling miles through rocky ravnes, with
bald xad eithpr
a ridge which brought in view extensive and barren
plain, bounded all sides by lofty mountains TO the
westward we perceived range which extended from
north SOUTH and which appeared to have frequent
breaks in it.
In the afternoon we arrived at the Aqua Escarbadd
where anticipated trouble in obtaining water but the
ground had been 50 deeply excavated that running
spring had been reached
Shortly before reaching this place we found, tht
roadside, the remains Of American with the mark Of
rifle ball in his skull From papers which scat
tered around we ascertained that he q Mormon
exploring expedition, and his buckskin garments
having been wet by rain proved that he had been killed
this season.-25 miles; 1888 miles.
August 14.-Tweve miles from the Escarbada the
road makes sudden bend the westward aud ascends
steep ridge, from the top Of which magnificent but
solemn and dreary view presented itself Four ranges
OF mountains overlapping each other extended from north
20 south and bounded the western horizons 10 the east
ward spread a wide extent CT country which Offer
ed in every direction, the absence Of timber
almost of all vegetation The solitude was unrelieved by
the song Of bird or the chirp Of insect the mourn
full murmur OF the breeze swept the desert
the only sound that broke the silence In various places
deceptive mirage spread fictitious lakes and spectral
groves to our view which puff Of wind or change IN
our position suddenly dissolved.
rapid descent down n snuous ravine from two Ia
three miles in length broughtus the sink in the pair
where is found the Ojo DE- 4reh1e (Archetes spring
ats some distance from which many small willows