Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-06-28

sugar, which reserve as defense 9galhs
starvation.
The Oiner division OF the party did not come
in tonight, but enclmped ia The upper mead
ow, and arrived the next morning. They had
not succeeded 10 getting the howitzer beyond
the place mentioned and where il had been lefi
BY Mr PTeass in obedience TO my orders aod,
/ in anticipation Of the snow-banks and snov-held,
still ahead, foreseeing the inevitable detention
10 which j, would subject rs. reiucianily de-
teunined 10 leave il there for the time. II was
Of the kind invented by the French for the
mountain part Of their war in Algiers and the
distance II had come with us prored how well
II was adapted to iis purpose. We lefi IL, 10
the great sorrow Of the Nhole party, who were
grieved TO part with companion which had
made the whole distance from ST Louis. and
commanded respect for us on some critical oe-
casions. and which might be needed for the
same purpose again.
January 80 Our guido, who was yoang
man. joined Us this morning and leaving ogr
eneampneni late in the day. we descended the
nver. With our laie siau We made
bat ten miles, and encamped on the low river
bottom, whera there was no snow. bot greai
deal Of ice and We cot piles Of long grass 10
lay under our blankets, aud fires were made oi
large dty willows, groves Of which wooded the
stream. .
"JaUuary. We toak our way over gentle
rising ground, the dividing ridge being iolera-
bly, low; and travelling easily along broad
trail. IN twelve OF fourteen miles reached the up
per part Of the pass when il began 10 snow
thickly, with very cold weather. The Indians
had only the usual seaniy covering, and appear
ed 10 suffer greatly from the cold. All lelt Us,
except our guide. Half hiden BY the storm,
the mountains looked dfeary; and. as nighi be-
gan 10 approach, the guide showed grea, relue-
lance 10 GO forward. placed him betNe cen
two rifles, for the way began to be dificult.--
Travelling lHtle farther, We siraek rsvine,
which the Indian said would conduct Us 10 the
river and as the poor fellow suffered greatly,
shiyeIins in the snow which fell UPON his na-
ked skin, would not deiain him any longer 4:
snd be ran OF to the mountain, where lie said
there was hu, near by. He had kept The blue
and scarlet cloth had given him tightly rolled
up, prsfering rather 10 endure the cold than TO
get them wet. 10 the course Of the afternoon.
one Of the men had his foot fros,-hilien and
about dark we had The satisfaction To reach the
bottoms Of stream timbered with large trees,
among which we found a sheltered camp. with
an abundance Of soch grass rs the season sford-
cd for the animals.
ave hsj scarcely lighted our fires, when
the cam. was crowded with nearly naked In
r ~ - l.
nets in addition 10 bows, and appeared TO have
been oqi on the sage hills TO huai rabbits
These nets were perhaps ihiuy 10 faily feet
long, KEEP, upright IN the ground BY Sigh, sticks
st intervals, and werc made from kind Of Wild
hemp, very much resembling ia manaiaciure
those common among The Indians Of The Sacra-
menlo valley. They came among Us without
any fear, and scattered themselves about the fires
manly occupied in gratifying their asionish-
men,. was struck hy the singular appear
ance Of row Of about dozen, who were sit
ting on their launches Perehed on log near
one OF the fires, with their quick sharp eyes f5l-
loWing every moiion.
I'VE gathered together few Of the most in
iellisent Of the Indians, and held this evening
an iniers,ing council explained to them my
Intentions told them We had come from
very far country, having been travelling now
nearly year, and that We were desirous simp-
ly 10 60 across the mountain into the country
of the other whites. There were two who ap-
pearad particularly inicliisenl-one, a some
what old man lie told me that, beiare the
SHOWS fell, it was six sleeps TO the place where
the whites lived, bot that now il was impossible
TO cross the mounisin on account Of tie deep
snow and showing us, as the others had done
that it was over our heads, he urged Us strong
ly to follow the course Of the river. which he
said would conduc, US TO lake in which there
were many large fish There, he said, were
many people there was no snow on the ground;
and we might remain there until the spring.
"From their descriptions, we were enabled
10 Judge that we had eneamped on the upper
wafer Of the Salmon Trout river. his hardly
necessary to say that our communication was
only by signs, as We understood nolhing ofiheir
language; but they spoke, notwithstanding,
rapidly and yehemenily, explaining what they
considered the folly our intentions, and urging
US to 90 down 10 the lake. Tdh-re, a word
siguifyng snow, we very soon learned TO know
from its frequent repetition. told him that the
men and the horses were strong, and that We
would break a road through the snow; and
spreading before him our bales Of scarlet cloth,
and trinkeis, showed him what we would give
for guide. Ii was necessary TO obtain one,
If possible for had determined here to at
tempt the passage Of The mountain. Pulling a
bunch Of grass from the ground, aker a short
discussion among themselves, the old man made
US comprehend, that il we could break through
the snow, at the end Of three days we would
come down upon grass, which he showed US
would be about six inches high, and where the
ground was entirely free. So far. he said, he
had been in hunting for elk; but beyond that
(and be closed his eyes) he had seen aoihing
but there was one among them who had been
10 the whites, and, going out of the lodge, he
returned with young man of very intelligent
appearance. Here, said he, is young man
who has seen the whites with his own eyes !;
and he swore, first BY the sky, and then by the
sh.s ...k.t L., IL -. So. NI..h