Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-07-12

u uttit uft, Uhkeu ao NC WIS uOTus apparently
thinking, and looking over at small earihern
pot which was simmering over the Gre, 6lled
with the common grooud-squiriel Of the noun-
try. Another bunch Of squirrels lay near H.
and close by were his bow and arrows. lie
was a well made, good looking young man a.
bout twenty-five years Of age. Although so
taken by surprise that he made no attempt to
escape, and evidently greatly alarmed, he re-
ceived his visitors with forced gaiety and ofier-
ed them part Of his pot an fsu and his bunch Of
squirrels. He was kindly treated and some
little presents made him, and the party contin-
ued their way.
His brow was handsomely made, and the ar
rows, Of which there were about forty in his
quiver, were neatly fesihered, and headed with
obsidian, worked into spear shape by patient la
bor
Aher they had separated, Fremont found that
the Delawares had taken fancy to his bow and
arrows, and carried them of. They carried
them willingly back, when they were remind
ed that they had exposed the poor fellow to al
most certain starvation by depriying him, 10 the
beginning Of winter. Of his only means OF sub
sistence, which it would require months to re-
place.
There were no tracks around TO indicate the
presence Of other Indians in the niehborhood,
nor was it probable there were any within
twenty or thirty miles. The difficulty Of sub
sistence reduces this people nearly to the con-
diiion Of animals, and scatiers them, during the
greater part ofthe year, sometimes singly, some
times in families, until the spring or lin certain
places) the fishing season brings them together
agrir.
The party had reached one Of the lakes ly-
ing along the foot Of the Sierra Nevada, and
which was their appointed rendezvous with their
friends, where, at this season, the scattered In
dians of the neighborhood were gathering TO
FISH. Turning point on the lake shore,
party Of Indians, some twelve or fourteen in
number, came abruptly in view. They were
advancing along in Indian file, one following
the other, their heads ben, forward, and eyes
fixed on the ground. AS the two parties met,
the Indians did not turn their heads or raise
their eyes from the ground, bot passed silently
along. The whites, hsbi,uaied 10 the chances
Of savage life, AID always uncertain whether
they should find in whom they met friends or
foes, fell readily into their humor, and they
too passed on their way without word or halt.
| Il was a strange meeting two parties Of such
different races and different countries coming
abruptly upon each other, with every occasion
10 excite curiosity and provoke question, meet
in desert and pass on without word Of in
quiry or greeling-wiihout any show Of friend
ship or attempt al hostility.
Shortly after this rencon.re, the divided par
ties met at their appointed place, where river
A. u .It-n
into the lake.
There was place on the lake where beds Of
rushes made pAsiurage for their hali-starved
animals. and here the two parties remained
some days together.
1t was now md-Ninler, and they were out
OF provisons-there was no game. The heavy
SHOWS might be daily expected 10 block up the
passes in the great Sierra, il they had not al
ready fallen, aud with all their experience il was
considered too hazardous to attempt the passage
with The material of whole party, and 1t was
arranged that Walker should continue with the
main party southwark along the Sierra, and en-
ter the valley Of the San Joaquin BY some ons
) Of the low passes at It's head, where there is
rarely or never snow. Fremont undertook.
with few men, to cross directly westward
over tne SIERRA NeNdua W ouhei ioit, WIN
lhe view Of obtaining there the necessary SUP
plies Of horses and beef cattle with which to
rejoin his party.
He encountered the obstacles which these
formidable mountains always present in winter,
but had the good fortune 10 get through the
passes before they were choked by the SHOWS,
! and reached Suffers Fort in safety.
The necessary supplies were obtained with
: oat difficulty, and in the middle Of December
he proceeded with bis party-now numbering
} 10 sll about sixteen-to meet his main camp at
> the appointed place Of rendezvous, travelling in
a southeasierly direction up the valley Of the
San joaquin.
After some days travel, leaving the Merce-
. des river, they had entered among the foothills
7 Of the mountains, and were journeying through
g a beautiful country of unduating upland, oPe =
Z y timbered with oaks, principally evergreen,
' and watered with small streams. In the beau
y and varied character Of its scenery, this tract
is one the most beautiful in Southern Califor-
: mia.
: Travelling along, they came suddenly upon
: broad and deeply worn trails, which had been
freshly travelled by large bands Of horses, appa-
o renily from the settlements on the coast. Thess
g and other indications warned them that they
}. were approaching villages Of the Horse-Thie
d Isdians, who appeared TO have just returned
d from successful foray. With the breaking III
; Of the missions many ofthe Indians had return
ed 10 their tribes in The mountains. Thei
l. knowledge of the Spanish language, and famil
d iaIity with the ranches and towns, enabled then
y TO pass and repass, al pleasure, between ths
'r villages in the Sierra and the ranches on th'
1t coast. They very soon availed themselves o
> these facilities to steal and run off into III
X mountains bands Of horses, and in short tim
d il became the occupation Of all the Indian in
h' habiiing the southern Sierra Nevada, as vel
as the plains beyond.
;, Three or four parties would be sent at tim
le from different villages, and every week wa
u signslized by the carrying of Of hundreds Q
~ 4 A.. .us.