The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1909-10-14
Through Duck Valley
[nY pnor. !. D. nRAprIrLp.l

This is my own my native land?
50 sang the great Scotch bard as he
once returned from foreign travel to
his own native hills. If travellers
would adopt the motto, ''See your own
country first" there would be, per-
haps, more appreciation Of the grand
eur Of our own country and less desire
to spend so much money and time in
travel abroad.
It was with this principle in view
that, one summer, planed a trip
through Owyhee Co. and Duck Valley
Indian reservation. had always
had a desire to see the Indians ON their
own ground from the time when I was
very small and used to pore over their
deeds in big red book which grand
pa had with the picture on its front of
captive dangling to a limb above
pile of blazing fagots.
From Silver City to Duck Valley it
is, perhaps, distance of about sixty
miles but it seems much longer as one
has to cross steep mountains, rough,
stream-cut valleys, rocky canyons,
sagebrush plains, and lava plateau
over road much of which at present
is traversed only by herders or rowing
Indians. / consulted some of the old
timers as to the best method of making
the trip and some advised going horse
back with another horse or burro as
pack animal TO carry camping equip
ment. Others said it would be better
to go in a blackboard with two horses.
Not being able to secure the later and
not relishing the thoughts of so long a
horseback ride, procured a horse
and cart with large box under the
seat. With this outfit, l could take
provisions and camping equipment
aud have only one horse to carry feed
for. An old stage driver said that a
tenderfo5t would get lost without a
guide, but in talking with people who
had been over the route, l was able
to learn enough of the way to make
a map which served me very wei
throughout the trip. The first foul
miles led over War Eagle mountain
and down into Boulder canyon through
which Boulder creek runs with rapiC
course. This is a favorite haunt 0
fishermen who resort thither for mount
ain trout. Along this creek, fringe
trail leads for some miles, then strike
across the open country over hills
across valleys, through groves of JUMP
er trees, and miles of dry plains COY
cred with dusty sagebrush. Fror
early morning until la.e in the after
noon l Travelled without seeing dwell
ing. Then I came to Jake Bochman
ranch located in a beautiful little vale
through which flows a small streal
called Rock creek. Within a fe
miles of his place are several promi!
ing locations that may make fir
ranches some day, if railroad eve
runs near them. At present, few PEE
pie seem inclined to want to segrega
themselves so far away and await Il
approach Of civilization. Although
far from d railroad or town, Bochms
has his ranch very well developed al
raises fine crops of wheat and alfalf
l accepted his invitation to remain ov
night and also spend the next d.
around his place hunting and fishin
We passed a cougar's den in cany
few miles above his house but So
no cougar as these animals usual
come out only at night when they pr
upon sheep, aeer, calves, and col
The latter seem to be their favor
booty. One horse raiser IN that regi
said that he lost fourteen colts fr
them in one year. There are so
deer left but it is not very often Il
hunter is lucky enough to get S
at one. We killed some sage chick,
and caught great many trout. Tn
are several varieties of trout.
rainbow, which has row of p
spots on each side and is covered "
dark specks, is the most beautiful.