Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/154

144 Creek [West Fork?], a stream which ran through a canyon from one thousand to two thousand feet in depth, with nearly perpendicular walls, and few places where a descent to it was possible for man or horse. The water famine was somewhat relieved by a rainstorm.

The point traveled for was a snow peak of the Goose Creek Mountains [Seven Peaks], two days' travel from Salmon Falls Creek [West Fork], where at the foot of the peak on the morning of the seventh day a smoke was discovered, and the supposed encampment surrounded. "We found," says the captain, "a lordly Indian, 'monarch of all he surveyed.' His kingdom consisted of two wives, seven children, eight horses, and some camp equipage." Out of commiseration for his wives and children, he was allowed to remain in peace and accumulate more horses.

On the thirtieth of September, from observations taken in passing along the northern base of Goose Creek Mountains [Seven Peaks], it was discovered that the "Seven Peaks' were only seven views of the same mountain as seen from the east side; and that the Bruneau River gathered its waters from the north side, while the Owyhee was fed by the snows of the south side. Within a few miles the tributaries of the Bruneau were gathered together, and entered "one of the most terrific chasms my wanderings have brought me to shudder on the brink of,says the report. "With this immense fissure on my right, sagebrush and trap rock beneath my feet, the hazy, deathlike sky of Snake River over my head, and a cloud of alkali dust hurled by the sagebrush in my eyes, ears, and nostrils, I picked my way as best I could for myself and men. The principal object of solicitude in these desert marches, is water for your men and animals; and here, although a river of respectable magnitude was rippling cool and clear, whose margin walls broke surface within a rod to our right, yet to go down there after it required wings—