Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/385

Rh early next morning. We traveled over prairie some twenty miles toward a heavy body of timber in the distance, then entered a rocky cedar grove about six miles in width. As our horses were not shod, their feet became sore and tender while passing over this rough road. We then entered a vast forest of beautiful pines. Our pilot told us that, if he was not mistaken, we should find in the pine timber an Indian trail; and, sure enough, we soon came to a plain horse path through the open forest. We followed this trail until sunset, and encamped in a small, dry prairie, having traveled all day beneath a hot October sun without water. Our little party were sober, solemn, and silent. No one ate anything except myself, and I only ate a very small piece of cold bread.

We left this dry and desolate camp early next morning. About 10 o'clock one of our party saw a deer, and followed it to a beautiful little stream of water, flowing from the hills into the forest. We spent the remainder of the day on the banks of this clear branch, drinking water and eating a badger. When I first drank the water it had no pleasant taste, but seemed like rainwater; but my natural thirst soon returned, and I found that no luxury was equal to water to a thirsty man. We sent out three or four hunters for game; but they returned about 2 with a large badger. This was all the meat we had. We dressed and cooked it well; and, to our keen and famished appetites, it was splendid food. The foot of the badger, the tail of the beaver, the ear of the hog, and the foot of the elephant are superior eating. I have myself eaten of all but the last, and can speak from personal knowledge; and, as to the foot of the elephant, I can give Sir Samuel linker as my authority, in his "Explorations," etc.

We left next morning thoroughly refreshed and rested; and we had not traveled more than ten miles when we came in sight of Pitt River, a tributary of the Sacramento.