Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/253



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places with our mules that it would be utterly impossible to pass with a horse. The rocks were what they call cut rocks composed of quartz and we passed over some piles of them where the mules were forced to leap from one rock to an- other and there were so many creveses and the rocks were so sharp that I would scarcely thought it possible for them to pass without breaking their legs. After descending some distance we passed between the summits of two mountains and descended a little on the other side and came into a grove of spruce fir pine &c. We then went up along the side of the mountain until we discovered that the mountains formed a horse shoe shape and were so high and steep that not even a man could pass them and here we found four as beauti- ful little ponds of clear cold water as I ever saw. While look- ing about the base of the mountain for game I heard stone ratling down the side of it and! concluded that they started themselves as it appeared impossible for any animal to climb a mountain which appeared almost perpendicular but on more minute observation I discovered sheep nearly to the top but the distance was such that I could but just discern them but by help of a small telescope I saw probibly a hundred and they looked very beautiful but we could not get at them.

We now commenced our descent and finding myself too much fatigued to walk much I rode over places the like of which I never before dreamed that mortal man would dare to ride over.

Sometimes after making our way over nearly impassable rocks we would find some that were entirely so and were obliged to return and take another route. Some places the trees and bushes very much retarded our progress. But we have arrived safe to camp weary and without game.

Thirs. August 7. Passed mountains some thofu] sands of feet high and descended one long and steep. Saw some hem- lock spruce and fir poplar &c came about 12 mi. Though we have not been able to kill any fresh meat yet Mr. McCay and his Indians have gratuitously supplied us for some days.