Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/168

 river. Here a small valley, when we again took over a spur of the mountain, and again entered the valley. Here found thousands of acres of rich, level land covered with wild flax. Traveled 14 miles.

July 9.—Our camping last night was on a small spring branch, where Sublette's cutoff comes to the Bridger route, where we found good camping and plenty of trout. Three miles down Bear river this morning brought us to where Smith's fork comes in We had had to travel up the stream some distance to find a crossing, which we succeeded in finding between two high, rugged, rocky bluffs. The crossing was very rough, the stream very swift and full of mountain trout. At the end of 16 miles today we reached Thomas' fork. Here found a bridge and trading post, also lots of Indians.

July 10.—This day we remained at the bridge. We had a sick man in the train, who died here. His name was John Scott, of Missouri. He had been sick for a long time before leaving the States and took the mountain fever and it killed him. We buried him here.

July 11.—This morning we started; at the end of one mile our road led over a high ridge, then down into a beautiful little valley, crossed the valley and came to Big Hill, a very high ridge that the river cuts in two, forming a deep canyon, and we had to climb the mountain to get by. Our road followed a narrow, steep ravine for about one-fourth of a mile, and got onto a ridge, which we followed up one mile. Here see all the country 'round about, see Great Bear lake at a long distance south. After looking as long as we wished, we turned to the left down a very steep, stony hill one mile long, to the valley, which all succeeded in reaching in safety. After two hoursrest, we again took up the line of march. Traveled ten miles, making 17 miles this day, and encamped on a spring branch, with every advantage of good camping. All well and lively.

July 12.—This day we continued down the river, which runs north. The mountains are high on both sides