Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/170

 valley eight miles, over low strung hills, brought us to a fine spring, where we found plenty of grass but no wood. Here we nooned and again moved on eight miles farther. The valley along here is from five to six miles wide, with the creek running near the western ridge. We have traveled 16 miles today.

July 17.—This day we crossed the ridge between Bear River valley and the valley of Snake river. Our road led up a ravine three miles to the divide, then down a rocky ravine five miles to the valley. Here we nooned on a small creek. Good water, plenty of grass and willow, and thousands of crickets, two and one-half inches long, and three-quarters of an inch in diameter. This afternoon we crossed a deep, sandy desert, to a large cold spring rising out of the level valley. Here found plenty of willow and grass. We are now near Snake river and five miles above Ft. Hall. The weather here is very pleasant. Here, north and west, an extensive sandy ridge plain opens out to view and here we begin to descend Snake river, whose waters we follow to our destination.

July 18.—This morning we arrive at Ft. Hall at 9 o'clock, where we stopped and did some trading, when we again left the Fort and traveled southwest five miles to a large creek of clear, cold water almost thick with speckled trout. Here we nooned. We have crossed several sloughs and found the country full of brush thickets. All the way here we found wild currants in great abundance. We have to keep a good lookout here to keep the Indians from stealing and running off horses. They are very expert in the business and manifest but little fear. Six miles farther brought us to the Portneuf river; here we had to raise our wagonbeds on blocks to keep the water out of them, but all got over safe. After crossing, we crossed a very bad slough, then ascended a very steep hill onto a sage plain and over hills eight miles to a small creek. Here camped. We had traveled 24 miles today and over bad road a large portion of the way.

July 19.—At 2 o'clock this morning, some Digger In-