Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/106



wagons, and much of their baggage; and packing what they could, upon the remainder of their fatigued animals, they succeeded in gaining the Pass. When they came into the Valley of the St. Wakine, they fared more bountifully upon the wild horses, which they found in good condition, and in great abundance. They finally arrived, in the winter, at the settlements; and after suffering all hardships and privations, were prepared to relish, in no common degree, the abundance which they afforded. We also, had an opportunity, during our stay in the country, of seeing most of those, with whom we parted at Fort Boise, on Snake River. The gentleman in whose company we were at this time, was one of that party. They followed the route which they expected, at the time of our separation, to follow; experiencing, fortunately, not so much difficulty in finding it, as had been anticipated. Having left the Head of the Malheur River, and traveled over a barren, sandy country, about two days, without water, they at length, after ascending a high mountain, came upon a lofty, but beautiful table land; rich, and wooded with pines, or varied by prairies, and coursed by many clear mountain streams. They discovered, what they supposed to be the head of the Willammette, and corrected an error, which had previously been entertained, concerning the source of the Sacramento. They had expected to endure suffering; and in this they were not mistaken. Although they were fortunate, in finding their way through an unknown country, and still more so, in preserving their lives from its brutal and hostile inhabitants; yet the lateness of the season, together with their entire ignorance of a great portion of the pathless wilds, and precipitous mountains, over which they had to pass, subjected them to numerous, and serious hardships. At times, when they saw no way to move forward, an additional obstacle was opposed to their advancement, by heavy falls of snow; greatly increasing, and at the same time, concealing the dangers of their perilous way. Their provisions became exhausted. Some of their animals had been killed by the Indians, some dashed to pieces by falling from the rocks, and those that remained, poor from want of sufficient food, and worn down by the journey, were all upon which the little party had to depend for the support of life. After encountering delays, and suffering much from anxiety, fatigue, hunger, and cold, they at length succeeded in getting down into the Sacramento Valley. Thin and feeble themselves, they finally arrived, early in the winter, at Capt. Sutters; on foot, and leading their animals, which were no longer able to carry 100