Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/93



lakes, or marshes, called tulares, from the tule, (bull rushes,) with which they are filled. It grows to an astonishing size, and so thick, that it is almost impossible to pass through it. This tule when it falls, covers the marshes, in places, to the depth of more than two feet. There is one of the tulares here, in particular, which is very large, has several streams emptying into it, and covers an extent of many miles. There are others, similar to these, in different parts of the country; there is said to be a large one, through which the River, which empties into the southern arm of the Bay of San Francisco, flows; and there are some, in the Valley of the Sacramento. There has yet been made, no permanent settlement, in the Valley of St. Wakine. The causes of this, are, that until now, there were other portions of the country, which were thought to offer greater inducements to the settler; and the Indians, who live in the bordering mountains, and who roam through the valley, are by no means to be trusted. In consequence of there having been no settlements made here, the Valley of the St. Wakine, abounds with all kinds of game, common to the country. Elk, in large bands, are scattered over it, in every direction. Deer are numerous. And there are Antelopes and Bears, also. The tulares, and the streams, are crowded with deafning swarms of waterfowls. All of these different kinds of game, at certain seasons, get to be very fat. There are other wild animals in the St. Wakine Valley. There are many wolves; and wild horses, in bands of many hundreds, may be seen at all times, feeding on its extensive prairies. At the source of one of the Upper and Eastern tributaries of the St. Wakine, is Walker's Pass; through which, Captain Walker, the discoverer of the Pass, conducted, in the Autumn of 1843, a part of the California emigrants, with whom we traveled from the States to Fort Hall. More frequently it is called “the Point of the Mountain.” It is described, as being a beautiful, though narrow, valley, cutting the mountain from its summit almost to its base; affording the only good, natural pass, through this rugged, barrier into the valuable portion of California. — Through this, with a little labor, it is believed, that a very passable wagon road may be made: but being near the parallel of 35 deg., it is entirely too far to the South, to be of much advantage to emigrants from the United States, who cross the Rocky Mountains, at the Great Pass. This Pass, through the Rocky Mountains, is in latitude 42 deg. 23 min., and the point on the Pacific coast, where Emigrants would wish, generally, to terminate their