Report of the exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the year 1842, and to Oregon and north California in the years 1843-44 . ck wasgneiss, succeeded by sienitic gneiss. Sienite and feldspar succeeded inour descent to the snow line, where we found a feldspathic granite. I hadremarked that the noise produced by the explosion of our pistols had theusual degree of loudness, but was not in the least prolonged, expiring al-most instantaneously. Having how made what observations our meansafforded, we proceeded to descend. We had accomplished an object oflaudable ambition, and beyond the stri
Report of the exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the year 1842, and to Oregon and north California in the years 1843-44 . ck wasgneiss, succeeded by sienitic gneiss. Sienite and feldspar succeeded inour descent to the snow line, where we found a feldspathic granite. I hadremarked that the noise produced by the explosion of our pistols had theusual degree of loudness, but was not in the least prolonged, expiring al-most instantaneously. Having how made what observations our meansafforded, we proceeded to descend. We had accomplished an object oflaudable ambition, and beyond the strict order of our instructions. Wehad climbed the loftiest peak of the Rocky mountains, and looked downupon the snow a thousand feet below, and, standing where never humanfoot had stood before, felt the exultation of first explorers. It was about 2oclock when we left the summit; and when we reached the bottom, the sunhad already sunk behind the wall, and the day was drawing to a close. Itwould have been pleasant to have lingered here and on the summit longer;but we hurried away as rapidly as the ground would permit, fur it was an. 71 [ 174 ] object to regain our party as soon as possible, not knowing what accidentthe next, hour might bring forth. We reached our deposite of provisions at nightfall. Here was not theinn which awaits the tired traveller on his return from Mont Blanc, or theorange groves of South America, with their refreshing juices and soft fra-grant air ; but we found our little cache of dried meat and coffee undis-turbed. Though the moon was bright, the road was full of precipices, and,the fatigue of the day had been great. We therefore abandoned the ideaof rejoining our friends, and lay down on the rock, and, in spite of thecold, slept soundly. August 16.—We left our encampment with the daylight. We saw onour way large flocks of the mountain goat booking down on us from thecliffs. At the crack of a rifle, they would bound off among the rocks, andin a few minute
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