Life on the plains and among the diggings; being scenes and adventures of an overland journey to California: with particular incidents of the route, mistakes and sufferings of the emigrants, the Indian tribes, the present and future of the great West . ys had been growhig moreinteresting. Tlie lulls were higher and much more broken,showuig the upheavings to have been much greater, and thedislocation of black trap-rock more prominent than at pointshigher up the valley. Sometimes valleys seemed to cross eachother at right angles, affording extended views in opposite di-rections, whUe the mountai
Life on the plains and among the diggings; being scenes and adventures of an overland journey to California: with particular incidents of the route, mistakes and sufferings of the emigrants, the Indian tribes, the present and future of the great West . ys had been growhig moreinteresting. Tlie lulls were higher and much more broken,showuig the upheavings to have been much greater, and thedislocation of black trap-rock more prominent than at pointshigher up the valley. Sometimes valleys seemed to cross eachother at right angles, affording extended views in opposite di-rections, whUe the mountains seemed jumbled into a confusedmass of sharp points, cones, and nebulae. The river, fi-om beingfifty or sixty feet broad, was now but about twenty, and insteadof its original purity, its water had become discolored like thePlatte. Its bends are oflen circuitous, and as gi-ass was foundonly along its banks, we accordingly followed its course, in-creasing the distance much beyond the amount actually soil continued much the same. A quarter of a mile fi-omthe river it was a sand, or ashy plain, bearing notliing but sageor gre^ewood bushes, without water of any kmd. As no oneseemed disposed to accompany me this evening, I set out alone,. TRAVELING IN THE NIGHT. 173 having first put my pistol in good shooting order. For tenmiles the road was over deep quick-sand. Thinking that towalk barefoot would be easier, I pulled off my boots and stoek-mgs, but the dry sand, grinduig between my toes, soon madethem so sore that I was glad to resume their covering. Wenow found that other trams had adopted our course of travel-ing at night. That day and night the road was thronged withmoving emigrants. I had gone only twelve miles, when, beingworn out by the labor of walking in the sand, I scooped out abed with my hands, and laid down and slept so soundly, that Idid not know when the train passed me. Towards daylight itbecame so cold that I could not keep warm, and when themorning star
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectindiansofnorthamerica, booksubjectmi
