cams_bawatson_b3153_f011_001_02

Coran brought a mountain sheep in camp this evening which
proves to be the finest meat which we have yet had.

20th today we commenced crossing at 1 P. M. we were delayd [delayed] by
some ox trains who were much troubled in getting their oxen
to minn [mind]. Just as we were about half done the goverment [government] train
came up under the command of Major Simondson and vio=
lently thrust us aside leaving part of our train on one side of
the river and part on the other. This officer who was sent out
to protect & assist the emigrants instead of doing so has been
guilty of a most mean & contemptible action coming up and
dispossing [disposing] the rights of others leaving women & children to
wait till he had passed not only that but he attempted to
smuggle a train of wagons from Pittsburgh in ahead of them
also because I suppose they had a supply of liquor on board.
Heaven save us from our friends if you call such men friends
we got our other wagons over after dark and drove 2 miles
up the river to camp all pretty well tired down

21 -- We started at 6 A.M. across to the sweet water distant
60 miles over a sandy desert covered with the wild sage as
far as the eye can see giving it a most desolate appearance we did
not find water for 16 miles except Alkalic springs unfit for man
or beast. after we rose upon the bluff I had splendid view of the
Wind river mountains distas coverd [covered] with snow looking like vast
bank of white cloud, distant about 1.75 miles. Weather very warm
& roads very dusty grass poor. Campd [Camped] at 6 P.M. opposite the Red
Buttes & near a mountain which was once evidently a volcano
but upon which there is now growing large pine trees. 25 miles.

22 -- This morning we got off at 5 1/2 oclock [o'clock] Our route laying through
the same desolate country the rocky mountains in full sight all
around us. Good water is very scarce in this part of our route we are
begining [beginning] to find dead cattle very frequent. Distance 26 miles.

23d -- started at 5 1/2 A. M. from our camp where were very much trou=
bled with musquitoes [mosquitoes] which seem to be of the largest size and of the
ravenous ferocity. We gathered saleratus today from a lake containing
a thousand barrels or upwards of the most excellent quality. We reached
the sweet water [Sweetwater] at 9 A.M. and noond [nooned] Half a mile west of Independence
Rock. A vast mass of granite rising out of a perfectly level plain
it covers about 160 acres, about 800 yards long 100 wide & 40 High there
is a vast number of names of former travellers [travelers] painted on its sides.
We camped near Devils Gate which is five miles above the Rock
this is a fissure or gap in the Rattle Snake [Rattlesnake] Mountains through which
the river finds its way it is about 30 feet wide & 300 hundred
long. The walls are 400 feet high composed of granite & trap rock.
We encamped at 3 oclock [o'clock] on fine grass. The valley of the sweet
water [Sweetwater River]. I think could be cultivated to advantage by irrigation of
which it is entirely susceptible. Distance 20 miles.