cams_bawatson_b3153_f013_001_03

and west all the time mostly north. On Wednesday the 22d of August we reached
the main chain of the Nevad [Sierra Nevada] Mountains, and ascended for one hour
when we encamped near a brook of good water under some fine pine
trees being the first we have camped under trees since we left the vicinity
of the Mo River [Missouri River]. Next morning we Doubled teams and by 12 oclock [o'clock] we had
all of our wagons on the top of the Sierra Nevada but it was accom-
plished by immense labor of men & mules. We drove down into a nice
little voley [valley] & encamped for the day. Our camp is surrounded by
mountains covered with magestic [majestic] pine trees. Next day we struck
[Goose?] lake or Pete lake when the road turned south road good g [paper torn]
[paper torn] the lake very good. Next day struck Pitt River which is the East bran [paper torn]
of the Sacremento [Sacramento]. Not knowing the name of it I had called it (Pyramid
Creek from a number of lovly [lovely] formations standing in a cluster & resem=
bling Pyramids in shape). We traveled down this several days
the road frequently diverging from the river to avoid conins [canyons] & bends
ing the river. On thursday [Thursday] 30 Aug at noon we met a train of
packers from California for Oregon who had been down in the mines
digging gold they showed us lots of the yellow stuff they told us we
were 180 miles yet from Lassens [Lassen]. Our road now became as bad as
a road could be and be passable for wagons. by reference to Fremonts [Fremont's] map
you will find Round Valley, then strike a south west course to the
mouth of Deer Creek on the Sacremento [Sacramento] and you will see our
road lay through the mountains the whole way. Some of the road
was pretty good all of it Except the last fifty miles lay through an
immense pine forest of the most magnificent trees I ever beheld some
of them measuring 25 feet in circumference & 200 feet High &
80 feet without a limb & perfectly straight. The last forty miles
has been one of constant toil & Hardship the road running down
one of the spines of the mountains. We capsized one of wagons &
smashed the top in broke a number of the wheels of the others but
which we temporarily repaird [repaired] and were three days in traveling
30 miles never finding water in less than 1/2 mile of the road &
that all the way down some seep & rugged mountain side. We found
but very little grass for our mules about fifty miles from this place
we met an Expedition of the goverment [government] going out to Explore
a railroad route for the Humbolt river [Humboldt River] an expedition
some 80 men strong at an expense of 18 or 20,000 dollars
per month. They giving all their men from $180 to $1000 per month
truly no man knows the wastefullness [wastefulness] of our goverment [government].

We are now laying here repairng [repairing] our wagons two of which will
start to-morrow for Sacremento [Sacramento] City and with for provisions three
men will go down with them the balance of us will start at the
same time for the upper diggins 60 miles north of us (there is a
man now here who has been working in the mines & who showed
us a platefull [plateful] of gold all large peices [pieces] he says we can make $75 per man
pr. day) clear if so I will soon have as much as we will want and
them away for home & its sweet enjoyments. I fear it will be