The Prairie Traveler Part 25

4.74. On Colorado River.

5.02. On Colorado River.

9.06. On Colorado River.

11.39. On Colorado River.

29.87. On Colorado River.

ARTILLERY PEAK.

1.02. Mojave Villages.

9.46. Crossing of the Colorado River.

0.33. On Colorado River.

2.78. On Colorado River.

20.71. ..........-The road, on leaving the Colorado, runs up over a gravelly ridge to a barren niesa, and descends the bed of the Mojave 4 or 5 miles above its mouth, and at 9-1/2 miles it pa.s.ses springs near the point where the road turns around the western base of a mountain. There is no water at the camp, but gra.s.s in an arroya.

9.00. Pai-Ute Creek.-This is a fine stream, with good water and gra.s.s.

13.00. Arroyo.-Gra.s.s and wood; water is found by digging.

7.00. Fine Spring.-Good water and gra.s.s. The wagon-road pa.s.ses around the hills, but an Indian trail leads through the ravine where the spring is.

19.00. Marl Spring.-This is a small but constant spring; excellent gra.s.s, and greasewood for fuel.

30.00. Lake.-The road follows a ridge for some distance, then descends to an arroyo, and in a few miles emerges into a sandy plain, where there is the dry bed of a lake, which is firm, and makes a smooth, good road. The camp is at some marshy pools of water. Good gra.s.s, and greasewood for fuel.

12.00. Mojave River.-Road pa.s.ses through a valley of drifted sand, and at the camp strikes the river, which is here a beautiful stream of fresh water, 10 to 12 feet wide and a foot deep, with a hard, gravelly bottom. Gra.s.s in the hills near.

13.00. Mojave River.-The road ascends the river, the banks of which are covered with fine gra.s.s and mesquite wood. Good camps along here.

20.00. Mojave River.-The road leads up the river for a short distance, when it turns into an arroyo, and ascends to a low mesa, and continues along the border of a level prairie covered with fine bunch-gra.s.s. It then enters the river bottom again, which is here several miles wide, and well wooded. Gra.s.s good.

20.00. Mojave River.-Six miles from camp the road strikes the Mormon road, and crosses the stream near a Mormon camping-place. The trail runs along the river, which gets larger and has more timber on its banks as it is ascended. Good gra.s.s, wood, and water.

22.00. Mojave River.-A short distance from camp the valley contracts, but the road is good. It leaves the valley and crosses a gravelly ridge, but enters it again. Good gra.s.s, wood, and water.

15.00. Mojave River.-Road continues along the right bank of the river, in a southwest course, and crosses the river at camp. Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

29.50. Cajou Creek.-The road leaves the river at the crossing, and runs toward a break in the San Bernadino Mountains; it ascends a sharp hill and enters a cedar thicket; it then ascends to the summit of the Cajou Pa.s.s; thence over a spur of the mountains into an arroyo or creek in a ravine; thence along the dry channel of the Cajou Creek for two miles, where the water begins to run, and from thence the road is rough to camp.

7.00. Cajou Creek.-Road continues along the creek to camp, and is rough. Wood, water, and gra.s.s at camp.

20.00. Cocomouga's Ranch.-On a pretty stream of running water. The road runs for six miles down the Cajou Creek, along its steep and rocky bed. It is here a good-sized stream. Captain Whipple's road here leaves the San Bernadino road, and turns to the west along the base of the mountains toward Los Angeles; it then crosses a prairie and strikes the ranch of Cocomouga. Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

24.00. Town of El Monte.-The road runs upon the northern border of a basin which is watered by many small streams, and is settled. The camp is on the pretty stream of San Gabriel, where there is a good camping-place.

14.25. City of Los Angeles.-The road pa.s.ses the Mission of San Gabriel, then enters a ravine among hills and broken ground; it then descends and crosses the river which waters the valley, and enters the city. There is a good camp upon the point of a ridge on the left bank of the river.

23.00. San Pedro.-Good camp.

XXI.-From Fort Yuma to Benicia, California. From Lieutenant R. S. Williamson's Report.

[Distances in miles and hundredths of a mile.]

Miles. Fort Yuma, on Rio Colorado, to 6.51. Pilot k.n.o.b.

5.06. AlG.o.dones.

11.18. Cook's Wells.

21.11. Alamo Mocho.

14.16. Little Laguna.

10.29. Big Laguna.

12.92. Forks of Road.-The left-hand road leads to San Diego, 139.94 miles, the right-hand to San Francisco.

17.62. Salt Creek.

28.94. Water in the Desert.-Below point of rocks.

12.60. Cohuilla Village.

15.82. Deep Well.

10.62. Hot Spring.

7.36. East base of San Gorgonio Pa.s.s.

18.29. Summit of Pa.s.s.

27.10. San Bernadino.-Mormon town.

17.60. Sycamore Grove.

14.00. Qui-qual-mun-go Ranch.

26.60. San Gabriel River.-At crossing.

6.70. Mission of San Gabriel.

9.00. Los Angeles.

10.20. Cahuengo Ranch.-At the crossing of a branch of Los Angeles River.

10.70. Mission of San Fernando.

5.90. Summit of San Fernando Pa.s.s.

7.15. Santa Clara River, southeast fork.

15.80. Summit of Coast Range.-In San Francisquito Pa.s.s.

18.00. Eastern base of Sierra Nevada.

6.70. Summit of Tejon Pa.s.s.

13.10. Depot Camp in the Tejon.

31.00. Kern River.-At the crossing.

10.80. Depot Camp on Pose Creek, or "O-co-ya."

24.30. White Creek.

14.90. More's Creek.

5.10. Tule River.

22.00. Deep Creek.-Deep Creek is the first of four creeks, crossed by the wagon-road, into which the "Pi-pi-yu-na" divides itself after emerging from the Sierra. These streams are commonly known as the "Four Creeks."

0.29. Cameron Creek.-The second of the "Four Creeks."

3.30. Kah-wee-ya River.-The third and princ.i.p.al one of the "Four Creeks."

0.89. St. John's Creek.-The last of the "Four Creeks." At the crossing.

28.13. Pool's Ferry.-On King's River.

12.32. Slough of King's River.

25.73. Fort Miller.-On San Joaquin River, in the foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada.

9.40. Cottonwood Creek.

7.72. Fresno River.

12.15. Chowchilla River.-Sometimes known as "Big Mariposa."

10.39. Mariposa River.

6.03. Bear Creek.

18.33. Merced River.

18.87. Davis's Ferry.-Tuolumne River.

28.85. Grayson.-A ferry on the San Joaquin River.

27.54. Elk Horn.-The distance is by the wagon-road, and is circuitous.

6.90. Summit of Livermore Pa.s.s.

7.20. Egress from Livermore Pa.s.s.

40.42. Martinez.-On the Straits of Carquives, opposite Benicia, California.

Total distance from Fort Yuma to Benicia, 800.45 miles.

XXII.-A new route from Fort Bridger to Camp Floyd, opened by Captain J. H. Simpson, U.S.A., in 1858.

Miles. Fort Bridger to 6. Branch of Black's Fork.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

7-1/4. Cedar on Bluffs of Muddy.-Gra.s.s and wood all the way up the ravine from the Muddy, and water at intervals.

5-1/2. Last water in ravine after leaving the Muddy.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

5-3/4. East Branch of Sulphur Creek.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s. Junction of Fort Supply road.

1/2. Middle Branch of Sulphur Creek.-Sage, Water, and gra.s.s.

3. West Branch of Sulphur Creek.-Willow, water, and gra.s.s; spring a mile below.

5-1/4. East Branch of Bear River.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

1/4. Middle Branch of Bear River.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

2-3/4. Main Branch of Bear River.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

9-3/4. First Camp on White Clay Creek.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.