Preview
Transcription
Continuation of the journey across the Sand Plain 22d June 1827 North 25 Miles. My course was nearly parallel with a chain of hills in the west, on the tops of which was some snow and from which ran a creek to the north east. On this creek I encamped. The Country in the vicinity so much resembled that on the south side of the Salt Lake that for a while I was induced to believe that I was near that place. During the day I saw a good many Antelope, but could not kill any. I, however, killed 2 hares which, when cooked at night we found much better than horse meat. June 23d N E 35 Miles. Moving on in the morning I kept down the creek on which we had encamped until it was lost in a small Iake. We then filled our horns and continued on our course, passing some brackish [and] as well as some verry salt springs, and leaving on the north of the latter part of the days travel a considerable Salt Plain. Just before night I found water that was drinkable, but continued on in hopes of finding better and was obliged to encamp without any. June 24th N E 40 Miles. I started very early in hopes of soon finding water. But ascending a high point a of a hill I could discover nothing but sandy plains or dry Rooky hills with the exception of a snowy mountain off to the N E at the distance of 50 or 60 Miles. When I came down I durst not tell my men of the desolate prospect ahead, but framed my story so as to discourage them as little as possible. I told them I saw something black at a distance, near which no doubt we would find water. While I had been up on xI see now that the word is "durst" not "dout."
Date Original
1830
Resource Identifier
00330033.JPG
Contributing Institution
Dakota Wesleyan University Archives, George and Eleanor McGovern Library, Mitchell, South Dakota
Page Number
33
Rights Information
To view additional information on copyright and related rights of this item beyond that of educational use - such as to purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish them, click here to view the Holt-Atherton Special Collections policies.
Keywords
Diary, fur trade, travel, exploration, history, pioneer, frontiersman, hunter, trapper, journal
