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Show MDICINE BUTTE- BEAR BIYER. 77 CHAPTER IV. ' JTROM FOBT BBipGSft TO GREAT 8ALT LAKJB CUT. Monday, Augutt 20.- We4followed the Mormon road for several miles, and th, en took a " cut- off" leading more to the north, crossing the dividing ridge between the waters of Muddy Fork, an affluent of Green River, and those of Bear River, which falls into the Great Basin. We crossed the broad valley of Tar- Spring Creek', a tributary of Bear River, where the two roads join. The " cutoff" has been abandoned on account of an almost impassable hill at the dividing ridge. This, and another almost equally steep, are the only objections to . this route, the rest of the way being excellent. Leaving the Mormoij road at the . crossing of Bear River, we followed down its valley six miles, as far as Medicine Butte, an elevated knob in the valley. This is a spot well known among the Indians, as that to which they were formerly in the habit of repairing to consult their oracles, or ". medicine- men," who had located their " medicine lodge" in the vicinity of this little fountain. The route of a road to reach the north end of Salt Lake should pursue a nearly west course from Bridger's. Fort to this Butte, a, distance of about thirty miles; the country, according. to the representations of our guide, who has passed qver it manytimeg, being extremely favourable. At our encampment on Bear River, near this Butte, abundance of speckled trout were caught, resembling in all respects the brook trout of the States, except that the speckles are black instead of. yellow. Aja ox, which had straypd from some unfortunate emigrant, was found on the bank of the stream, in such capital condition that he was shot for food, and such portions as we could not carry with us were most generously presented to a small encampment of Shoshonee Indians, whose wigwams were erected among the bushes on the opposite side of the stream. It was curious to see how perfectly every portion of the animal was secured by them for food, even the paunch and entrails- being thoroughly washed for that purpose. The squayrs acted as the butchers, and displayed familiar acquaintance with the business, while the men |
