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Show PREPARATION FOR EXPLORATION. 97 CHAPTER VI. REO0NNOI88ANCE 07 THE DESERTS AROUND THE WESTERN SHORES OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE. THE two following days were busily occupied in making preparation for an exploration around the western shore of the lake, which I desired to complete previous to entering upon a more minute survey of its waters. The expedition was deemed necessary, to enable me as well to ascertain its general features as to gain some knowledge of the means and appliances necessary to carry on the survey with safety and expedition. By the old mountain- men such a reconnoissance was considered not only hazardous in the highest degree, but absolutely impracticable, especially at so late a season of the year. In this opinion they were confirmed by the representations of the Indians, who represented water to be extremely scarce and the country destitute of game. It was affirmed that the contemplated circuit had been repeatedly attempted by old and experienced trappers, in search of beaver, but always without success; the adventurers being invariably obliged to return with the loss of most of their animals. This was discouraging ; but in addition to these objections, it was known that mortal offence had been taken by the Shoshonee or Snake Indians, ( through whose country we would be obliged to pass,) arising from a gross and wanton outrage which had been a short time before inflicted upon them by a company of unprincipled emigrants, by whom their women had been most brutally treated, and their friends murdered while attempting to defend them. Fears were entertained lest, in the wilds of this inhospitable region, where foot of white man had never trod, we should fall a sacrifice to the just vengeance of those infuriated savages. Having determined, however, that the examination was necessary to enable me to carry out the instructions of the department, I resolved to proceed, or at least to make the attempt. My preparations were simply to kill a beef and dry as much of the flesh as we could carry upon our pack- mules; since it would have been unsafe to risk the existence of the party upon the chances of killing game by 7 |
