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Show • 114 NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. • RIVER AGAIN.. . . . . . . . · ; .. · · . · · · · · · · . · · · . . . . . . .. 6 Now along near the river, with good grass, till you begin to cross SANDY RIDGES ... · .............. · .. · . · · · ........... 7 You will now travel for many miles over a barren sandy country, without water or grass, unless you turn directly from the road to the river. HIGH BANKS ...................... · " · ............. 20 Here the banks of the river are of clay, nearly perpendicular, and over one hundred feet high. RIVER AGAIN.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... 10 Very good camping here. Now over a barren plain, and along the top of high banks again for several miles ; but at intervals you can reach the river, finding, however, but inferior grass and camping-grounds, till reaching LASSEN'S MEADOWS. . . . . . . . ................. 31 Here are meadows of excellent grass, extending for several miles along the river, and is a favorite camping ground. And novr before you leave this grand camping ground, we give you a word of caution and ad vice ; because it is the first point reached where you have a choice of roads, by which to enter California; and here you will find doubtless, trading posts, and each trader partial to the route he recommends; and we say, generally from some selfish motive. If you 'know the particular portion of California that you would like to enter, be governed by the Guide Book. It is from this point that emigrants for the more northern portion of California take the Honey Lake route ; but for the Truckee or old Carson route, to central ·and southern California, we still continue down the Humboldt. For description of Ifoney Lake route, see page 127. On leaving Lassen's Meadows, you leave the river for some distance, passing over a · ste.rile country, and with but little grass, even on the river. You reach at length ~ deep ravine and canon, and NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE, 115 RIVER AGAIN .................................... 20 But little grass here ; and now every opportunity to. get a bite of good grass should be improved. RIVER AGAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 But little grass here. I WILLOW SPRINGS .............................. 10 These springs are in the bed of a slough, and are available only in dry seasons. If the season be very wet, they are mostly covered; but then the water of the slough will answer very well for stock. No grass here. BIG J\-1EADOWS ....................................• 7 Here to your left are extensive flats, over which the waters of the Humboldt are spread, converting the otherwise barren plain, into meadows of unsurpassed fertility. Along that portion of the grassy plain bet,ve<:n good grass and that which is too coarse for animals, runs one or more small branches or estuaries of the river. In seasons of low water, both grass and water are very fair, and it is here that you cut grass, and fill your water cans for use on the desert. The place is also remarkable for musquitoes of terrible ferocity. Mr. l{IRK, Wagon Road Commissioner, from what he believes to be reliable information, is of the opinion that from near the Big Meadows an excellent route to the Truckee river and ' meadows can be located, that would be preferable to the present one, from t~e outlet of Humboldt Lake; but as the country has not been fully and satisfactorily explored, we continue down the old route from the meadows to OUTLET OF HUMBOLDT LAKE .....•.......... · 20 For description of lake or sink of the Humboldt, see page fifty-nine. We now arrive at another important point in our journeyings, for here again the road forks ; the right leading into California or to Was hoe and Carson valleys, by the Truckee river route ; and the left by the Carson river route. ~ For description of route from |