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Show ... 34 LAJCES-G Al\1:E-PASS. of the Valley of the St. Wukine; on the contrary, it is consiuered to be one of the best portions of California. In many places, where the tributaries of the St. W llkine enter the Valley, there are the termin3;tions of narrow, but rich, and beautiful valleys; which wind away among unexplored, and rugged spurs and peal<.s, and penetrate deep into the bosom of the California Moun· tains. In the upper extremity of the Valley of the St. vVakine, there are large takes, or marshes, culled tulares, from the tule, (bull rushes.) with which they are filled. It grows to an astonishing size, and so thick:, that it is almost ir.npos~ible to pass through it. This tule when it falls, covers the marshes, in places, to the depth of more than two feet. There is one of the tu\ares here, in particular, which is very large, has several streams emptying into it, and cov· ers an extent of many miles. There are others, similar to these, in different parts of the country; there is said to be a large one, through which the RiYer, which empties into the Southern arm of the Bay of San Francisco, flows; and there are some, in the Valley of the Sacramento. There h11s yet been made, no permanent settlement, in the Valley of St. Wakine. The causes of this, are, that until now, there were other portions of the country, which were thought to offer greater inducements to the settler; and the Indians, who live in the bordering mountains, and who roam through the valley,. are, by no means to be trusted. In consequence of there having been no settlements made here, the Valley of the St. Wakine, abounds with all kinds of game, common to the country. Elk, in large bands, ar~ scattered over it, in every direction. Deer are numerous. And there are Antelopes and Bears, also. The t ulares, and the streams, are crowded with deafning swat·ms of water· fowls. All of these different kinds of game, at certain seasons, get to be very fat. There arc other wild animals in the St. Wakinc Valley. There are many wolves; and wild horse~, in bands of many hundreds, may be seen at all times, feeding on its extensive pratl'les. At the source of one of the Upper and Eastern tributaries of the St. Wakine, is W ulker's Pass; through which, Captain Walker, the discoverer of the Pass, conducted, in the Autumn of 1343, a part of the California emigrants, with whom we traveled from the States to Fort Hall. More frequently it is called "the Point of the Mountain." It is described, as being a beautiful, though narrow, valley,. cutting the mountain from its summit WALKER's rASS. 35 almost to its base; afft)rding the only good, natural pass, through this rugged, barrier into the valuable portion of California.Through this, with a] ittle labor, it is believed, that a very passable wagon road may be made : but being near the parallel of 35 deg., it is entirely too far to the South, to be of much advantage to emigrants from the United States, '\vho cross the Rocky Mountains, at the Great Pass. This Pass, through the Rocky Mountains is in latitude 42 deg. 23 min., and the point on the Pacific coast, where Emigrants would wish, generally, to terminate their journey, is between the latitudes 37 and 38 de g.; so that, after striking the California Mountains, they \vould have to make, nearly ftve degrees of Southing-out of their course-in order to pass around "the Point of the Mountains;" and afterwards, to make nearly three of Northing to regain what they had lost. This would be making a circuit, of between four and five hundred miles, in order to accomplish, that, which, by a different route, mio·ht be z:') accomplished in about two hundred. This shortet· route is, however, a very steep, rugged, and difficult one ; but preferable, we believe, to the other, on account of the great difft.rence in di~tance. But should emigrants go into California, by the way of Taos; or by some more Southern Puss through the Rocky Mountains, than that by which they go at the present; then will Captain Walker's Pass, be found an excellent way, into the Western portion . of this country. It will, also, be of the utmost importance, to emigrants, who may be overtaken, by the rainy s~ason ; as it is seldom, if ever, obstructed by the snows, which immediately after the com- w mencement of the rains, cover all the mounta.ns; blocking up ev-e~. ·y other way, to such a drcgree, that it is extremely hazardous to attempt them. This little Valley of verdure and flowers, lo0ks out, from its Eastern extremity, upon an arid desel't, over which, in tl:le vast 8cope which the eye embraces, nothing presents, save huge piles and masses of dark l'ock, and thirsty sands. In this region, so wonderful, and so unlike any other portion of the known world, even the foot prints of the bold trapper, have seldom disturbed the inhospitable sands. There are a few tracks in the vast !'egion which lies between the California and Rocky Mountains, traveled at times, by the Trappers, and by the Mexican Traders ; but these are rare: between them, are extensive spaces, which have mwer bee~ trodden, by the foot of civilized man. Previously, this has been marked, on tho otherwise very imperfect, and incorrect maps, |