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Show 1~8 it TRIP ACROSS THE PLA·INS~ wild snge ( ar.timissia.) 'fhis is an aromatic shrub· aiffe~'b.. ing considerably- f·rom• the C@mmon. garden sage. The· s-talks tue found frorn one fou1·th of an anch, to tb1·ee or rou t•· inches in diameter. It does not generally grow 1norn than·. th1·ee or four feet high~e A.f.ter growing a few years, the · slalks apparently breuk off · nt the surface of the. earth. and seem entirely deud, while the tops are in full vigor.-~ fn this condition it makes very good fuel. A bi t•d about as ln.rg0 as a· chicken is found among the · '•Sage," and is called the Sage hen. Independence Rock is fi·ve mdes f1·om ' the Alkalin o Lakes. This rock ~tnnds ''solitary and alone" in tho valley of Sweet W at<:.r River, entirely separated from the neighboring mountains. It is .about five hundred feet long. two hundred broad, ~nJ about two hundred and fitty in. height. It is composed or granite. \Ve left our names . in tar upon this rock, as thousands had done before us.\ Ve encamped on Sweet \.Vuter about hulf a mile above the rock.. Afte1, leaving this encampment we forded the river-its breadth at this place auout sixty feet, nnd depth three; and. five miles rarther. pass~d the '·Devil's Gate." 'rhis is u. .. fissure in. the rocks throu·gh which the Sweet Water forces its way. At the lowe~· entrance the '~gate" is neu:l'ly eighty rods in width, but bec01nes gradually narrower un- . til the river forces its way t\;)rough a fissure but a few feetl in width. At this point the wAlls are four hundred feet: in perpendieu.lar height. The scenery is fearfully grandthe wute1· roaring at your feet-the naked walls of rock apparently almost meeting, above you, while large pieces "ieem ready, fl'om. the slightest cause, to be detached from the parent tnass, and crush you in their de8cent. After leaving the "gate" the road runs neal' the r.iver for ten miles, six miles farther there is a very muddy creek to~ l'oss. Four miles farther the road again ~trikes the 1·iver. ·rhere are two roads- frorn this pojnt, CJne lending to the· left over the bluffs, whHe the other l'uns nearet·. the stream. They unite again in. a. few miles-~ 'Fhe Jattet~ road is pre f-. el'able as it is not so. sandy. I~ the aftet:noon we travelled~ seven miles and enca,mped at the Junction~ of the lX>ads.-Wood and water cenvenient. Next morning· we trnvei:lcd, ten miles .and ll half und fcH"ded the river.. ln. the v..C-AND LIFE J;N CALIFORNIA. 19 tcrnoon we forded twice i.£11 the di~anee of ono nnd a half mjles. Encamped ei~bt mi.les far~her, Dea.lf the river bank .. There is another ford here.. The uice sp-ri.ngs'' arc six m.i.le~ farther-. lee rtlaJ b.c 0btai·B.ed here almost· a.ny time QU·ring the summet·, by digging d-own tw~ 01% tb•ree f~et.There is a very marshy peicc of road in this vicinity.We assisted the horsP-s and mules. through t·his place:, and pulled the wagons through ourselves, anud about t·wo feet deep. ,.fhis pla~e may be avoided b¥ going to the left,. around · the source of ~he sporings.. A large train would save· sevel'a.l hou.rs hard work by doing th..is. 'Cen miles farth e t·· we forded. the tive11 again. ln t.he aftenH>c->n we tra vell edi eight miles· gentH'ally near the ri·ver, fol'diAg it twice. We encamped. here neat· a marshy spring to. the right of th~ :t'oad. The eveni·ng before, tl'le rnaH carrier fi·om Ft. tin II met u~, and gave us the pleasing intelligence, that we coul~ get no proNi"io.ns n.t the fort, as the w ld ie rs hud been ot-v half rations. dut·ing the winter, and· had' gone to Oregon< city, until supplies should be recieved from the States,Hc was. tra veiling w.ith some mormonR frorn Salt Lake ci ty. By them we sen-t some letters, which were to bemailed in Missouri. Thursday .i\1a5T 16th, travelled in the forenoon fifteen. m.i}es to a b1·anch of Sweet W a.ter, crossing in ~he distance several• small streams. We a I so passed a popla1· grove til short d :stance to the left o.f ti~e rand. \V e had some· trouble fording this branch, ns there was a bank of snow, ten or fifteen feet deepr on each side. \Ve forded a short· distance below where tke snow was not so deep. We ex- ~trciaed ourselves fo.r a while, carrying rocks through the· stream, barefoot to and placing them near tho opposite bank .. if?. order to get the wagons through m()i'C easiLy. Tempel'-· ature of the \Vater 32' deg.. In the afternoon we were detained · several ti tnes by snow banks. We tTa velled only seven miles, and encamped for the last time on Sweet W aI- el'. While getting supper we were visited by a rain and· ~ail storan whi~h abtuptly concluded the cooking oper&-· tlO:O..S~ |