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Show 174 8H0SH0KEB INDIANS- 6PRINOS. insufferable during the day, settling on the forehead and ears, getting into the eyes and hair, producing pain and irritation by their bite, and rendering the manipulation of instruments extremely difficult under the tormenting infliction* Fortunately, they always disappear upon the going down of the sun, affording a grateful relief from their annoying attacks. The following day we attempted to move camp, but after getting under way, the wind blew so hard that we could make but little progress, and were at length obliged to come- to on a sandbar only two miles from our morning encampment, and to carry our camp to land upon our shoulders. Here we met three Shoshonee Indians on horseback, who had been watching our motions for some time. They belonged to a small lodge encamped among the hills a few miles to the northward. They seemed friendly, and expressed much curiosity at the size of the boat, and by signs informed me that they would very much like to borrow it, to pay a visit to the islands in the lake, some of which they gave me to understand they had never reached. Indeed, I doubt if they had ever placed a canoe upon the waters. We saw no sign of any thing of the kind, even upon Utah Lake, although its waters abound with the finest fish. A hearty supper, which they devoured as if they never expected to get another, sent them away delighted with their visit. In wandering among the artemisia, to- day, I was struck at by a most villanous- looking adder, rather more than two feet in length, and was very near being bitten. It was the first snake I had seen in the country, and I think we only saw one other- a rattle snake - while we were upon the lake. Fridayy May 3.- In about two miles we came upon a number of fine springs, near to which I had encamped last fall. The water then was brackish and bad; but now, owing to the supply from melting snows in the mountains, it was fresh, soft, and delightful. The springs were beautifully clear, and situated amid a large growth of reeds- an invariable indication, here, of fresh water. The one from which we obtained our supply was about fifteen feet long, ten feet wide, and four deep, with overhanging banks of sod. Some curious insects inhabited it, several of which were caught and preserved. The adjacent hilk are composed of gray limestone, overlying the same kind of black marble as that seen at Flatrock Point. |
