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Show 68 FROM FORT LARAMIE TO FORT BIDGER. extent with pine, dark bands of soil were observed, having the appearance of being formed by the decomposition of carbonaceous matter, which however must have been altered by heat. It . is highly probable that these beds have been tilted up by some granite rock, although none appeared on the surface, being probably covered up by the secondary bedfe which have been deposited since the eruption took place. The valley between the hills and the river gradually rose, and where the rocks had been protruded must have been at a considerable elevation above the latter. • They were composed of white and gray sandstones, evidently fossili-ferous, but the fossils were in so decomposed a state that no specimens, with the exception of some imperfeot encrinital stems, could be obtained. The beds were nearly horizontal, and were analogous to the same formation over which we had been passing all' along the Platte. Toward the close of our march to- day, the summit of on6 of these lower hills, was found to be composed of clay similar to that of the Chimney Bock, and to the formations in that vicinity. The elevations, though not so marked as to. peculiarity of form, resembled them in their general features. The rocks on the north side of the river are still granitic. JEncamped, after a march of twenty- one* and a- half miles, on the right bank of the river, which is here growing smaller and the current more gentle. In the course of the day we passed a party of eight wagons from Iowa, bound to the land of gold. A number of women and children were . of the party/ and application was made for medical attendance upon one of the former, who wis about being confined. ' Friday, August 3.- Ther. at sunrise, 81°. The rocky ridges gradually disappeared as we followed up the valley of the Sweetwater, occasionally crossing long and lofty spurs which would not . admit of our passing between them and the river. The soil is very barren, producing only the artemisia, and two or three varieties of grass ; a species of 7m, which is quite abundant, the LinUm oeruleum, a yellow PotentiUa, a Scarlet star- shaped flower, with tubular corolla, and ( Enothera hispida werve seen in the bottoms. The character of the valley for the lasl* two days has been analogous to, that of the Platte below Fort Laramie. The last of the granite was passed yesterday. The hills on both sides of the river have since been formed of sandstones and clay, the latter of which forms the irregular outline of the bluffs above Ash Hollow, and in many instances presenting a similar appearance when |
