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Show HEADS OF BITTER CREEK- BRIDGETS FORK. 2S7 Several bands of antelope were seen, and one t> f th$ hunters brought in a noble buck. Grouse, also, were abundant, and very fat. A bear, too> was seen taking a good look at us, but, not liking our appearance, he made off with all haste before we could get a shot at him. The trace for a road has been good, and the distance travelled in nearly an eastern direction was twenty- two miles. Our observations gave for latitude 41° 28' 9"; longitude 108° 41' 9". Tuesday, September 17.- Our course to- day was up the east fork of Bitter Creek, about south 70° east, for eighteen miles, when we reached its head, asoending very gently to the dividing ground between, it and the waters of* Muddy Creek, an affluent of Little Snake River, which flows into the Yampah, about twenty miles above the entrance of the latter into Green River, Here we leave the valley of Bitter Creek altogether, having* followed it from its mouth for seventy miles. On the level table forming the " divide" is a butte composed of sand and clay, a hundred and fifty or two hundred feet high, standing isolated and detached from the range of bluffs to the south and east of it, and to which, from, its shape, we gave the name of " The Haystack." From this landmark w< 3 travelled in nearly an eastern direction, gradually descending, for six inilee, to the valley of a small branch of the Muddy, to which we gave the name of " Bridger's Fork of Muddy," and encamped in its valley, although the water was so strongly impregnated with alkali that the animals drank it with evident reluctance and disgust. The valley is here much cut off by abrupt gullies and ravines, formed* by the wash from the hills, and in many places the ground is covered with a crust of impure soda ty the depth of half an inch. The grass, eince our noon halt, has been very scarce, and our poor mules have fared rather badly. Several buffalo were seen to- day, and one antelope killed. Our hunters are calculating largely upon the sport before us as we approach the buffalo range, and Are much excited at the prospect of once more revelling in their favourite fare. Day's travel, twenty- six miles. Lat. 41° 28' 89"; long. 108* 14' 24". Wednesday, September 18.- Ther. at sunrise, 44°. A slight " stampede" occurred among the horses last night, owing to the blundering of an old buffalo bull into the camp. Several of the animals broke from their fastenings and fled in dismay, but were all ultimately recovered. |
