Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 2, Pt. 2

DIGGER INDIANS-LANGUAGE.
sundown, I again ascended the high western-ridge to examine the country ahead with a
more favorable light, by which I discovered a narrow lake, to which I gave the name of Goshoot,
extending along the base of the succeeding mountain-range for several miles, and indications,
by the vegetation, of fine springs at the foot of the same mountain.
Niray 18.-Last night was cold, freezing the surface of the ground to thile depth of a quarter
of an inch. Altitude, 6,550 feet. Leaving camp at sunrise, we continuedcl down thedrybed
ol the creek for a short distance, but leaving it as we entered the valley, in which our course
changed more to the north, for the purpose of passing around the north end of the succeeding
mountain. The road was dry and hard, and the artemisia, which covered the whole face of
the country, small. The water of Goshoot lake is shallow and bitter, and its banks miry.
Crossing below its foot, which sometimes overflows, and sends out a small stream to the north,
we encamped am-ong numerous fine springs of fresh water, around which the fresh grass is
just springing up, and the willows are just beginning to show their leaves. The day has been
the finest we have enjoyed, and as yet (3 o'clock p.m.) we have seen no rain fallingin the
mountains. Day's march, 18.40 miles.
May 19.-We continued our northwest course this morning around the mountain, but, to avoid
a long circuit in the plain, passed over the foot-hills of the range through a large growth of
the cedar of the country. The range itself is terminated by a high round butte just north of
the line of our trail. The valley of our last camp was seen to extend well to the north, and to
connect to the east by other plains with the valley above Fish creek, just below our camp of
the 16th, which would give an important line for a railroad from Great Salt lake, by a very
uniform grade, but by a very circuitous route, were not the line by Pilot Peak, which was in
sight, and with which this valley also connects, more direct, with equally favorable grade.
To the north of the open passage, beyond the terminating butte above described, there is a
remarkable peak, very broad at its base and sloping gradually up to its summit, upon which
snow is still seen. This peak apparently terminates a short, isolated north and south range, of
which it is the conspicuous feature, and a conspicuous land-mark. To the west of this peak we
entered upon an extensive plain extending uninterruptedly so far to the north, that only the
highest peaks of very distant mountains were visible above it. It also extends far to the south,
but is much more broken by mountains. Turning a little south, we eneamped, still on the
mountain base, at fine springs, which send out small streams to the plain, watering small
meadows of grass before they disappear in the absorbing soil. Day's march, 16.11 miles.
As we approached camp we discovered near the springs the smoke of a Digger wick-ey-up, or
lodge-that is, a smoke curling upwards from the sunny side of a cedar bush. Its inmates, or
more properly occupants, were an old man and a young woman, the lowest beings in the
scale of humanity I have any desire to see. They were greatly frightened when they discovered
us, and the, man escaped to the mountains; but the woman did not see us until too late to
escape; and as she experienced no incivility, her companion afterwards returned, informing
us, as he best could, that he fled taking us for Shoshonees. But he was still greatly in fear,
and trembled from head to foot, and, with his companion, returned to the hills as often as
curiosity or hunger induced them to come forth. They were filthy beyond description, and as
ugly in features as in dirt. They had no shelter, no blankets-nothing but a deer-skin or
two, a few ground-rats, a little grass-seed in grass baskets, food for themselves, and a variety
of artemisia-seed, which the squaw ground between stones for food for two of the most emaciated
and mean-looking dogs I ever saw. We could not discover the use they put these animals
to in this condition, for they could barely stand, and the woman was constantly beating them
with clubs to keep them from lapping the stones upon which their food was ground; but
they were very anxious to obtain the fat dogs in our train for food. I made them presents
of knives and calico, which astonished themn not less than our arrival, by which they were made
as happy as they were miserable an hour before. We fed them also, but they were, although
half-starved, afraid to eat until they saw us partake of the same dish, so little are they aecus
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