Scenery of the Plains, Mountains and Mines; Or a Diary Kept Upon the Overland Route to California, by Way of the Great Salt Lake. Travels in the Citie (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1855 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. Beautiful Bluffs of Marl.--Alkaline Desert.--Dangerous Cut-Off.--Singularity of the Humboldt.--The Big Meadow--Mormon Train.--Preparing to cross the Desert.--Human Bones and Graves.--Desert--Destruction of Property.--Sinks of Rivers.--Unexpected Supplies--Ragtown.--Effects of Habit.--A Splendid Camping-place--Huge Tree.--An Incident--Hard Gale.--Snow-fall on the Mountains.--Gold Miners.--Carson Valley--Mormon Train.--Thrilling Incident.--Hot Spring--Burning Mountain.--Carson Valley.--Commencement of the Ascent--Scenery.--Mountain Valley--Red Lake--Huge Trees.--Difficult Road--Nevada Lake.--Ascent of the Chief Range.--Sublime Prospect.--Sight of the Promised Land.--Monumental Inscriptions.--Descent of the Mountains.--Evening Party--Vocal Music.--Splendid Timber.--Follow a dividing Ridge.--Man and Wife shot by Indians.--Trading Posts--Speculators--Thieves.--Arrive at Settlements.--A Volunteer Company.--Sacramento Bottom.--Arrival at the City--Poetry.--Account of the Author. BEAUTIFUL BLUFFS OF MARL. September 26th.--Proceeded down the broad valley; the mountains to the right and left look very distant. The river becomes narrow and dirty, and has an alkaline taste. Alkali abounds throughout the whole valley of the Humboldt, and the waters are, of course, tinctured with it. Encamped near the river, the bluffs being not more than fifty rods asunder, and they consist of a similar white marl to that which abouds in the region of the Black Hills, east of the Rocky Mountains. This marl is mixed with gravel, and the bluffs have been water-worn into regular and beautiful forms. A few scattering cedars are visible to-day, on the sides of the distant mountains. Wagons are now our principal fuel; these are not scarce. Distance, eighteen miles. ALKALINE DESERT...