were all but ready to start, to go along the ranges to have a view of the
country. We went along the ranges which confine the river on the left
bank for forty-eight minutes, when we reached a point about two miles
west by south from camp. At 9.20 we started to overtake our companions.
At 10.12 made two miles and a quarter west by north, partly over ridges
of good soil, and partly over barren ridges, all of which were as dry as
a chip, to the track of our main party on the way up the river. At 10.40
made one mile southerly, and reached in that direction and distance the
bank of the river, where it washes the base of a steep hill on the
opposite side. At 11 we made three-quarters of a mile along the bank of
the river in a south-west and by west direction. At 11.12 made half a
mile west-south-west to a point on the bank where a hill on the left bank
is about quarter of a mile distant to the north-west. At 11.25 made half
a mile west-south-west to old channel of river. At 11.37 made half a mile
west along the river to a point where an isolated hill bore
west-south-west and by south. At 11.43 made quarter of a mile west and
watered our horses at the river. Started again at 12 noon. At 12.20
steered one mile west, overtook our companions, and halted to water the
horses of the main party. Started at 1 p.m., and at 1.50 made two miles
south-west by following up the river. At 2.24 made a mile and a quarter
south-west by west through a pass confined by hills on the right and the
river on the left. As soon as we got out of it we observed similar ones
on the opposite side of the river. At 2.45 made three-quarters of a mile
south-west by south to a point where we made our Number 10 camp. Today we
went up the river twelve miles and a half. During that space it is
confined more or less by ranges, which the river on either one side or
the other washes the base of when it is flooded. The troopers agree with
me in thinking that the river has the appearance of having a constant
stream of water. A small log of wood on the edge of the water I observed
was covered over with a stony substance formed by sediment from the