Chapter 30

30.

Temperature of the climate Root Diggers on horseback An Indian

guide Mountain prospects The Grand Rond Difficulties on Snake

River A scramble over the Blue Mountains Sufferings from

hunger Prospect of the Immahah Valley The exhausted traveller

THE TEMPERATURE of the regions west of the Rocky Mountains is

much milder than in the same latitudes on the Atlantic side; the

upper plains, however, which lie at a distance from the

sea-coast, are subject in winter to considerable vicissitude;

being traversed by lofty "sierras," crowned with perpetual snow,

which often produce flaws and streaks of intense cold This was

experienced by Captain Bonneville and his companions in their

progress westward. At the time when they left the Bannacks Snake

River was frozen hard: as they proceeded, the ice became broken

and floating; it gradually disappeared, and the weather became

warm and pleasant, as they approached a tributary stream called

the Little Wyer; and the soil, which was generally of a watery

clay, with occasional intervals of sand, was soft to the tread of

the horses. After a time, however, the mountains approached and

flanked the river; the snow lay deep in the valleys, and the

current was once more icebound.

Here they were visited by a party of Root Diggers, who were

apparently rising in the world, for they had "horse to ride and

weapon to wear," and were altogether better clad and equipped

than any of the tribe that Captain Bonneville had met with. They

were just from the plain of Boisee River, where they had left a

number of their tribe, all as well provided as themselves; having

guns, horses, and comfortable clothing. All these they obtained

from the Lower Nez Perces, with whom they were in habits [sic] of

frequent traffic. They appeared to have imbibed from that tribe

their noncombative principles, being mild and inoffensive in

their manners. Like them, also, they had something of religious

feelings; for Captain Bonneville observed that, before eating,

they washed their hands, and made a short prayer; which he

understood was their invariable custom. From these Indians, he

obtained a considerable supply of fish, and an excellent and

well-conditioned horse, to replace one which had become too weak

for the journey.

The travellers now moved forward with renovated spirits; the

snow, it is true, lay deeper and deeper as they advanced, but

they trudged on merrily, considering themselves well provided for

the journey, which could not be of much longer duration.

They had intended to proceed up the