Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/405

DIARY OF ASAHEL HUNGER AND WIFE. 397 We found the waters a luxury indeed, as good soda as I ever drank boiling up out of the earth. There are several of these springs all that we saw are sunk down a little below the surface of the earth. The mother spring of all we saw is said to be 10 or 12 feet across, and no bottom has ever yet been found. The water there is much stronger than at the springs we saw, these springs, which are called the Pots, boil up from the outlet of the mother spring which passes along under ground and runs into the river. The water is clear and has a smart taste like small beer, though it has more of the sting to it than any beer I ever drank. I drank freely of it. It had a very good effect. Below these springs is another curiosity, on the bank of Bear river is a small hole in the rock about 6 or 7 inches in diameter nearly round running down on an angle of 45 degrees back from the river, out of which there is boiling or rather foaming water about blood warm. This is thrown out at intervals of about 4 or 5 seconds it would seem to be gasping for breath drawing in wind which makes a guggling noise when passing in, then out comes the water in a half steam form, as though mixed with gas and pressed out with tremendous force. There is another similar, though not one fourth as large, and emits but little water. This is called by mountain men the steam engine. The whole surface of the earth about this place, and the soda springs, and finally all over this region presents every proof of having been a volcano, the lava covers the whole surface of the earth. The rocks all about have been evidently in a melted state. I took specimens of 4 different kinds some harder than others. There is a bed of white clay, about as white as our common white earthen [ware.] This is used by the Indians in all parts of the mountains for whitening 17 skins &c. Wednesday We left Mr. Ermitinger this morning and took another rout, for making meat last us down the Columbia river. 18 Thurs. we traveled on in a northwardly direction toward a place called Gray's hole This very bad killed a Buffalo, one of our horses scattered his pack containing our cooking utensiles nothing lost, camped on a small run. Tolerable good water. Some of our company are willing to stand guard our company consists of 14 men and two women, we have 35 horses and mules. Fri. this morning one of our company shot a gun before it was fairly day, and halloed out like one in distress. The whole company sprang up supposing we were in danger from the Indians. This was a mischievous false alarm. We are now on the battle ground we heard of so much at home, but we lose no sleep on account of it. Had much trouble from flies. Found the horse pen Mr. Richardson built last year when making dried meat for his journey from here to Walla Walla. Saw some Buffalo, found none or killed none; in the evening Mr. E. killed 2 though they were 20 so poor that they were not fit for eating. Sat. July 20th. Took an