dry channel, that has the appearance of being a large creek at times, but is at this time perfectly dry. We followed the channel down to the river. Here camped, but had to swim our cattle across the river to grass. This is now called the upper crossing of Snake river. Here we decided to cross over to the north side.
July 31.—This day we spent in arranging for and crossing the river. We accomplished this by corking two wagons and lashing them together. By this means we were able to ferry over a wagon and its load at each trip. By noon we had our boat ready and began operations, but found it slow business, but succeeded in getting all over safely, but not the same day, for we had to lay by on account of wind. Leaving part of our camping on each side of the river, here we had both sides to guard.
August 1.—This day we completed crossing our fifteen wagons before night. Last night we had three horses stolen, and three more shot in the shoulders with arrows. Grass is good here, but Indians are very bad.
August 2.—This day our road led north over a ridge, then up a dry branch about two miles, then up a crooked, sandy ridge onto a sort of bench land. After crossing a sage plain of the first mile we came to good grass, over which we traveled about three miles, when we came to a spring branch where we found good grass and plenty of willow brush. Here we halted and enjoyed what to us had become a great luxury.
August 3.—This morning, after traveling a short distance, we came to a small creek, which in attempting to cross, my wagon tongue got fractured, which detained us for an hour. Five miles farther over a sage plain brought us to a very nice spring branch, with plenty of grass and willow. Five miles farther brought us to Hot Springs branch; here nooned. Grass good but water poor. After noon, one mile up the branch brought us to the hot spring. Here we found a large spring of boiling hot water. Four miles farther brought us to a spring branch, where we found good grass. Here we camped, having traveled
