other friends in camp. Thus the Lord provides & smoths all our way for us, giving us strength.
July 29thHad a tedious ride today. Started the usual time, but did not come into camp until nearly four o'clock P M. Mr Gray[1] was quite sick this morning & inclined to fall behind camp. Husband & myself thought it would not be prudent to leave him alone & rode with him about two hours & half, when he became very feeble & inclined to lie down. By this time we were so far behind camp that Husband thought it not prudent for me to remain with them any longer & sent me on to overtake them. Soon after Mr Gray gave out entirely & Husband left him to come for the cart & return for him. I had overtaken an Indian & told him how sick he was, who went back met Husband & both returned to Mr Gray. The Indian helped him on his horse got on behind him, supported him in his arms & in this manner rode slowly into camp. This was a welcomed relief. All rejoyced to see them come in for some of us had been riding seven hours others eight, without any nourishment. It is good to stop a while under such circumstances, I think.
July 30thWent today ten miles off our route with Husband Mr McLeod & a few others, to visit the Soda Springs.[2] Was much delighted with the view of the wonders of Nature we saw there. The first object of curiosity we came to were several white mounds on the top of which were small springs of soda. These mounds were covered with a crustation made from the evaporation of the water which is continually running in small quantities from these springs. The next object we saw was a little singular It consisted of an opening like a crater about three feet in diameter, by the side of a small stream. On some rocks a little below in the opening were dead flies & birds in abundance which had approached so near the crater, as to be choked with the gas which it constantly emits. On putting the face down, the breath is stoped instantly, & a low rumbling noise like the roaring of fire is heard beneath. Having satisfied our curiosity
- ↑ William H. Gray of the missionary party, in later years author of an alleged history of Oregon bitterly critical of the Hudson's Bay Copany.
- ↑ A well known point on the Oregon trail of later years; a very good description of it.
