ensign Peak we also had A good view of the salt lake through our glasses
& many rivers & creek runing through the valley the whole distance of the
day was 20 m

July 27, 1847 ~ Tuesday

27^th I took President Young in my carriage & started for an explo
ring expedition. Br A Lyman came into camp this morning &
informed us that Browns detachment of the Battalion would
be with us in about 2 days. Br Lyman with all of the twelve
in camp with several other Brethren started with us on our
exploring expedition being 8 of the Twelve & 6 other Brethren
among whom was Br Brannan from Francisco Bay being 14 of
us in all. We started for the purpose of visiting the salt lake & mou
ntain on the west of the valley we travled ^2^ miles west fro[m] [page cut off]
the Temple Block & come to the Utah outlet of the Utah lake
we then travled ^14^ miles to the foot of the Bluff or mountain
on the west of the valley whare we found a fountain of fresh
water some brackish the land was not near as fertile on the
west side of the valley as on the east. And lbut little fresh wate[r] [page cut off]
as far as we went while the east side of the valley is as well
wattered as any land I ever saw. we took our dinner at the fresh
water pool & then rode 6 miles to a large rock on the shore of
the Salt lake we here ^we^ made A Halt. And all went into the salt
water & we made up our minds at once that the great salt
lake ought to be added as the eigtht wonder of the world, the
watter was quit warm And was impregnated with as much
salt as could possibly be dissolved in water ist was so strong
that if A particle got into the eyes nose or mouth it would
strangle & put one in pain no person could possibly sink in it
A person would float & rooll on the top of the water like A dry
log & while standing to our waist in water we could not get
our knees to the bottom but would rise to the top like a
cork, we found the most beautiful white salt that I ever saw lyi[ng] [page cut off]
in bunches on the shore whare the water dryed away, the whole
dBody of the water will make at least 3 pints of the best quality of
white salt to one gallon of water. After spending an hour at this plac[e] [page cut off]
we rode south on the lake shore about 4 miles & then returned 10
miles to our place of nooning & camped for the night the whole
distance of the day which I drove my carriage from camp 40 mil

July 28, 1847 ~ Wednesday

28^th After having camped all night in the open air we arose refre[s]- [page cut off]
hed by sleep. I having lost my carriage whip the evening before 4 miles
back I started in the morning on Horsback to go back after it, as I
got near the place I discoverd two objects appear on A ridge before me
About 1/2 a mile distant I at first took them to be bears but after approac[h] [page cut off]
ing a little nearer I discoverd about 20 objects appearing over the Hill I
soon saw that they were Indians And as I was unarmed & over 3 mi
from camp I did not consider it prudent to go among them I wheeled m[y] [page cut off]
Horse & started on my return in a slow trot as soon as I started back
they called to me & one mounted his horse & came After me with all spe[ed] [page cut off]
when He got within 20 rods of me I stoped & met him the rest follow[ed]
on I found them to be Utah^s & wanted to trade I informed him by
signs that our camp was near so he went on with me to camp, what we
have seen as yet of the Utah^s they appeare friendly & not disposed to steal
from [us] though they have A bad name from some of the mountaineers. He
stoped in camp awhile & wanted to smoke the pipe of peace but we soon
started on & He waited for his company to come up, we travled about
10 miles south under the mountain on the west side of the valley
the land lies beautiful but we could not [illegible] [page covered]

ensign Peak we also had a good view of the salt lake through our glasses & many rivers & creek runing through the valley the whole distance of the day was 20 m

July 27, 1847 ~ Tuesday

27th I took President Young in my carriage & started for an explo ring expedition. Br A Lyman came into camp this morning & informed us that Browns detachment of the Battalion would be with us in about 2 days, Br Lyman with all of the twelve in camp with several other Brethren started with us on our exploring expedition being 8 of the Twelve & 6 other Brethren among whom was Br Brannan from Francisco Bay being 14 of us in all. We started for the purpose of visiting the salt lake & mou ntain on the west of the valley we travled 2 miles west from the Temple Block & come to the Utah outlet of the Utah lake we then travled 14 miles to the foot of the Bluff or mountain on the west of the valley whare we found a fountain of fresh water some brackish the land was not near as fertile on the west side of the valley as on the east. And but little fresh water as far as we went while the east side of the valley is as well wattered as any land I ever saw. we took our dinner at the fresh water pool & then rode 6 miles to a large rock on the shore of the Salt lake we here we made a halt. And all went into the salt water & we made up our minds at once that the great Salt lake ought to be added as the eigtht wonder of the world, the watter was quit warm and was impregnated with as much salt as could possibly be dissolved in water it was so strong that if a particle got into the eyes nose or mouth it would strangle & put one in pain no person could possibly sink in it A person would float & roll on the top of the water like a dry log & while standing to our waist in water we could not get our knees to the bottom but would rise to the top like a cork, we found the most beautiful white salt that I ever saw lying in bunches on the shore whare the water dryed away, the whole dody of the water will make at least 3 pints of the best quality of white salt to one gallon of water. After spending an hour at this place we rode south on the lake shore about 4 miles & then returned 10 miles to our place of nooning & camped for the night the whole distance of the day which I drove my carriage from camp 40 mil

July 28, 1847 ~ Wednesday

28th After having camped all night in the open air we arose refreshed by sleep. I having lost my carriage whip the evening before 4 miles back I started in the morning on horsback to go back after it, as I got near the place I discovered two objects appear on a ridge before me About 1/2 a mile distant I at first took them to be bears but after approach ing a little nearer I discovered about 20 objects appearing over the Hill I soon saw that they were Indians and as I was unarmed & over 3 mi from camp I did not consider it prudent to go among them I wheeled my horse & started on my return in a slow trot as soon as I started back they called to me & one mounted his horse & came after me with all speed when he got within 20 rods of me I stoped & met him the rest followed on I found them to be Utahs & wanted to trade I informed him by signs that our camp was near so he went on with me to camp, what we have seen as yet of the Utahs they appear friendly & not disposed to steal from us though they have a bad name from some of the mountaineers. He stoped in camp awhile & wanted to smoke the pipe of peace but we soon started on & he waited for his company to come up, we travled about 10 miles south under the mountain on the west side of the valley the land lies beautiful but we could not rest of line covered