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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
August 12th, 1859 -- Twelve miles brought us to Stony Point, where we took dinner, and then struck up through the sagebrush and sand six miles further and then left the main road going down to the river about four miles where we camped in excellent feed, the cattle have improved amazingly ever since we struck the Humboldt not withstanding the immense amount of alkali that covers the bottoms worse I believe even than the Platte. But we are very careful, watering only at the river, and herding our stock from the sloughs and stagnant ponds. We sold some of our beef, and are keeping the clear hams and shoulders in a piece without any salt, wrapping it up tight by day, and hanging it up at night. Old Californians say that salt will cause it to spoil in this climate.Powell
Travelled 20 miles. We had quite a time with the Indians last knight. They used all of the offall of the beef and then we made them dance for the hide. They were here all knight. Stuck willows in the ground, spread meat on, built a fire, smoked and burned it to some extent and they all eat. They had some fish they threw in the fire and eat them heads, guts and all. One of them stole a knife. We followed and made him deliver. We passed Stony Point at 12 o'clock. Here the main road leaves the river for a distance of 26 miles. We are keeping along the river. This country is very destitute of timber.