30.04.2013 Views

History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

14 DISCOVERIES OF THE SPANIARDS.<br />

panogos, 17 and north <strong>of</strong> the river San Buenaventura are<br />

the mountains which they have just crossed, extending<br />

north-east and south-west some seventy leagues,<br />

and having a width <strong>of</strong> forty leagues. From the surrounding<br />

heights flow four rivers <strong>of</strong> medium size,<br />

discharging their waters into the lake, where thrive<br />

fish and wild fowl. The valley which surrounds this<br />

lake extends from south-east to north-west sixteen<br />

Spanish leagues ; it is quite level, and has a width <strong>of</strong><br />

ten or twelve leagues. Except the marshes on the<br />

lake borders the land is good for agriculture. Of the<br />

four rivers which water the valley the southernmost,<br />

which they call Aguas Calientes, passes through rich<br />

meadows capable <strong>of</strong> supporting two large towns.<br />

The second, three leagues from the first, flowing<br />

northerly, and which they call the San Nicolas, fertilizes<br />

enough good land to support one large town<br />

or two smaller ones. Before reaching the lake it<br />

divides into two branches, on the banks <strong>of</strong> which<br />

grow tall poplars and alders. The third river, which<br />

is three and a half leagues to the north-east, and which<br />

they call the San Antonio de Padua, carries more<br />

water than the others, and from its rich banks, which<br />

would easily support three large towns, spring groves<br />

<strong>of</strong> larger trees. Santa Ana, they call the fourth<br />

river, which is north-west <strong>of</strong> the San Antonio, and<br />

not inferior to the others ]8—so they are told, for they<br />

do not visit it. Besides these rivers, there are good<br />

springs <strong>of</strong> water both on plain and mountain-side;<br />

pasture lands are abundant, and in parts the fertile<br />

soil yields such quantities <strong>of</strong> flax and hemp that it<br />

seems they must have been planted there by man.<br />

On the San Buenaventura the Spaniards had been<br />

17 Or, as it was also called, Timpagtzis, Timpanoautzis, 6 Come Pescado.<br />

Doc. Ilist. Mex., serie ii. torn. i. 4G4.<br />

1B There is no difficulty in recognizing these land-marks, the Uintah<br />

Mountains, the San Buenaventura, or Green River; and in the four streams<br />

<strong>of</strong> the valley, their Aguas Calientes is Currant Creek; the second, their San<br />

Nicolas, though more than three leagues from the first, and not corresponding<br />

in every other particular, is the Spanish River; the San Antonio is the<br />

Provo; and the Santa Ana, the River Jordan.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!