History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

14 DISCOVERIES OF THE SPANIARDS.
panogos, 17 and north of the river San Buenaventura are
the mountains which they have just crossed, extending
north-east and south-west some seventy leagues,
and having a width of forty leagues. From the surrounding
heights flow four rivers of medium size,
discharging their waters into the lake, where thrive
fish and wild fowl. The valley which surrounds this
lake extends from south-east to north-west sixteen
Spanish leagues ; it is quite level, and has a width of
ten or twelve leagues. Except the marshes on the
lake borders the land is good for agriculture. Of the
four rivers which water the valley the southernmost,
which they call Aguas Calientes, passes through rich
meadows capable of supporting two large towns.
The second, three leagues from the first, flowing
northerly, and which they call the San Nicolas, fertilizes
enough good land to support one large town
or two smaller ones. Before reaching the lake it
divides into two branches, on the banks of which
grow tall poplars and alders. The third river, which
is three and a half leagues to the north-east, and which
they call the San Antonio de Padua, carries more
water than the others, and from its rich banks, which
would easily support three large towns, spring groves
of larger trees. Santa Ana, they call the fourth
river, which is north-west of the San Antonio, and
not inferior to the others ]8—so they are told, for they
do not visit it. Besides these rivers, there are good
springs of water both on plain and mountain-side;
pasture lands are abundant, and in parts the fertile
soil yields such quantities of flax and hemp that it
seems they must have been planted there by man.
On the San Buenaventura the Spaniards had been
17 Or, as it was also called, Timpagtzis, Timpanoautzis, 6 Come Pescado.
Doc. Ilist. Mex., serie ii. torn. i. 4G4.
1B There is no difficulty in recognizing these land-marks, the Uintah
Mountains, the San Buenaventura, or Green River; and in the four streams
of the valley, their Aguas Calientes is Currant Creek; the second, their San
Nicolas, though more than three leagues from the first, and not corresponding
in every other particular, is the Spanish River; the San Antonio is the
Provo; and the Santa Ana, the River Jordan.