5th. Passed several streams to-day, and some good springs. Roads good
but somewhat hilly; plenty of grass; passed a brook about night, camped
on a hill side by a spring of water. This is the most beautiful country
that I ever traveled in; stupendous mountains, the bald peaks covered
with snow, rearing their lofty heads far into the skies. The lesser
hills green to their tops, and the valleys rich with vegetation, wild
wheat, clover and oats, whilst the clear, pure, invigorating atmosphere
renders it the paradise of the mountaineer in summer. It is well worth
a trip to California for the slothful, ease-loving denizen of lower
countries, to see the country, and recover their manhood.