On 8/11/2014 10:33 AM, Opinicus wrote:
> July 27€¦
>
> Late in the afternoon, we pass to the left, around a sharp point,
> which is somewhat broken down near the foot, and discover a flock of
> mountain sheep on the rocks, more than a hundred feet above us. We
> quickly land in a cove, out of sight, and away go all the hunters with
> their guns, for the sheep have not discovered us. Soon, we hear
> firing, and those of us who have remained in the boats climb up to see
> what success the hunters have had. One sheep has been killed, and two
> of the men are still pursuing them. In a few minutes, we hear firing
> again, and the next moment down come the flock, clattering over the
> rocks, within twenty yards of us. One of the hunters seizes his gun,
> and brings a second sheep down, and the next minute the remainder of
> the flock is lost behind the rocks. We all give chase; but it is
> impossible to follow their tracks over the naked rock, and we see them
> no more. Where they went out of this rock walled cañyon is a mystery,
> for we can see no way of escape. Doubtless, if we could spare the time
> for a search, we could find some gulch up which they ran.
>
> We lash our prizes to the deck of one of the boats, and go on for a
> short distance; but fresh meat is too tempting for us, and we stop
> early to have a feast. And a feast it is! Two fine, young sheep. We
> care not for bread, or beans, or dried apples to night; coffee and
> mutton is all we ask.
>
> - J. W. Powell, Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and its
> Tributaries (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1875), 66.
>

I read a fictionalized novel about this trip. Totally fascinating.

--
From somewhere very deep in the heart of Texas