Copied from transcript of Oliver Boardman Huntington journal, vol. 10, pgs 87-90

Pg 87

Besides the Salt Lake Valley are several
smaller vallies the largest of which is
the Ewtah , which would be the end of
my searches to find a pleasant, and
delightful home – About 60 miles in
length and 30 in width with the
Ewtah Lake in the center stretching
about 40 miles north and south, 20 miles
east and west laying in an irregular
tryangular form – well filled with
excelent fish – as also all its large
tributaries – From almoste any point
the whole valley and lake is in full view,
Surrounded with very high, bold
mountains, more so {begin inserted text}than{end inserted text} the other valley
described – The moste of the western
side of the Valley is sandy and covered with
Juniper trees. There are 5 or 6 small
rivers and numerous little creeks

Pg 88

88
emptying into this lake, and the
borders of these are creeks and rivers
are well stocked with wood, and up
these streams into the Mountains
the wood is of easier of access than
in Salt Lake Valley , also there is
always less snow in this valley, and
a good salt spring in the south end
This Valley will probably hold and
sustain about 50,000.
The Indians are very peaceable
and desire the whites to come and
live there and learn them to make
grain grow, although the mountains
are full of White tailed and black=tai=
led deer, Elk, MountainSheep and
Bear – Antelope, Deer, Gees, ducks &
hens in the vally.
They are hirribly frightened with the
Cannon the Mormons have there
They have six or seven pieces of
Artilery and sometimes fire them
off upon the report of which the
Natives run some to the mountains &
hide – others curl down and hide in
their houses, not comeing out perhaps
for half a day.
There was a band of indians wintered
just on the out edge of the City, and
on the day after the Convention was over
and the formation of a provisional

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89
Government announced, 13 guns were
fired, soon after which Dimick went
up to the Chiefs house on business; and
when he came near their little village of
huts he noticed, that not an indian 
was to be seen – nor was there to be
seen one in the whole country around,
but he pushed on to the old man’s door
and looked in, – where he saw the old
mans head just peaping from under
a Bear Skin – as soon as the old
man saw who it was he raised up and
asked – “what have you come for,
what have I done now”?
“What do you ask that for” enquired
Dimick?
“I heard that great gun, I thought
the white men were going to war, and
was dreadfully scared – We all lay down
here and dare not look out – I lay and
shook with fear – What was you
shooting that big gun for”?
He explained the matter to him and
then the old man got up and called
his family and neighbours out, and all
appeared very glad that the whites had
made some Big Captains, as that is the
name they give to all officers (capatan)
His name was Wandship , and was yet
a smart man – had been the terror of
the Country. Two, great and noble
families had for a long time lived and
held the Salt Lake and Ewtah vallies 

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90
and were almoste constantly at
war with each other.
All were Ewes or of the Ewtah tribe 
but for some cause those of Wandship s 
side had seceded and called themselves
“Shoshonies” , or Snakes in english.
Each leader or family held their resp=
ective valley, and generally, when not
fighting one another in a general war,
were fighting among themselves.
Generally when the two Vallies were
at peace they would intermarry and
that would bring another war