The Jayhawkers were still making their preparations when the Martin party and Rev. J.W.  Brier and family came up to their camp, having taken a circuit around farther to the south.  The Martin party was already in marching order and this camp was so poor that they did not wait, but gave all their oxen they had left to Mr. Brier and said they could get on faster without them.  They took a straight course over the hills and up the mountain, saying they believed they had provisions enough upon their backs to last them through, and that nothing should check their progress till they reached the other side, where they said were fertile valleys and plenty of chance to live.

The Doty party, or Jayhawkers, when they were ready started first a northerly course to find a more favorable place to cross the range and drove their oxen with them, each with a small pack.  They soon came to some good water, and after refreshing themselves turned westward to cross the great mountain before them.  Both men and oxen were shod with moccasins made of raw-hide to protect the feet against sharp rocks.  They could see no trail but merely picked out the best way to go.  While climbing the steep mountain side they came across a dead ox left by some party that had gone before them.  They cut out the tongue and some of the best meat and ate it to eke out their own small stock, and carried some pieces with them, but soon threw it all away but enough for a roast for supper.

When it was getting dark they were almost at the summit, but there was no good camping place, and they saw a small fire light at a little distance and went to it, finding a poor lone camper taking care of himself.  They camped here also.  It seemed as if there were many men from the various parties scattered all around the country, each one seeking out the path which seemed to suit best his tender feet or present fancy, steering west as well as mountains and canon would permit, some farther north, some farther south and generally demoralized, each thinking that as a last resort he would be able to save his own life.  It seemed to be a question of will and endurance, strong hearts and keeping the body in motion.  The weak and faint must fail, and the strong said to the weak;—­“Stand up; be a man; don’t fall down;” and so the strong spurred on the weak and kept them up as best they could.

Down the mountain they went, on the west side and instead of Los Angeles, which some of them expected to see, they saw only a salt lake in the midst of a barren desert valley and their route lay directly across it.  They traveled in several directions as they went across.  One went across the valley on a strip of dried mud between two small lakes.  Others followed down along the east side of the lake near the foot of the mountain, where they found some good water and an old Indian camp.  They found some mosquite beans, which they did not know were of much use, but really, if they had known how to fix them up a little they would have been good food.