At daylight, one of the smaller party approached them.

He said that running water and grass existed at the mountains, but their Indian guide was wholly ignorant of the country.

This was good news and the next day the party reached the stream.
Shortly after, the expedition was divided into two parties, Walker (of whom mention has been made), taking charge of the larger while Fremont led the smaller.

It was the purpose of Walker to pass around to the foot of the Sierra Nevada, by a route with which he was familiar, while Fremont with Carson and less than a dozen men, among whom were several Delaware Indians, headed straight across the desert.
While advancing over this arid tract, they detected a volume of smoke rising from a ravine.

Cautiously approaching, they discovered an Indian warrior perfectly nude, standing by a fire and watching an earthen pot in which something was simmering.