There was considerable swearing done, but that would not mend the pole.

There was no place nearer than Sutter's Fort to repair damages, so we were put to our wits' end.
We first sent back a mile or so, and bought a raw-hide.

Gathering up the fragments of the pole and cutting the hide into strips, we finished it in the rudest manner.

As long as the hide was green, the pole was very shaky; but gradually the sun dried the hide, tightened it, and the pole actually held for about a month.

This cost us nearly a day of delay; but, when damages were repaired, we harnessed up again, and reached the crossing of the Cosumnes, where our survey was to begin.