91 [1] 



camping ground and were passing on, when the mules thought it time to 

 stop, and did so; we kicked and whipped, but the mules would only more 

 in a circle or back ; we all whijiped and then laughed at the preposterous 

 notion of encamping at four o'clock on a fine afternoon. Finally, after a 

 while the whipping prevailed and on we went. 



To-morrow we shall get a distant view of the Black hills. Got to-day, 

 several specimens of insects; yesterday, one botanical specimen. A lovely 

 evening, a pleasant camp, and a prospect of a good day to-morrow. 



Saturday, May 11. — Our camp this evening is on Sage creek, a few 

 miles in the iMauvaise Terre or Bad Lands of \\ hite river. We started this 

 morning just as the sun was peeping over the hills ; about two miles from 

 camp we ascended a steep and high blulf, and entered on a wide prairie. 

 This extended plain is unbroken by a hill until we reach a stream called 

 Pinau's spring, about nine miles from Bad river. We passed down a few 

 hills to reach this, and on the left of the road was an elevated })iece of 

 ground that appeared to me as though it might be a mound, but doubtless 

 it was only a natural elevation. At this spring We found a hole containing 

 good water, and had an excellent place for campi 



For breakfast we fiired well, and among other things had prairie dog. I 

 tasted the latter and found it pretty good, although it had somewhat of the 

 dog taste. These little animals are very much like a grey squirrel and are 

 much eaten by the hunters. Their bark is more like a chirp, and reminds 

 me of a bird rather than of a dog. They lie at their holes and keep a con- 

 stant barking, and their tails go as fast as their jaws, for every bark, a 

 shake of the tail. We passed a large village of them covering several acres, 

 just after we started, but I judge them to be lazy fellows, as but two ap- 

 peared to be stirring, although the sun was then up. I found seveial good 

 skulls of these animals, and a number of jaw bones which I preserved. Poor 

 fellows I they had been shot and suffered to rot at their own doors. After 

 breakfast I got several specimens of a plant growing abundantly on the 

 green bank at the edge of the water. I also prepared some wood for the 

 pins of my specimens of insects of which I have a few. We then started, 

 and again arose to a level prairie which we had with only a few hills as far 

 as Bull creek, about nine miles. Long before reaching this sti'cam, I hatl 

 my first view of the l^ad Lands ; a bute arose perpeiulicular out of the plain 

 very irregular in its shape ; I viewed it with a great deal of interest, as 

 being the first of that remarkable ground which I had come so far to see. 



We reached Bull creek about two o'clock, and there gave the mules some 

 rest. Just before reaching it, Joe killed an antelope, of which we had seen 

 several. We packed the hams and shoulders to camp. While there, M'- 

 Kenzie prepared the skull of a curlew, which Joe had killed in the morning; 

 he also partially j)repared the skull of the antelope. The sti-eam was dry, 

 liaving water only in a few holes ; it was approached by a long (k'scent, 

 and the banks Were very much washed. There was a sandy soil of about 

 five feet, then strata of stones and gravel of about three feet, then another 

 deposit of a light yellow clay. I took out a small piece of Wood from a 

 spot about five feet under the surface. 



W\' left Bull creek about three o'clock, and moved along very slowly, as 

 it was very warm and we all felt lazy. The road now lay over hills which 

 became more steep and fre(iuent as we approached the Bad Lands. These 

 occasionally appeared in the distance, and never iirfore did 1 S(>e anything 

 that so resembled a large city ; so complete was this deception that 1 could 



