ADVENTURE WITH 175 



tlucecl many flourishing plants, for are not you and Prof. D — , and Mr. 

 von R — , and Dr. T — , all Itessians r " "Not all of us, but then a ste- 

 rile soil sometimes produces fragrant flowers, while all else around is 

 crowded with noisome weeds — without a figure, Sir, our prince does not 

 patronize science." Slill most of these men, by the mere force of ge- 

 nius, have gained a European reputation and will be cherished by the 

 scientific world, though they are neglected by their prince, but what else 

 could you expect of a liian who would buy and then marry another 

 man's wife ! J. G. M. 



AN ADVENTURE WITH " BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 



The trading party, under the escort of which I placed myself for the 

 purpose of travelling over the Rocky Mountains, with the object of ex- 

 ploring that interesting region in search of novelties in Natural History, 

 had arrived at a beautiful little grove of Cotton-wood trees, near the 

 head waters of the JVehrasca or Platte River. For nearly three weeks 

 previously we had traversed waving prairies, sandy plains, covered with 

 aromatic worm-wood, and sterile tracts supporting no vegetation, except 

 the short, dry buffalo-grass ; where not a bird enlivened the scene with 

 its melody, and nothing varied the dull monotony except an occasional 

 herd of bounding antelopes, a straggling bison, or a crouching hare. 

 We had not, in all this period, seen a tree. It may therefore readily 

 be imagined that the very sight of this Oasis in the inhospitable 

 desert was cheering to the eyes and heart of a young and en- 

 thusiastic naturalist. Our matter of fact fur-traders, however, did 

 not sympathize in my delight. The party passed slowly by, but 1 found 

 it impossible to resist the impulse to explore the grove, feeling assured 

 that it abounded with beautiful birds, wholly unknown to the naturalist. 

 I accordingly fell back, taking care to elude the observation of our lead- 

 er, whose orders were peremptory that no one should detach himself 

 from the main body on account of its being known that hostile Indians 

 were in this vicinity, and quietly entered the wood. After dismounting, 

 I fastened my horse by the long " trail-rope " to a sapling on the verge 

 of the forest, and in five minutes was in my glory. As I suspected, the 

 tiees were literally crowded with beautiful birds, most of which were 

 entirely unknown to me. The arches of the little forest rang with the 

 rapid reports of my double-barreled detonator; new birds were falling 

 around me in every direction, and I was gathering them from the ground 

 with hands that trembled with eagerness and delight, when 1 was star- 

 tled by a shrill, quick and loud neigh from my faithful and affectionate 



