HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



205 



pelled to swim across. Following the trail for about 

 three miles, a place of encampment, on the banks of 

 Soldier Creek, is reached. The soil in the neighbor 

 hood of the Kansas is luxuriantly productive, and the 

 most refreshing verdure meets the eye along the 

 trails from that river to Soldier Creek. The route 

 is then pursued over a flat plain boggy in some 

 places for several miles, till another creek is reached, 

 the banks of which are steep, and this, as in other 

 cases, make its crossing a matter of great toil. The 

 trail then runs over a high, undulating country, pre 

 senting every variety of scenery, as far as Black 

 Paint Creek, near which are two Kansas Indian vil 

 lages. The Kansas are a friendly tribe, and if they 

 were not, they are not powerful enough to attack large 

 parties of emigrants. They are somewhat disposed 

 to pilfer whatever they can conveniently, and require 

 close watching. 



After crossing the creek, the trail is followed 

 through a fertile valley, across Hurricane Creek, which 

 is somewhat difficult of passage, and then over an 

 open and rolling prairie, broken by small branches 

 and ravines. Many places, convenient for encamping, 

 are to be found on the route, some of which have 

 springs of pure cold water. Farther on, the ground 

 becomes more broken, and Vermilion Creek, a large 

 and rapid stream, is reached. Its banks are steep, 

 and its fording very toilsome and difficult. Between 

 this creek and the Big Blue, there is neither wood 

 nor water to be obtained, and therefore, it is cus 

 tomary for the emigrants to fill their casks at this 

 place. The ground between the two streams, a dis 

 tance of ten miles, is more broken than any upon 

 the former part'of the route, and on arriving at the 

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