IN THE OLD WEST 67 



they met the valley, about three hours after sun- 

 rise they found themselves in the south-east cor- 

 ner of the Bayou Salade. 



The Bayou Salade, or Salt Valley, is the most 

 southern of three very extensive valleys, form- 

 ing a series of tablelands in the very center of 

 the main chain of the Rocky Mountains, known 

 to the trappers by the name of the " Parks." 

 The numerous streams by which they are watered 

 abound in the valuable fur-bearing beaver, whilst 

 every species of game common to the West is 

 found here in great abundance. The Bayou 

 Salade especially, owing to the salitrose nature 

 of the soil and springs, is the favorite resort of 

 all the larger animals common to the mountains ; 

 and in the sheltered prairies of the Bayou, the 

 buffalo, forsaking the barren and inclement re- 

 gions of the exposed plains, frequent these upland 

 valleys in the winter months ; and feeding upon 

 the rich and nutritious buffalo grass, which on 

 the bare prairies at that season is either dry 

 and rotten or entirely exhausted, not only sus- 

 tain life, but retain a great portion of the " con- 

 dition " that the abundant fall and summer pas- 

 ture of the lowlands has laid upon their bones. 

 Therefore is this valley sought by the Indians 

 as a wintering-ground. Its occupancy has been 

 disputed by most of the mountain tribes, and 

 long and bloody wars have been waged to make 

 good the claims set forth by Yuta, Rap?>ho, 



