HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 209 



The building is quadrangular, and is constructed of 

 adobe, or sun-dried bricks. Its walls are surmounted 

 by watch-towers and its gate is defended by two 

 brass swivels. 



From Fort Laramie, the trail continues on through, 

 a broken country, to the Platte River, a distance of 

 twenty miles. Crossing a small creek which empties 

 into the Platte, it proceeds through the dry bed of 

 one of its branches, over a deep sand for six or eight 

 miles, and reaches the summit of a high ridge. From 

 thence it descends into a narrow valley, through 

 which flows a small stream of pure water. Another 

 ridge of hills is then ascended, and a wild, desolate, 

 but picturesque scene is presented to the view. Nu- 

 merous lofty mountain peaks, barren rocks, and a vast 

 prospect of low conical hills are the principal features. 

 Through a country, the principal features of which 

 are of this description, the trail is followed, and the 

 monotony of the journey is only relieved by an occa- 

 sional stoppage at a refreshing spring of water. The 

 trail gradually ascends towards the summit of the 

 Rocky Mountains, and the country becomes more 

 broken and sterile, till it reaches Beaver Creek, a 

 tributary of the Platte. There the grass and water 

 are good, and the wood is abundant. The country 

 exhibits every indication of fertility upon the trail lead- 

 ing from Beaver Creek, and pure and limpid streams 

 are frequent, until the Platte River is again struck 

 and followed upon its southern bank, for the distance 

 of about eighteen miles. The river is then forded, 

 and the trail ascends the high bluffs overlooking the 

 valley, and proceeds over several miles of table-land 

 till the valley of the Platte is again reached. At 

 this point, the trail finally leaves the Platte, and, 

 18* 



