PRAIRIE TRAVEL. 66 



ually one of the brightest gems of nature's casket, and feeble and childish 

 withal) he was nnable to hnd it, or even to decide upon which of the two 

 streams it belonged. 



Upon one of the affluents of Horse creek, thirty or forty miles south of 

 the Platte, is a beautiful valley, shut in by two ridges of precipitous hills, 

 known as Goche's hole. 



This locality, in wildness and picture!?que beauty, claims alfinity to the 

 nei^borhood of Scott's BlufT. Its area is broad and of several miles extent, 

 — inacessible exce])t at two or three points. The surrounding hills are gen- 

 erally composed of marl and earthy limestone. Towering in vertical walls 

 to the jjeigiit of many hundred feet, th( y present the appearance of a 

 strongly fortified place. Tlie soil is remarkably rich, well watered, and 

 timbered, — strikingly contrasting with the nude sterility and desolation of 

 the circumjacent country. 



A heavy fall of snow during the night prevented our leaving camp until 

 the fourth day subsequent, when were ; gain cii route. Having })assed the 

 nighc of Nov. 1st at Morain's Point, the next day we arrived at Fcrt Platte. 

 This latter place is situated a short distance above the mcuth of Larra- 

 mie river, and is our point of present destination. 



From Horse creek to the Larramie river, the bottoms, in many places', 

 afibrded dense groves of heavy timber — the more agreeable as we had 

 been so long accustomed to open and woodless prairies. 



The geological character of the country is nearly the same with that 

 previnu.-ly described — though possessed of greater humJdity of soil. The 

 formations, noticed in the vicinity of Scott's Bluff and Goche's hole, have 

 merged into strata of limestone of various shades and compactness, with 

 occasional layers of primitive sandstone. 



'^I'he prairies were beautifully undulating, and covered with lusty growths 

 of dried vegetation. The hills, now and then, were ornamented with a few 

 scattering pines and cedars, which stood like lonely sentinels to watch the 

 progress of changing seasons. 



As some of my readers may entertain the design of visiting these remote 

 regions, or passing beyond them to the more distant shores of the Pacilic, 

 it may not be deemed a digression for me to present a few hints as to the 

 most adv. sable mode of travelling upon this long and wearisome journey. 



A caravan of waggons should make only two camps per day. Travehers 

 should adopt the rule to start at daylight and continue until ten o'clock, 

 A. M., — then, having halted some six hours, (if it be summer, if spring or 

 fall, four only.) again resume their way till after sundown. 



Fil'teen miles, upon an average, are as far as an ox team should travel 

 per day, — mules or horses might keep on for twenty miles. 



Caravans ought always to lay by in rainy weather, as the wet and irrita- 

 tion consequent upon draught, gall the neck and shoulders of their ani- 

 mals and soon render them unht for service ; — every precaution should be 

 taken to preserve their strength and soundness, as upon them rests the sole 

 dependence of a travelhng company. 



A mounted party ought, as a general thing, to observe the same rules, 



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