SKETCH OF THE ARAPAHOS. 165 



and issues from its eastern side the waters of the Atlantic, and from its 

 western the tributaries of the Pacific. 



Between the mountains and the Fort, the prairie is generally level, though 

 slightly undulating in places ; — it is possessed of a tolerable soil, composed 

 of clay and gravel, ever and anon spreading before the traveller rich val- 

 leys, decked with sweet flowers and lusty herbage. 



The country eastward is rolling, sandy, and sterile ; and, with few ex= 

 captions, presents little to attract the eye or please the fancy. 



The Platte bottoms, above and below, are quite heavily timbered and af- 

 ford an abundance of grass of various kinds. The soil is of a black, deep 

 loam, very rich and weU adapted to cultivation. 



The business transacted at this post is chiefly with the Chyennes, but 

 the Arapahos, Mexicans, and Soux also come in for a large share, and 

 contribute to render it one of the most profitable trading establishments in 

 the country. 



Sept. 10th. Arrangements being completed for resuming my journeyj 

 I left Fort Lancaster in company with four others, intending to proceed as 

 far as Taos in New Mexico. We were all mounted upon stout horses, and 

 provided with two pack-mules for the conveyance of baggage and provi- 

 sions. 



Following the trail leading from the Platte to the Arkansas, or Rio Na- 

 peste, we continued our way some thirty-five miles, and halted with a camp 

 of free traders and hunters, on Cherry creek. 



This stream is an affluent of the Platte, from the southeast, heading in a 

 broad ridge of pine hills and rocks, known as the " Divide." It pursues its 

 course for nearly sixty miles, through a broad valley of rich soil, tolerably 

 well timbered, and shut in for the most part by high plats of table land, — 

 at intervals thickly studded with lateral pines, cedars, oaks, and shrubs of 

 various kinds, — gradually expanding its banks as it proceeds, and exchang- 

 ing a bed of rock and pebbles for one of quicksand and gravel, till it finally 

 attains a width of nearly two hundred yards, and in places is almost lost in 

 tlie sand. The stream derives its name from the abundance of cherry found 

 upon it. 



The country passed over from the Fort to this place, is generally sandy, 

 but yields quite a generous growth of grass. VVe passed, in our course, 

 the dry beds of two transient creeks, one eight, and the other fifteen miles 

 from the Fort. 



Our route bore nearly due south for twenty miles, following the Platte 

 bottom to the mouth of Cherry creek, thence southeast, continuing up the 

 valley of the latter. The Platte presented heavy groves of timber upon both 

 banks, as did also its islands, while its bottoms appeared fertile. 



The mountains, some fifteen miles to our right, towering aloft with their 

 snow-capped summits and dark frowning sides, looked like vast piles of 

 clouds, big with storm and heaped upon the lap of earth ; while the vapor- 

 scuds that flitted around them, seemed as the ministers of pent up wrath, m 

 readiness to pour forth their torrents and deluge the surrounding plains, or 

 let loose the fierce tornado and strew its path with desolation. 



Three or four miles before reaching our present camp, we passed a vil- 

 lage of tlie Arapahos on its way to the mountains, in pursuit of game. 



