294 MEETING OF COMPANIES. 



In passing a village of Arapahos, near the Salt Bottom, we had con- 

 siderable difficulty with them on account of ten or fifteen domesticated 

 buffalo connected with the caravan. The Indians were highly exaspera- 

 ted, and accused the whites of stealing their buffalo. They even armed 

 themselves to fight us, and were deterred from their purpose only by a large 

 present of tobacco, but still threatened vengeance in case of a renewal of 

 the offence. 



Soon after this we were joined by a young Arapaho Indian, named Fri- 

 day, who was desirous of visiting the States. He had formerly lived in 

 St. Louis, where he had acquired a knowledge of the English language, 

 and still maintains a reputation for honesty, intelligence, and sobriety. 

 Hereafter I will have occasion to speak of him more particularly, in con- 

 nection with his previous history. 



Resuming our course, we bore leftward from the river and struck into 

 the high prairie. Late rains had rendered the ground muddy, and travel- 

 ling consequently became slow and tedious. 



The weather continued wet and disagreeable, in addition to which the 

 unprecedented size and velocity of the streams caused us frequent deten- 

 tion. 



The trail, for four or five days, led over a number of timberless water- 

 courses, known as " the coon creeks," which subjected us to great incon- 

 venience in the item of fuel, as neither tree nor stick could be procured 

 for cooking purposes, and hois de bache, the substitue of buffalo countries, 

 had become so thoroughly saturated with water it was almost impossible to 

 ignite it. 



On the 23d of April, having arrived at Pawnee Fork, we were obliged 

 to remain some four weeks before a lord could be effected, — but the dense 

 bands of buffalo that thronged the vicinity abated somewhat the annoyance 

 of delay. 



The country, between the "Crossing" and Pawnee Fork, varies but 

 little in its general character from that previously described, and exhibits a 

 favorable contrast to the forbidding wastes of naked sand upon the oppo- 

 site side of the Arkansas. Although not absolutely sterile, it is not rich, 

 and suffers more from lack of moisture than any actual defect of soil. 

 Its entire destitution of timber will prevent it from ever becoming inhab- 

 ited to any great extent. 



Rock of all kinds is very scarce, and almost the only specimens preva- 

 lent are found in the pebbles and diminutive fragments which lie scattered 

 over the prairie. 



During our stay we were joined by Messrs. Bent and St. Vrain, and 

 three or four Spanish companies, which increased our caravan to fifty or 

 more waggons and nearly one hundred men. 



With the former of the companies was a Chyenne chief, (Slim Face,) on 

 his way to Washington to solicit the U. S. Government to adopt some effect- 

 ual means for the suppression of the sale of ardent spirits among his 

 people. (A very laudable object, indeed.) 



