154 MEETING OF COMPANIES. 



In passing a village of Arapahos, near the Salt Bottom, v/e had con- 

 siderable difficulty with them on account of ten or fifteen domesticates 

 bufialo connected with the caravan. The Indians were highly exaspera« 

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

 them.selves 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 th»* 

 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 t^ie item of fuel, as neither tree nor stick could be procurer 

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

 had become so thoroughly saturated Vv ith water it was almost impossible tc 

 ignite it. 



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

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

 bands of buffalo that thronged the vicinity abated somev/hat 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 

 8ite 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 

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

 ual means for the suppression of the sale of ardent spirits amor^ hig 

 people. (A veiy laudable object, indeed.) 



