pike's peak in the distance. 331 



that at no time had we any difficulty in finding 

 grazing for our cattle, and the antelope that we killed 

 were invariably in good condition. This belt of east- 

 ern Colorado proved particularly rich in fossil 

 wealth, to the description of which we shall devote 

 most of this chapter, and the whole of that following. 

 In the vicinity of the Big Sandy, we found numerous 

 lakes of clear water, surrounded by rich pasturage. 



About one hundred miles west of the Kansas line, 

 the country began gradually improving, and continued 

 to do so until we reached the mountains. The Bijou ba- 

 sin, through which we passed, affi3rded excellent range, 

 and contained good streams. The country swarmed 

 with antelopes, and once we saw a herd running rap- 

 idly, which was four minutes in crossing the road. 



We had fine views of Pike's Peak, at a distance of 

 one hundred and fifty miles, the atmosphere there 

 being remarkably pure and transparent. Emigrants 

 have often been deceived when, as their wagons 

 crawled over the crest which we named First View, 

 the fine old Peak burst upon their sight, and in their 

 enthusiasm resolved to get an early start next day 

 and reach it before another night-fall. Our guide told 

 us that when he first crossed the plains, by the Platte 

 route, his party camped for the night near Monument 

 Rock. After supper, two of the men and a woman 

 set out to cut their names in the stone, supposing it 

 to be only a mile or so distant, but when an hour's 

 traveling brought the rock apparently no nearer, they 

 became discouraged and returned. Next day Mon- 

 ument Rock was found to be twelve miles distant 

 from their camping-place. 



