152 TEN DAYS IN MONTANA. 



and they all pronounce them the best arm in use, all things 

 considered, for that purpose. Nearly all now in use are of 

 the new hammerless model, forty-five caliber. The troops, 

 of course, are armed with the improved Springfield, and it is 

 well adapted to both military and sporting purposes. 



After cutting up the bull we had killed and taking out 

 such portions of the meat as were edible, we resumed our 

 way. A few miles from this point we entered the Cabin creek 

 valley. The soil here. is so strongly impregnated with alkali 

 as to give it much of the appearance of ashes. It is said that 

 in the wet season the decomposition of chemical matter in the 

 soil renders it so soft and slushy as to be almost impassable for 

 man or beast. We found here some good specimens of mica, 

 gypsum and other crystals. The water in Cabin creek is 

 strongly charged with alkali, but not so much so as to render it 

 wholly unfit for use. We were very thirsty when we reached 

 it and drank heartily of it without any serious consequences. 



