TO THE GREAT SOUTH PASS. 73 



ous bluffs overlooking the creek, had upset and rolled over a 

 precipice, scattering its contents in every direction, and the 

 men were busily engaged in repairing damages on our arrival. 

 Leaving our beautiful encampment, we proceeded on our way 

 over a picturesque country, and we corralled after night on 

 the summit of a high hill, after a journey of ten miles. 



We had a fine view on the morning of the 5th, from the hill 

 on which we were encamped. Bleak, rocky mountains arose 

 majestically on all sides, covered on some places with pines, 

 whose dark green foliage contrasted w^ell wdth their dull gray 

 background. Deep gorges in places intersected them, along 

 whose bottoms clear streams were sparkling, as they sped on 

 their way to the Platte. To the north we could discern the 

 high ranges of mountains which walled in the valley of this 

 river, which had now lost its characteristics, being changed 

 from a broad, shallow stream, flowing through a monotonous 

 plain, to a river of the mountains, shut in in some places by 

 high, rocky bluffs, and running with a clear, swift current over 

 a rocky or pebbly bed. I felt a thrill of pleasure as I gazed 

 through the clear, frosty air of the morning upon the wild 

 scenery which surrounded me, looking doubly grand when 

 the sun, as he wheeled above the eastern hills, gilded the sum- 

 mits of the neighboring mountains with his golden light, 

 forming a picture of unsurpassing grandeur and beauty. 

 Descending from our elevated camping place, we came to a 

 large, clear running creek, whose shores were covered with 

 timber, mostly cotton-wood and poplar. This w^e followed 

 down until we came to a broad valle}^ which we supposed to 

 be that of the Platte, but it was only one of its tributaries. 

 Proceeding up this for three or four miles, we encamped at 

 noon by a swampy spring, around which our half-starved 

 animals were unable to find but little grass. Proceeding on our 

 way over an excellent road, we encamped about four o'clock 

 on a large branch of the Platte. A trading post, with the 

 5 



