8ELETCI1 Of 'I'HE AilAPAHOS. 213 



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and issues from its eastern side the waters of the Atlantic, and from ita 

 western the tributaries of the Pacific. 



Between the mountains and the Fort, tlie prairie is generally level, tlioiigh 

 slightly undulating in places ; — it is jwssessed of a tolerable soil, composed 

 of clay and gravel, ever and anon sprt aiding before the traveller rich \al 

 leys, decked with sweet flowers and hisiy herbage. 



The country 'eastward is rolling, sandy, and sterile ; and, with few ex 

 ceptions, presents little to attract the eye or please the fancy. 



Tlie Platte bottoms, above and below, are quite heavily timoered and af 

 ford an abundance of grass of various kinds. The soil is of a black, deep 

 loam, very rich and well adapted to cultivation. 



T^ie business transacted at this post is chiefly with the Chyennes, bui 

 the Arapahos, Mexicans, and Soux also come in for a large pliaro. k-vJ 

 contribute to render it one of the most profitable trading establishments in 

 the country. 



Sept. lOih. Arrangements being completed for resuming my journey: 

 I left Fort Lancaster in company with four others, intending to proceed as 

 far as Taos in New Mexico. We were all mounted upon stout horses, and 

 provided with two pack-mules for the conveyance of baggage and provi- 

 sions. 



Following the trail leading from the Platte to the Arkansas, or Rio Na- 

 peste, we continued our way some thirty-five miles, and hailed with a camp 

 of free traders and hunters, on Clierry creek. 



This stream is an affluent of the Platte, from the southeast, heading in a 

 broad ridge of pine hills and rocks, known as tlie " Divide." It pursues its 

 course for nearly sixty miles, through a broad valley of rich .soil, to'crably 

 well timbered, and shut in for the most part by high plats of table land, — 

 at intervals thickly studded with lateral pines, cedars, oaks, aiid shrubs of 

 various kinds, — gradually expanding its banks as it proceeds, and exchang- 

 ing a bed of rock and pebbles for one of quicksand and gravel, till it finally 

 attains a width of nearly two hundred yards, and in places is almost lost in 

 the sand. The stream derives its name from the abundance of clierry found 

 upon it. 



The country passed over from the Fort to this place, is generally sandy, 

 but yields quite a generous growtn of grass. VVe passed, in our cour.se, 

 the dry beds of two transient creeks, one eight, and the otJier. fifteen miles 

 from the Fort. 



Our route bore nearly due south for twenty miles, folJowi.ig tlie Platte 

 bottom to the moutli of Cherry creek, thence southeast, cor.tinuins '-p the 

 valley of the latter. The I'latte presented heavy groves of limber up( n bcth 

 banks, as did also its islands, while its bottoms appeared fertile. 



The mountains, some fifteen miles to our right, towering aloft with their 

 snow-capped summits and dark frowning sides, looked like \ast piles of 

 clouds, big with storm and heaped upon the lap of earth ; while t'lic vapor- 

 scuds tliat flitted around them, seemed as the ministers of pent up wrath, in 

 readiness tc pour forth their torrents and deluge the surrounding plainsj or 

 let loose the fierce tornado and strew its patli with desolation. 



Three or four miles before reacliing our present camp, we passed a vil 

 bge of the Aiapahos on its way to the mountains, in pursuit of game 



