MA 



NATURAL ronncATioK. ^ 



idth' for'^^trj^^hr^^^^ while the entire section is stored with il 

 of the usual varieties of game known to contiguous regions, m fulditioi 

 to its rich treasures of fruits, flowers and grasses. 



In surveying, from a commanding summit, the vast prame skirting the 

 mantain range upon the east, several small lakes are discennble at differ- 

 STpoLs The water of these is usually brackish, and their shores, 

 whitened by constant saline efflorescence, glisten in the suns rays, and 

 present a strikhig contrast witli the surrounding verdure. 



The mind is perfecUy astounded at the immense expanse thus brought 

 within the scope of vision. In a clear day, objects favorably situated no 

 Wer than an ox or a horse, may be seen at a distance of twenty miles 

 anithe tunber of creeks even for sixty or seventy miles. Here the beholder 

 may scale beyond the clouds far heavenward, and gaze upon a world at 

 his feet ! 



Myhuntmgwas confined principally to black-tailed deer. These am- 

 mals are much larger than others of the genus cervi, and Uieir flesh is of a 

 superior flavor. Their habits are similar to those of tJie wild sheep,— 

 leading them constantly to seek the regions of spring; m the winter, de- 

 eccndilg to the valleys, and in the summer, keeping pace with the melt- 

 ine snows upon the mountain-sides. , , , ^, • r 



The extremity of their vertebrae is shorter than tliat of other speciea of 

 the deer famUy, and has upon it a small cluster of coarse, jetty hair, from 

 which the animal derives its name. Then- liair is usually ofa dajk brown 

 color, coarse and brittle, with the exception of a strip of dirty white upon 

 the haras. Their ears are very large and long,— quite similar to those of 

 a mule; in other respects, however, they conform to the pecuharities of 



the common deer. , , , . _ ^u 



I was quite successful with my rifle, and, by degrees, became much 

 attached to the versatile life of lordly independence consociate with the 

 loneliness of ray situation. My horse, too, seemed to have forgotten aU 

 the allurements of former scenes, and presumed at no tune to wander 

 many yards from camp,— a peculiarity in this noble animal I have fre- 

 quently had occasion to remark. When thus alone, a horse wiU substi- 

 tute the society of man for that of liis own species, and, as if conscious of 

 surrounding danger, will seldom leave the vicinity of a camp for a long 

 distance. 



Oct. 29</i, I started for the Fort. It had been my intention to visit 

 a remarkable natural fortification upon one of the affluents of Crow creek, 

 but, ammunition failing, I was reluctantly compelled to abandon it. 



This fortress is said to be complete in nearly all its parts, and capable 

 of garrisoning a thousand men, yet even one or two hundred might defend 

 it from the repeated assaults of vast armies, and, with a small amount ot 

 labor, might render it impregnable. . j r * ■ 



Its walls are huge masses of solid rock, one or two hundred teet in 

 heiffht,— apparently strata planted on end,— enclosing an area of several 

 acres, unenterable except at limited openings. According to the glowmg 

 descriptions of it given by hunters, it must be an object weU worthy th* 

 attention of the curioua. 



