PRAIRIE TRAVEL. 65 



ually one of the brightest gems of nature's casket, and feeble and childish 

 withal) he was unable to hnd it, or even to decide upon which of tiie two 

 streams it belonged. 



Upon one of the affluents of Horse creek, thirty or forty miles south of 

 the Platte, is a beautiful valley, sliut in by two ridges of precipitous hills, 

 known as Goche's hole. 



This locality, in wildness and picturesque beauty, claims affinity to the 

 neinborhood of Scott's Bluff. Its area is broad and of several miles extent, 

 — inacessible except at two or three points. The surrounding hills are gen- 

 erally composed of marl and earthy limestone. Towering in vertical walls 

 to the height of many hundred feet, they present the appearance of a 

 strongly fortified place. Tlie soil is remarkably rich, well watered, and 

 timbered, — strikingly contrasting with the nude sterility and desolation of 

 the circumjacent country. 



A heavy fall of snow during the night prevented our leaving camp until 

 the fourth day subsequent, when were again en route. Having passed the 

 night of Nov. 1st at Morain's Point, the next day we arrived at Fort Platte. 

 This latter place is situated a short distance above the mouth of Larra- 

 mie river, and is our point of present destination. 



From Horse creek to the Larramie river, the bottoms, in many places, 

 afforded dense groves of heavy timber — the more agreeable as we had 

 been so long accustomed to open and woodless prairies. 



The geological character of the country is nearly the same with that 

 previously described — though possessed of greater humidity of soil. The 

 formations, noticed in the vicinity of Scott's Bluff and Goche's hole, have 

 merged into strata of limestone of various shades and compactness, with 

 occasional layers of primitive sandstone. 



The prairies were beautifully undulating, and covered with lusty growths 

 of dried vegetation. The hills, now and then, were ornamented with a few 

 scattering pines and cedars, which stood like lonely sentinels to watch the 

 progress of changing seasons. 



As some of my readers may entertain the design of visiting these remote 

 regions, or passing beyond them to the more distant shores of the Pacific, 

 it may not be deemed a digression for me to present a few hints as to the 

 most advisable mode of travelling upon this long and wearisome journey. 



A caravan of waggons should make only two camps per day. Travellers 

 should adopt the rule to start at daylight and continue until ten o'clock, 

 A. M., — then, having halted some six hours, (if it be summer, if spring or 

 fall, four only,) again resume their way till after sundown. 



Fifteen miles, upon an average, are as far as an ox team should travel 

 per day, — mules or horses might keep on for twenty miles. 



Caravans ought always to lay by in rainy weather, as the wet and irrita- 

 tion consequent upon draught, gall the neck and shoulders of their ani 

 mals and soon render them unfit for service ; — every precaution should be 

 taken to preserve their strength and soundness, as upon them rests tlie sole 

 dependence of a travelling company. 



A mounted party ought, as a general thing, to observe the same rules, 



