NATURAL FOTIFICATION. 



285 



with forests of pine and cedar, while the entire section is stored witli all 

 of the usual varieties of game known to contiguous regions, in addition 

 to its rich treasures of fruits, flowers and grasses. 



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

 muntain range upon the east, several small lakes are discernible at differ- 

 ent points. The water of these is usually brackish, and their shores, 

 whitened by constant saline efflorescence, glisten in the sun's rays, and 

 present a striking contrast with the surrounding verdure. 



The mind is perfectly astounded at the immense expanse thus brought 

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

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

 and the timber 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 ! 



My hunting was confined principally to black-tailed deer. These ani- 

 mals are much larger than others of the genus cei'vi, and their flesh is of a 

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

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

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

 ing snows upon the mountain-sides. 



The extremity of their vertebrae is shorter than that of other species of 

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

 which the animal derives its name. Their hair is usually of a dark brown 

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

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

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

 the common deer. 



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 my situation. My horse, too, seemed to have forgotten all 

 the aUurements of former scenes, and presumed at no time 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 will substi- 

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

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

 distance. 



Oct. 29th, 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 of 

 labor, might render it impregnable. 



Its wails are huge masses of solid rock, one or two hundred feet in 

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

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

 descriptions of it given by hunters, it must be an object well worthy the 

 attention of the cujious. 



