ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 35 



The weather is now very warm, and there has been a dead 

 cahn all day, which renders travelling most uncomfortable. 

 We have frequently been favored with fresh breezes, which 

 make it very agreeable, but the moment these fail us we are 

 almost suffocated with intense heat. Our rate of travelling is 

 about twenty miles per day, which, in this warm weather, and 

 with heavily packed horses, is as much as we can accomplish 

 with comfort to ourselves and animals. 



On the afternoon of the next day, we crossed a broad Indian 

 trail, bearing northerly, supposed to be about five days old, and 

 to have been made by a war party of Pawnees. We are now in 

 the country traversed by these Indians, and are daily expecting 

 to see them, but Captain W. seems very desirous to avoid them, 

 on account of their well known thieving propensities, and quar- 

 relsome disposition. These Indians go every year to the plains 

 of the Platte, where they spend some weeks in hunting the 

 buffalo, jerking their meat, and preparing their skins for robes ; 

 they then push on to the Black Hills, and look out for the parties 

 of Blackfeet, which are also bound to the Platte river plains 

 When the opposing parties come in collision, (which frequently 

 happens,) the most cruel and sanguinary conflicts ensue. In 

 the evening, three of our men deserted. Like our quondam 

 cook, they all took rifles, &c., that did not belong to them, and 

 one of these happened to be a favorite piece of Captain W.'s, 

 which had done him good service in his journey across this 

 country two years ago. He was very much attached to the gun, 

 and in despite of his calm and cool philosophy in all vexatious 

 matters, he cannot altogether conceal his chagrin. 



The little streams of this part of the country are fringed with 

 a thick growth of pretty trees and bushes, and the buds are now 

 swelling, and the leaves expanding, to " welcome back the 

 spring." The birds, too, sing joyously amongst them, grosbeaks, 

 thrushes, and buntings, a merry and musical band. I am par- 



