ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAIiVS, ETC. 05 



the entomologist, would find a rich and almost inexhaustible 

 field for the prosecution of their inquiries, and the result of such 

 an expedition would be to add most materially to our knowledge 

 of the wealth and resources of our country, to furnish us with 

 new and important facts relative to its structure, organization, 

 and natural productions, and to complete the fine native collec- 

 tions in our already extensive museums. 



On the 1st of June, we arrived at Laramie's fork of the 

 Platte, and crossed it without much difficulty. 



Here two of our " free trappers" left us for a summer " hunt" 

 in the rugged Black Hills. These men joined our party at Inde- 

 dependence, and have been travelling to this point with us for 

 the benefit of our escort. Trading companies usually encourage 

 these free trappers to join them, both for the strength which they 

 add to the band, and that they may have the benefit of their 

 generally good hunting qualities. Thus are both parties accom- 

 modated, and no obligation is felt on either side. 



I confess I felt somewhat sad when I reflected upon the pos- 

 sible fate of the two adventurous men who had left us in the 

 midst of a savage wilderness, to depend entirely upon their 

 unassisted strength and hardihood, to procure the means of sub- 

 sistence and repel the aggression of the Indian. 



Their expedition will be fraught with stirring scenes, with 

 peril and with strange adventure ; but they think not of this, 

 and they care not for it. They are only two of the many scores 

 who annually subject themselves to the same difficulties and 

 dangers ; they see their friends return unscathed, and laden 

 with rich and valuable furs, and if one or two should have 

 perished by Indian rapacity, or fallen victims to their own daring 

 and fool-hardy spirit, they mourn the loss of their brethren who 

 have not returned, and are only the more anxious to pursue the 

 same track in order to avenge them. 



On the 2d, we struck a range of high and stony mountains, 



9 



