Return to 
the 
Boundary of 
Missouri 
— 140 — 
on to roast the ribs. After our meal we started off 
in company. The squaws packed their animals with 
admirable economy. One squaw not only loaded a 
horse with about three hundred pounds of baggage, 
but seated herself with some children on the same ani- 
mal, maintaining the equilibrium with motions of her 
own body. A dog, too, had to carry about fifty 
pounds. At evening we camped together on a sandy 
creek. The Indians were also on their way to the 
Arkansas; but they traveled too slow for us, so we 
parted from them on the next morning, and reached 
in two days the left bank of the Arkansas. The Ar- 
kansas with its surroundings bears much resemblance 
to the Platte. It arises west of the same mountain 
chain as the Platte, and flows in eastwardly direction 
toward the Mississippi. Its shores at times are bare, 
at times have a growth of cotton trees. On either 
side stretches out a rolling prairie. The water is 
swift, but shallow, and is here navigable only for 
small boats. Many catfish are in it. We went down 
the left bank of the river about sixty miles to Penn’s 
[Bent’s] Fort. This country presents little variety. 
Along the shore we found at times wild grapes. They 
were larger than I had ever seen them in the United 
States, and tasted deliciously to us, though they were 
still quite sour. So also we found the red fruit of a 
species of cactus with a sweet mucous taste. The 
grass became constantly drier, only along the water 
did we find some fresh patches. Whenever set afire 
the tall parched grass burned like tinder. Through 
