—72— 
Journey over where we rested on the second day. The water was 
Hills— 
Crossing the 
North Fork 
cool and clear, the grass tall and luxuriant, and a 
thick fringe of cottonwood and sugar maples wound 
along the banks. Moreover, our hunters again 
brought fresh buffalo meat, no small spur in arousing 
lively appreciation of romantic surroundings. The 
road was growing daily more difficult. Steep ascents 
and deep clefts and ravines often made it necessary to 
lower the carts with ropes and pull them up again, 
or else make a wide circuit. We were visibly ascend- 
ing. Had we not been already convinced by the vio- 
lent current of the Platte of our rapid ascent, the 
thinner, purer air, the broad sweep of our view and 
the change in vegetation would have called it to our 
attention. In regard to the latter we noticed especial- 
ly two companions of our journey that were no more 
to leave us, namely, cacti, in several species, and wild 
sage or wild wormwood (Artemisia Columbiensis). 
This Artemisia is found on both sides of the Rocky 
Mountains, in sandy soil, where the grass grows 
sparsely or not at all. It is of varying size. Some- 
times it is stunted, and scarce a foot or two high; 
but at times it attains the height of a man, and then 
its stem is as thick as an arm. The wood consists, 
like that of the vine, of many twisted fibres, is of no 
use to the carpenter, but makes a good fire, and holds 
its glow very long. The foliage is characterized by 
its bitterness. If any of it gets into our food, it is 
scarce eatable. So, if fresh meat bound to the sad- 
dle has been brushed by it in passing, the best thing 
