A * PRAIRIE OCEAN.' 71 



as these droughty drives are very appropriately 

 called by prairie travellers. This tract of coun- 

 try may truly be styled the grand 'prairie 

 ocean ;' for not a single landmark is to be seen 

 for more than forty miles — scarcely a visible 

 eminence by which to direct one's course. All 

 is as level as the sea, and the compass was our 

 surest, as well as principal guide. 



In view of this passage, as well as that of 

 many other dry stretches upon the route, the 

 traveller should be apprised of the necessity 

 o f providing a water-cask holding at least five 

 gallons to each wagon, in which a supply for 

 drinking and cooking may be carried along to 

 serve in cases of emergency. 



The evening before the embarking of a 

 caravan upon this plain, the captain's voice is 

 usually heard above the din and clatter of the 

 camp, ordering to " fill up the water kegs," — a 

 precaution which caimot be repeated too 

 oflen, as new adventurers are usually ignorant 

 of the necessity of pro\iding a supply suffi- 

 cient to meet every contingency that may be- 

 fal duriiig two or more days' journey over this 

 arid region. The cooks are equally engrossed 

 by their respective vocations : some are mak- 

 ing bread, others preparing viands, and all 

 tasking their ingenuity to lay by such stores 

 as may be deemed expedient for at least two 

 days' consumption. On the following morn- 

 ing (June 14th), the words ' catch up' agam 

 resounded through the camp, and the cara- 

 van was once more in motion. - 



For the first five miles we had a heavy pull 



