FORMATION OF RAVINES. 49 
brows of the plains, form channels for the de- 
scending rains; which are soon washed into 
the size of ravines—and even considerable 
creeks. The beds of these continue to be 
worn down until veins of lasting water are 
opened, and constant-flowing streams thus 
established. Numerous were the embryo. 
rivulets which might be observed forming in 
this way along the borders of those streams. 
The frequent ‘isolated benches and mounds, 
whose tabular summits are on a level with 
the adjacent plains, and appear entirely of a 
similar formation, indicate that the interme- 
diate earth has been washed away, or remov- 
ed by some other process of nature—all seem- 
ing to give plausibility to our theory. 
It was somewhere in this vicinity that a 
small party of Americans experienced a ter- 
rible calamity in the winter of 1832-3, on 
their way home; and as the incident had the 
tendency to call ‘into play the most prominent 
features of the Indian character, I will digress 
so far here as to relate the facts. 
The party consisted of twelve men, chiefly 
citizens of Missouri. Their baggage and 
about ten thousand dollars in specie were 
packed upon mules. They took the route of 
the Canadian river, fearing to venture on the 
northern prairies at that season of the year. 
ae left Santa Fé in December, they had 
d without accident thus far, when a 
of Comanches and Kiawas were 
seen n advancing towards them. rhe wed 
acquainted with me treacherous and p 
VoL. If. 
