390 'Ex. Doc. No, 41. 



one of the flat boats, three of the Indians who had assisted in ferry- 

 ing us over were soundly sleeping, and far away stretched the grad- 

 ually diminishing trees that overhung the Kanzas water; the king- 

 fisher (alcedo alcyon) was darting along, uttering his shrill rattling 

 scream; flocks of paroquets (centurus Carolinensis) were circling 

 over head, screaming and darting amid the tall walnut and syca- > 



more trees. 



We now made ready for our marchj having engaged a fine look- 

 ing Indian lad to go with the party. Our horses had not had much 

 ,time to eat last night, and seemed disinclined to pass through the 

 luxuriant grass that lay on each side of our road, and were con- 

 stantly trying to snatch a mouthful of the delicious herhage. 



At 8| o'clock we had a glimpse of the Wakaroosa buttesj on our 

 right there was a large corn field, of about 30 acres, then a line of 

 timber stretching as far as the eye could reach; on our left lay the 

 broad rolling prairie, and directly in front w^e could see the road 

 crossing the swells of the prairie, until it could be no longer dis- 

 tinguished. As we continued to advance w^e found that our road 

 lead us directly betw^een the two buttes. 



We soon reached them, and then saw the ^^ divide'' that sepa- 

 rates the waters of the ^^ Wakaroosa" from those of the '^Alaris 

 des cygnes," or Osage; (as it is called near its mouth;) upon this 

 divide the Santa Fe road is laid out. 



We soon saw the Oregon trail, which here unites with that to 

 Santa Fe; shortly after passing the junction of these trails we 

 reached a steep declivity that forms the bank of a small streaiOj 

 and noticed that the Indians had been working here for coal; m 

 the superincumbent shale we found traces of fossils resembling the 

 Ibroad flat leaves of the iris (frida^.) While we were examining 

 this formation, my horse, that had been driven almost mad by the 

 flies, (tabani,) broke from his fastenings and rushed into the^cr^ek, 

 in order to roll in the water, and thus free himself from his tor- 

 mentors; what a misfortune* for'my saddle and pistols were on his 

 ^ back; some of the party dashed towards him, and, springing np, he 

 galloped off, scattering all my accoutrements on th^ road; but I re- 

 covered every thing, even my pistols. 



We continued on over a broad flat-bottom of marshy land, b'^^ 

 . found, before we had proceeded far, that our course bore too lanch 

 to the north. We, however, continued to follow on in hopes it 

 would take a turn, but were disappointed. As it was now late, ^^-e 

 encamped on the Wakaroosa river, having marched nine miles- 

 During the day, our animals suffered greatly from the horse-flyy 

 (tabani;) these flies completely covered the necks and shoulders 

 of the horses and mules, tormenting them excessively. 



Amongst the birds observed this day, were the dove, (ecto- 

 pistcs Caroliniensis;) the flicker, (gieus auratus^ the blue bird^ 

 (sialia Wilsonnii;) the buntinor, (pipilo erythrosstbalmus;) and the 

 crow, (corvus Americanus.) The last mentioned birds were loung- 

 ing near a large cornfield, and were, doubtless, watching ^^^^^ 

 interest the ripening of the grain. 



Those friends of the prairie voyageur, the cow-bird, (molothrus 



f 



-irjM^ 



