142 NOTES TAKEN. 
The first specimen of the scorpion we have yet met with, 
was to-day added to our collection, and =< fine specimen 7 
of the jackass rabbit. 
During the day a large column of smoke was seen in the - 
direction of the Brazos, and Conner pronounced it to be made 
by the Camanches, as a signal, Major Neighbours having 
sent out runners, before he left home, to tell them that we 
would be with them about this time, and we had been daily 
expecting to meet one of the bands. 
Jacobs returned and reported having scoured the country 
for forty miles round and found it dry, barren and broken, but 
at six miles distance, in a southerly direction, he found good 
camping ground and tolerable water. : 
Upon consultation, the Captain determined to move the 
- train to this spot, and leaving it there, to complete the ex- 
ploration of the head waters of the Big Witchita and Brazos, 
with pack mules and a small mounted escort. 
Report was brought in that sixteen of the oxen were miss- 
ing, whether having wandered off in ‘dearch of water and 
grass, or stolen by the Indians of course could not be told, 
Jackson and Wagon were despatched in search of them. 
July 28th.—Early this morning Conner replied to the Ca- 
manche signal, by building a fire upon the top of the highest 
hill he could find in our vicinity, which was about two miles 
from camp, when a column of smoke rose high enough to be 
seen at a distance of forty miles. 
The rest of the day was spent in preparations for the ex- 
