CATFISH CREEK. 153 
branch of the Brazos, the bed damp and oozy, with the water 
welling up through the sand at every step of our animals. 
We moved down the bed of the stream some distance, then 
took the shore, and came upon a very broken country, beyond 
which was a short prairie where was a prairie-dog village. 
These little creatures, so curious a feature in a prairie tour, 
gave us great amusement as we passed, sitting upon the 
mounds by their holes, frisking around or scuttling along 
from one hole to the other, filling the air with their low 
whining bark, and upon our approach throwing a summer- 
sault into their holes. , 
A short distance brought us to a branch of the Braxow; 
very deep, as clear as crystal, and filled with catfish, gars 
and buffalo fish, where we nooned, dining upon some of the 
fish cooked by the Major. Wagon caught a catfish four feet 
seven inches long, and nine inches across the head. 
The blue and white cranes were seen here, also the yellow- 
legged snipe, and a species of large grasshopper of a shining 
black color, some of the specimens six inches long. 
The grass was very rank and tall, and a high wind arising 
set it on fire from our kitchen, so that we had to make a hasty 
retreat up the steep bank on the opposite side of the creek, 
which we have called Catfish Creek. It was timbered with 
hackberry and cottonwood. 
The bitter water here began to show its effects upon our 
horses. All were restless, and mine was affected with cramps, 
causing him to lie down and roll upon the ground in great 
14 : 
