38 | ANTELOPE.—FOSSILS.—TUCUMCARI CREEK. 
taining pools of muddy water. Halt creek, which the Mexicans call Arroyo de Barrancas, was 
the only flowing stream passed. Here the water, deeply tinctured with red marl, was about 
two feet deep and six feet wide. The Llano, still presenting salient points to within a mile or 
two of the road, is now capped with a higher plateau; and the detritus brought down by 
flooded creeks furnishes several varieties of cretaceous fossils. Hoping to reach Fossil creek, we 
travelled till after sunset, passing several sluggish streams. At length it became too dark to 
read the surveying instruments, and we were obliged to encamp near pools of muddy water. 
Upon the arroyo below have been found clumps of trees, pure water, and a pretty valley cov- 
ered with excellent buffalo-grass. Antelope have been seen in considerable numbers every 
day since we ascended the Llano. To-day they have been unusually numerous. They graze 
upon the prairies in herds varying in number, usually from six to twenty. Upon sight of the 
train of canvass-covered wagons they lift their heads and gaze a moment as if in astonishment. 
Their next impulse is to collect in a body and run towards it, stopping to satisfy their curiosity 
at a distance of about three hundred yards. But they quickly detect a hunter approaching 
them,-and then fly with great rapidity. They are fleet enough to defy pursuit, and we have 
not yet been able to secure a specimen. The cunning little prairie dogs that greet our entrance 
to their villages in a manner quite sociable and amusing, have also been quite difficult to obtain. 
Two, however, have been killed to-day. The collection of lizards, horned frogs, and snakes is 
quite numerous and interesting, new varieties of them being obtained daily. 
Fossils of the cretaceous or jurassic formation were found in the creeks crossed to-day. The 
bluff edge of the Llano, here curving far towards the south, seems to turn and pass behind the 
Tucumcari hills, which appear about twenty miles westward from camp. These probably belong 
to the same formation, capped with an additional stratum. The northern slopes of the Llano, for 
about 150 feet above the basin which it encloses, are covered with a dense forest of cedars. N ot 
a tree is elsewhere to be seen, except a dwarfish growth upon the sides of ravines. It seems 
that the prevalent southwest winds prevent the growth of trees upon the prairie. "The naked- 
ness of the Staked Plain is undoubtedly due, in part, to this cause. The want of water there 
and annual fires may contribute to the result. The belt of cedars upon the bluff will afford a 
large amount of good fuel. The trees seldom decay in this climate, but in drying become hard 
and durable. Clouds this evening prevented astronomical observations. 
September 21—Camp 49.—' The equinoctial storm is apparently near its close, though the 
atmosphere is still murky and raw. About three miles after leaving camp we crossed another 
arroyo containing water; and three miles beyond brought us to Fossil creek. In its bed were 
astrea similar to those AET yesterday. The soil is red sandy marl, retaining sufficient . 
moisture to produce abundant grama, and preserve its greenness, though it is near the end of - 
the dry season. The wide basin which extends upon our left to the border of the Llano is sus- - 
ceptible of cultivation. Should more water be required than what issues in springs and rivu- 
lets from its edge, wells could be dug, or a perpetual flow, probably, be obtained by artesian 
borings. We are four thousand feet above the level of the sea, and the climate is said to be as 
healthy and pleasant : as can anywhere be found. Four miles west of Fossil creek was a flowing 
stream, five feet in width and six inches deep, with grass and a few low branching trees upon 
its banks. In the valley above appeared quite a grove. Proceeding we crossed first a branch, 
and seven miles above, the main stream of Tucumcari. Following the broad valley, which the 
Mexicans call Plaza Larga, we encamped in a beautiful spot three miles above the crossing. 
Here we met a Mexican bound for Comanche land to trade. He says there are fifteen of his 
party with flour, hard bread, and tobacco, who have come out to meet the Kiowas and Coman- 
ches on their return from the buffalo hunt. We had no previous idea of the extent of this 
Indian trade, or of the impunity with which defenceless traders could mingle with these savage 
and treacherous tribes upon their own soil. We are now near the spot where Captain Marcy 
first met Comanches i in 1849. The Mexican says that they formerly ranged this far; but that 
now, rancheros og new x EM Y send out large flocks of sheep, which graze securely in 
" E. 
x 
