84 APPENDIX A.—DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION. 
Reached our camp, on a tributary of the Brazos, at ten minutes to 4 p. m. Wood and grass 
good and abundant; the water is nearly the same as where we nooned; both are somewhat 
tinctured with gypsum. Capital timber along its banks; the elm predominates. Altogether, 
it is a charming camping-ground. Wild turkeys abundant. For the last two days we have 
made a considerable descent, but it has been very gradual. 
We had some hopes that Lieutenant Marshall would join us to-day; but we were disap- 
pointed. 
Mules grazed and herded, &c., as usual. Day cloudy ; no observations taken ; observed at 
night for time and latitude. The streams mentioned above bear to the north. The weather 
continues warm, with a pleasant breeze. General direction, north 60° east; miles, 17+. 
Camp No. 43—Friday, April 21, 1854.—Left last camp at fifteen minutes to 7 a. m., and 
proceeded on our course, parallel to the creek on which we camped, for one and a half mile, and 
crossed it. This isa thickly-timbered stream, with steep banks and soft bottom ; water not 
running. We had to cut down the banks and some of the trees on both sides; filling up the 
bottom, we were then enabled to cross. At eight miles from camp we descended into a valley, 
and nooned near some permanent water. The sides of the ravine continuing in it are sloping 
and rocky. The country in the immediate vicinity is not so fertile as that we have been passing. 
There is here a pond or spring of excellent water, abounding in fish, many of which we 
caught. Our animals were watered and turned loose to graze for two hours. Near this place 
we intersected a well-defined wagon trail running north and south, evidently used by traders 
from Texas in reaching Marcy’s trail. 
We resumed our course over a rather rough and rolling prairie, following the last ravine to its 
mouth until we struck another tributary of the Brazos. This stream runs along the base of a 
high bluff. We followed the valley, which is narrow, along its banks; our road was between 
the bluff and the stream; we were obliged to cut our way through the thick timber: this, 
nearly always a tedious process, did not cause us much delay. We camped on the bank of the 
stream at fifteen minutes after 4 p. m., in the only open place we found. The water is pure 
and clear; the bottom firm. Catfish, sunfish, buffalo, trout, garr, &c., abundant; grass good 
and plenty. This whole valley is extremely heavily timbered ; Uu and anit trees thick. 
The streams passed to-day have a northeast direction. 
In preparation for to-morrow, some trees were cut down on both banks, and a capital crossing 
made. 
The country we traversed to-day is, except in the instance above mentioned, nearly similar to 
that we have been travelling for some days. 
The weather is exceedingly warm, the mercury rising as high as ninety-eight degrees in the 
shade. There is, however, always a (NS which tempers the heat, so that it is not absolutely 
intolerable. 
Mules herded and grazedas usual. No observations taken during the day or atnight. Gen- 
eral direction, north 60° east; miles, 12,8.. 
Camp No. 44—Saturday, pem 22, 1854.— Left last camp at fifteen minutes after 6 a. m., 
crossing the stream where we cut down the banks and trees the previous evening. We were 
obliged to cross it three times. The narrow valley on its banks is bounded on both sides 
by bluffs and steep ascents leading to a high table-land. The stream running in a zigzag 
course, required us to deviate considerably from our line, in order to avoid the many formidable 
obstacles presented by the numerous elevations and ravines. We had to cut our way through, 
with a great deal of labor. - We encamped at 12 o'clock noon on its banks. This tributary— 
the Clear fork of the Brazos—is here a large stream, heavily timbered, about twenty-five yards 
wide, and very deep; the water is excellent, and abounds in fish. Wild turkeys visit this 
place in great numbers to eat pecan nuts, of which they are fond. Grass excellent, particularly 
along the bottoms, 
