90 APPENDIX A.—DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION. 
Same Camp—Friday, May 5, 1854.—The weather still continues rainy and cloudy. The 
necessary returns and papers pertaining to the expedition are being made out, and completed as 
-far as possible. 
Same Camp—Saturday, May 6, 1854.— To-day the weather cleared. Astronomical observa- 
tions for longitude and latitude made. These proving satisfactory, it is determined to resume 
our journey to-morrow. 
During our stay we added largely to our collections of specimens. 
Camp No. 51—Sunday, May T, 1854.—We left last camp at fifteen minutes to 1 p. m., and 
resumed our route along the road we had previously been travelling. The animals showed 
that rest and good grass had been of service to them. They looked and worked remarka- 
bly well. 
Our route to-day was through a country similar to that we had been already travelling. It 
is in every particular as fine an agricultural country as can be found in the World. The post- 
oak is in the greatest abundance, and we passed through a thick wood of it for upwards of two 
miles; also some hackberry and scrub-oak. Grass excellent and abundant. 
We crossed several creeks and ravines, generally with water, which run in a northeasterly 
direction to Red river. 
Encamped at twenty minutes to 5 p. m., on a ravine with running water, which was slightly 
brackish. Grass abundant. 
Mules grazed and herded as usual. No observations made. General direction, north 80° 
east; miles, 11,&. ; 
Camp No. 52— Monday, May 8, 1854.—Left camp at half-past 5 a. m., and resumed our 
course. The country still continues gently rolling and open; post-oak in abundance, with 
hackberry, elm, scrub-oak, &c. We are looking for the return of our express, which is a little 
behind its time. The distance to Fort Washita may be, however, greater than we had 
imagined. 7 
Rattlesnakes are disappearing gradually since we crossed the Colorado; but, in lieu of 
these dangerous reptiles, we have the moccasin-snake, equally poisonous and much more 
treacherous. 
We encamped at five minutes to 6 p. m. on Turkey creek, a tributary of the Red river, two 
and a half miles west of the Upper Cross Timbers. We had capital spring-water. Two bar- 
rels had been sunk by some of our predecessors, in which the water was delightfully pure and 
clear. 
The day and night were remarkably hot; the latter cloudy and sultry to an insufferable 
degree. For the first time we were annoyed by the dismal croaking of the bull-frog, which 
made the night hideous with its never-ending and monotonous serenade. 
The mules turned loose, unhobbled; grazed and herded as usual. No observations made. 
General direction, north 40? east; miles, 271. 
Camp No. 53—Tuesday, May 9, 1854.—Our express arrived before we left camp, bringing a 
number of letters, but none of an official character. 
We started at half-past 6 a. m., and resumed our course. At two and a half miles from 
camp we struck the Upper Cross Timbers, the road through which is hilly and much cut up. 
In many places it is sandy, and the ascents and descents very steep ; yet these do not present 
any serious obstacle to wagons. "There is here a perfect forest of large post-oak ; also elm, 
hackberry, and other trees in abundance. In the open spaces the soil is of the best quality ; 
grass excellent. The Cross Timbers are eight miles from west to east—that is, from the point 
we entered until we left them. * 
Reached our camp, on the east edge of the Cross Timbers, at five minutes to 11. a. m., on a 
;' well timbered ravine, in which thére is a beautiful spring of water. Our Exon nupt is 
delightfully situated. There was, however, one serious drawback to its enjoyment. The 
morning had been cloudy and threatening, raining slightly until we halted, when we had a 
