ae. a 
one. of the flat boats, three of the Indians who had assisted in ferry-- 
ing us over were soundly sleeping, and far away stretched the grad- 
ually diminishing trees that overhung the Kanzas water; the king- 
fisher (alcedo alcyon) was darting along, uttering his shrill rattling 
scream; flocks of paroquets (centurus Carolinensis) were circling 
over head, screaming and darting amid the tall walnut and syca- 
- ,more trees. 
- During the day, our animals. suffered greatly from ‘the horse-fly, 
Pee 
e now made ready for our march, having engaged a fine look- 
‘ing Indian lad to go with the party. Our horses had not had much 
time to eat last Night, and seemed disinclined to pass through the 
luxuriant grass that lay on each side of our read, and were con- 
stantly trying to snatch a mouthful of the delicious herbage. 
_ At 83 o’clock we had a glimpse of the Wakaroosa buttes; on our 
‘right there was a large corn field, of about 30 acres, then a line of 
timber stretching as far as the eye could reach; on our left lay the 
broad rolling prairie, and directly in front we could see the road 
crossing the swells of the prairie, until it could be no longer dis- 
tinguished. As we continued to advance we found that our road 
ead us directly between the two buttes. | 
_ We soon reached them. and then saw the ‘ divide” that sepa- 
rates the waters of the ‘¢ Wakaroosa’’ from those of the “Alaris 
des cygnes,” or Osage; (as it is,called near its mouth;) upon this. 
divide the Santa Fé road is laid out. = 
We soon saw the Oregon trail, which here unites with that to 
Santa Fé; shortly .after..passing the junction,of..these trails we 
reached a steep declivity that forms the bank of a small stream, 
and noticed that the Indians had been working here for coal; im 
the superincumbent shale we found traces of fossils resembling the 
broad flat leaves of the iris (fride.) While we were examining 
this formation, my horse, that had been driven almost mad by the 
flies, (tabani,) broke from his fastenings and rushed into the creek, 
in order to rol! in the water, and thus free himself from his tor-- 
ck; some of the party dashed towards him, and, springing up, be 
alloped off, scattering afl my accoutrements on the road; but I re- 
covered every thing, even my pistols 
| Bhek; se what a misfortune! for my saddle and pistols were on his 
. 
: (tabari;) hese flies completely covered the necks and shoulders 
, of the horses aaa ee es, tormenting them excessivel 
: Se soe t is 
_ pistes Caroliniensis flicker, (gieus auratus;) the blue bird, 
ing 
e yoyageur, the cow-bird, (molothrus- 
5 hee 
