393 Cty 
off from Fort Leavenworth the day after we had left, determined” 
_ to overtake us. e were delighted at his safe arrival; nor were’ 
_ we less pleased when we found that he had brought letters from the 
friends and relatives whom we had left behind. . arysd 
uly 3.—We arose early this morning to gain as much of the cool 
--we could not get rid of the flies that are so troublesome to 
_ when picketed out, they employ their feeding time in rolling in the ’ 
grass and kicking frantically, so that the ground resounds with 
_ the stamping-of their hoofs; and, in taking observations with the 
_ aid of the artificial horizon, one is obliged to select a spot at some 
_ distance from the horses, to prevent the jar which they produce 
from disturbing the surface of the mercury. The season appears to 
_ be unusually dry; 110 mile creek, which at this time last year was 
full of water, now has only a few scattered pools in its bed. z 
_ All day we had a brisk breeze fiom the southwest, making the 
travelling very pleasant. The plover and cow birds were playing’ 
_ along the road in front of us, and catching the grasshoppers that 
_ were scattered around in unlimited profusion. 
- At 10 o’clock, having marched 15 miles, we reached Independence: 
_ treek, so called by Colonel Frémont, in consequence of our encamp- 
ing here on the 4th of July, one year previous. This creek con-° 
_ tains the only running water we have.seen since leaving our camp 
by the Wakaroosa rivé® Along thé road side, I gathered a plant’ 
tailed lamb’s quarter, (chenopodium album,) the plaintain weed, 
{plantago major,) and a beautiful sensitive plant, with a yellow: 
flower, slightly resembling the violet, (cassia chamAecrista.) ia 
e encamped seven miles beyond Independence creek, in a ravine 
_ timbered with the elm, the cotton wood, the hickory and the ‘oak. 
‘Some of our hunters went out and killed several wild turkeys, 
Sirostris,) and some teal, (anas carol.) 
Saturday, July 4.—At 5} o’clock, this morning, we crossed the: 
creek upon which we had encamped, and soon reached an elevated 
piece of ground, from whence we could see our road crossing a 
high ridge in a direction S. 60° W. Whilst prosecuting our march 
We noticed two distant'spots in the horizon; and, as we neared them, 
_ We judged, from the white light that one of the objects a ae 
_ that they might be mounted men. Before long we met them, an 
= had been as far as Council grove. ds 
: At 7 o’clock, we crossed a stream of running water; at 8 o’clock, 
12 o'clock, we reached Rock creek. is stream.is very appro- 
“Priately named, as its banks chiefly consist of rock. Near where- 
> Toad crosses there is alarge pool from four to five feet in depth,” 
for ing a fine bathing place; but we did not stop here, as we were’ 
portion of the day as possible, determined to push on and see if’: 
he fi; 
our horses. The poor brutes seem to have no time to graze; and, \ 
 {meleagris gallopaoo.) We saw a flock of curlew, (numenius lon=) 
- found our conjectures correct. They said they were traders, and: 
@nxious to reach some eminent place in honor of the day. We a 
