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4 Continuing our journey, we pressed forward rapidly, in order to 
reach Cottonwood fork, which is nearly thirty miles from the 
place where we were encamped this morning. We had a tedious 
march and did not reach the creek until 3 o’clock. 
_ Our animals were very much jaded, and add to this-that, the 
|} moment we reached our goal, myriads of horse flies attacked our 
| cavalcade furiously. In the efforts-of the beasts to rid themselves 
of,the flies, they often became entangled in the “ cabrestoés;” we 
| Were obliged to protect some of them by loose clothing; the mos- 
_ quitoes, too, were troublesome to horses and riders. ‘ 
| Cottonwood fork is a tributary of the Neosha, as well as Coun- 
cil grove creek and the waters intermediate. This stream is tim- 
_bered with large cotton wood trees that keep a continued rustling 
of their leaves, for the slightest breeze makes them tremble. 
__ We noticed here thickets of the elder (S. canadensis) in full 
bloom, The beautiful monarda (M. allophyla) covered the low 
_ portions of the banks of this stream, while on the little sand bars, 
and close to the water’s edge, a dense growth of the long leaved 
_ willows overhung the clear water, in which sported the black bass, 
_ the cat fish, and the sun fish. Just where the road crosses, there 
isa fine pool of water, from five to six feet deep and twelve feet 
Wide. 
Tuesday, July 7.—We concluded that it would be best to remain 
here for the day, as,our animals looked much harrassed by what 
they have already undergone" We-employed ourselves in gettin 
all our affairs arranged in complete order; for we expect that this 
is the last stop that we shall make for some time to come. ; 
_ thing was overhauled, our clothes were all washed, and all those 
 atrangements, such asa journey of this kind suggest, but which 
our continued movement did not permit us to accomplish, were this 
day executed, 
tities of the golden rod, (solidago,) and along the stream we saw 
_ box elder, (acer negundo,) and extended thickets of plum bushes. 
_Not far from the camp we saw some antelope, (dicranocerus fur- 
 Gfer,) so we sent out an old voyageur with the Indian hunter in 
_ ~parsuit of them; but they returned unsuccessful, and reported that 
the antelope were extremely shy. 
__ About 4 o’clock several companies of volunteers made their apn, 
| Pearance, and until it was quite late we heard the tramp of horses, 
the clashing of sabres, and jingling of spurs; at last they all ar- 
4 ie? and the camp was’quiet, save the howl of the sentinel 
Wolf, ‘. 
Wednesday, July 8.—At 5 o'clock this morning we were on the 
 *oute for the Turkey creeks; they are three in number, and unite a 
few miles below the points where our road crosses them; the day 
_ Was pleasant, for the sky was overcast. oon 
_ We had now reached the short grass, that is not more than four. 
et five inches in length, and we saw little patches of the true buf- 
falo grass, (sesleria dactyloides,) a short and curly grass, so unique 
an 
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ae 
Slag 
round our camp the ground looked golden with the different ya-_ 
~ 
