[ av4 ] 50 \ 
. 
or two they began to.suffer very much. We found none to-day at noo) 
and, in the course of our search on the Platte, came to a grove of cotton\ 
wood, where some Indian village had recently encamped. Boughs of the\ 
cottonwood yet green covered the ground, which the Indians had cut 
own to feed their horses upon. It is only in the winter that recourse is 
had to this means of sustaining them; and their resort to it at this time was 
a striking evidence of the state of the country. We followed their example, 
and turned our horses into a grove of young poplars. This began to pre- 
sent itself as a very serious evil, for on our animals depended altogether 
the further proser ation ge our journey. « sg 
Shortly after we had left this place, the scouts came galloping in with 
the alarm of Indians. e turned in immediately toward the river, which 
» 
information, We learned that they belonged to the party which had been 
on the trail of the emigrants, whom they had overtaken at Rock Independ- 
some small parties of Crow Indians. The remainder were returning down 
the Platte, in scattered parties of ten and twenty ; and those whom we had 
encountered belonged to those who had advocated au attack on the emi- 
grants. Several of the men suggested shooting them on the spot; but 
promptly discountenanced any such proceeding. They further informed 
me that buffalo were very scarce, and little or no grass to be found. There 
erable quantities of grasshoppers had destroy- 
nued our march, and 
the, Platte. 
hills the psorulea esculenta, 
root very extensively, an 
t into’ thin slices and dried. 
Indians, who told us that a lar 
_ Astronomical observations place 
as 
397 
