x 
2 8 54 
all our effects:‘had been spread out upon the ground,and whatever was 
designed to be carried along with us separated and laid aside, and the re- 
maining part carried to the hole and carefully covered up. As much as 
possible, all traces of our proceedings were obliterated, and it wanted but 
a rain to render our cache safe beyond discovery. All the men were now 
set at work to arrange the pack saddles and make up the packs. 
The day was very warm and calm, and the sky entirely clear, except 
where, as usual along the summits of the mountainous ridge opposite, the 
clouds had congregated in masses. Our lodge had been planted, and, on 
account of the heat, the ground pins had been taken out, and the lower 
part slightly raised. Near to it was standing the barometer, which swung 
in a tripod frame; and within the lodge, where a small fire had been built, 
fr, Preuss was occupied in observing the temperature of boiling water. 
At this instant, and without any warning until it was within fifty yards, | 
a violent gust of wind dashed down the lodge, burying under it Mr. Preuss 
and about a dozen men, who had attempted to keep it from being carried 
away. I succeeded in saving the barometer, which the lodge was. carry- 
ing off with itself, but the thermometer was broken. We had no others 
of a high graduation; none of those which remained going higher than 
135° Fahrenheit. Our astronomical observations gave to this place, which 
we named Cuche camp, a longitude of 106° 38’ 26”, latitude 42° 50' 53". 
July 29.—All our arrangements having been completed, we left the en- 
campment at 7 o’clock this morning. In this vicinity the ordinary ro 
leaves the Platte, and crosses over to the Sweet Water river, which it 
strikes near Rock «Independence. Instead of followmg this road, I had 
determined to keep the immediate valley of the Platte so far as the mouth 
of the Sweet Water, in the expectation of finding better-grass. To this I 
was further prompted by the nature of my instructions. To Mr. Carson — 
was assigned the office of guide, as we had now reached a part of the 
country with which, or a great part of which, long residence had made 
him familiar. Ina few miles we reached the Red Buttes, a famous land- . 
mark in this country, whose geological composition is red sandstone, lime- 
_ stone, and calcareous sandstone and pudding stone. 
lofty escarpments of red argillaceous sandstone, which are called | 
is s the i ; ) compressed or 
~ are the lofty 
the Red Buttes. In this 
ike their way up and down the 
We halted to noon before we had 
broadly, and high walls of the red 
lis to the east. We crosse 
ent themselves among the |i 
fai 
