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lustrous metallic blue color, mingled with compact fields of several bright- 
colored varieties of astragalus, which were crowded together in splendid 
profusion. This trail conducted us through a remarkable defile, to a little 
timbered creek, up which we wound our way, passing by a singular and 
massive wall of cies granite. The formation of the country is a red 
feldspathic granite, overlying a decomposing mass of the same rock, form 
ing the soil of all this region, which every where is red and gravelly, and 
appears to be of a great floral fertility. 
As we emerged on a small tributary of the Laramie river, coming in 
sight of its principal stream, the flora became perfectly magnificent; and 
_we congratulated ourselves, as we rode along our pleasant road, that we 
had substituted this for the uninteresting country between Laramie hills 
and the Sweet Water valley. We had no meat for supper last night or 
breakfast this morning, and were glad to see Carson come in at noon with 
a good antelope. 
A meridian observation of the sun placed us in latitude 41°04'06". In 
the evening, we encamped on the Laramie river, which is here very thinly 
timbered with scattered groups of cottonwood ‘at considerable intervals. 
From our camp, we are able to distinguish the gorges, in which are the 
sources of Cache-a-la-Poudre and Laramie rivers ; and the Medicine Bow 
mountain, toward the point of which we are directing our course this after- - 
noon, has been in i the greater part of the day. y observation, the 
latitude was 41° 15' 02", and longitude 106° 16’ 54”. The same beautiful 
flora continued till Sa 4 in the afternoon, when it suddenly disappeared, 
with the red soil, which became sandy and of a whitish-gray color. e 
evening was tolerably clear; temperature at sunset 64°. The day’s jour- 
ney was 30 mules. 
August 1.—The morning was calm and clear, with sunrise temperature 
at 42°. We travelled to-day over a plain, or open rolling country, at the - 
foot of bcd an eae Bow mountain ; the soil in the morning being mpl 
a 
occurred during the morning, and esparcette in Sera ca we wasa 
characteristic of the aoey ground inthe afternoon. The camp was rou: d 
into a little excit -by a chase after a buffalo bull, and an enco 
with a war party of Sioux and Cheyenne Indians about 30 strong. Hares 
and antelope were seen during the day, and one of the latter was killed. 
Th 
e Laramie peak was in sight this afternoon. The evening was, - 
clear, with scattered clouds: temperature 62°. The day’s journey was 26 
ugust 2.—Temperature at sunrise 52°, and scenery and weather made 
our road to-day delightful. The neighboring mountain is thickly studded 
with are intermingled with the brighter foliage of aspens, and occasional 
spots like lawns between the patches be snow among the -pines, and here 
and vas on the heights. Our route velow lay « over a comparative plain, 
covered with th he day was clear and pleas- 
antly cool. Dr uring the t morning, we crossed many streams, clear and t rocky, 
and broad grassy valleys, of a strong black soil, washed down : 
mountains, and producin excellent pasturage. These were tin bere iy 
the red willow and long-leaved cottonwood, mingled with phe » ap- 
proached the mountain more nearly towards noon. Esparcette was was a char- 
_ 
