283, [ 174] 
ing @ principal branch of the Platte, and hore among many smaller 
ones, a bold stream, scarcely fordable, ca ne Drees hae SK, and which is- 
sues from a lake in the mountains on the right, ten mileslong. In the even- 
ing we encamped on ei stream, near the upper end of é Park. Lati- 
tude of the camp 40° 33’ 2 
June 17.—We Cotte our way among the waters of the Park, over the 
foot hills of the bordering mountains, where we ‘pasturage, and 
surprised and killed some buffalo. We fell into a broad and excellent trail, 
made by buffalo, wherea wagon would pass with ease; and, in the course 
of the morning, we crossed the summit of the Rocky mountains, through 
a pass which was one of the most beautiful we had ever seen. The trail 
led among the aspens, through open grounds, richly covered with grass, and 
carried us over an elevation of about 9,000 feet above the level of the sea. 
The country appeared to great advantage in the delightful summer 
weather of the mountains, which we still continued to enjoy. Descending 
from the pass, we found ourselves again on the western waters; and halted 
to noon on the edge of another mountain valley, called the Old Park, in 
which is formed Grand river, one of the principal branches of the Colorado 
of California. We were now moving with some caution, as, from the Prt 
we found the Arapahoe village had also passed this way. As we : 
out of their enemy’s country, and this was a war ground, we iete 
desirous to avoid them. After along afternoon’s march, we halted at night 
ona small creek, tributary to a main fork of Grand river,; which ran 
through this portion of the valley. The appearance of the country in the 
Old Park is interesting, though of a different character from the New ; in- 
stead of being a erat plain, it is more or less broken into hills, and_ 
surrounded by the high mountains, timbered on the lower parts with 
quaking asp and pines. 
June 18.—Our scouts, who were as usual ahead, made from a butée this 
morning the signal of Indians, and we rode up in time to meet a party of 
peek 30 Arapahoes. They were men and women going into the hil 
or game, the women for roots—and informed us that the village was 
pore a faiw miles above, on the main fork of Grand river, which passes 
through the midst of the valley. I made them the usual presents; but 
they appeared disposed to be oe and galloped back at to the 
village. Knowing that we had trouble to expect, I descended tancdiaesly 
nee the bottoms of Grand river. whieh were overflowed in te gee the sabre! 
ng up, and made the best encampment the ground afforded. We had no 
ay to build a fort, but found an open place among the willows, Shick was 
defended by the river on one side and the overflowed bottoms on the other. 
We had scarcely made our few preparations, when about 200 9 them ap- 
ey on the verge of the bottom, mounted, painted, and < ‘for war. 
e planted the American flag between us; ‘and a short parley ended in a 
truce, with something more than the usual ‘amount of presents. About 20 
Sioux were with them—one of them an old chief, who had always been 
page to the whites. He informed me that, before coming down, a coun- 
held at the village, in which the greater part had declared for 
stieictaaeanine had come from their enemies, to whom we had doubtless 
been carrying assistance in arms — en buthis own party, with 
some few of the , jwho h us the previous year in the 
Plains, opposed i it. Tt will be moore wae sh it is customary for his peo- 
whe +t, 
