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CHAPTEE IV 



,ES OP THE COUNTRY FRO:^ 

 TO THE EOCKY MOrXTAINS. 



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Causes wliicli lead to tlie Scarcity of Trees, — Buffalo-grass and other Grasses. 

 Wild-flowers very beautiful, a sign of fertility. — Country becomes arid 

 between long. 99"^ and 100*^ in Kansas, and tMs arid tract reaches to the 

 base of the Eocky Mountains. — The Country improves again on reaching 

 the Eocky Mountains, — Pine Forests and Coal Beds. — Will Cultivatidn 

 increase the Eain-fall? — Camp of Death Hollow. — The Surprise. — More 

 Indian Depredations. — Beach Fort Wallace. 



Distance 108 miles,' 



Anothee week's marcliing brought us to within a day's 

 journey of Fort WallacOj during whicli time nothing of special 

 interest occurred. By day we fought the mos(][uitoes, for the 

 weather had become very warm^ especially in the morning 

 imtil the mid-day breeze had sprung up. By night we kept a 

 vigilant watch^ and often transformed a hungry prauie wolf 

 into a hostile Indian creeping through the grass. Midnight 

 alarms were at first decidedly more numerous than red-men. 

 It is not easy, in a few words, to report fairly on the 

 country through which we passed since leaving Salina. For 

 the first 100 miles there could be no doubt about the fertility 

 of the soils : the loam on the surface was thick and rich, 

 streams were numerous, and' there was every indication of a 

 plentiful yeai'ly rain-fall. The scarcity of timber on these 

 plains arises neither from want of water nor poorness of soil, 

 but simply from the difficulties and dangers the yoimg trees 

 in their wild state have to pass through. Prairie fires in 

 the autumn kill them ; and the buffalo not only eat the tender 



