CANADIAN RIVER. 39 



tree is blazed on the north and east sides, and marked upon the north 

 side with a pencil as follows: "Exploring Expedition, June 16, 1852." 



An incident happened this evening, which for a short time gave ns 

 much uneasiness and alarm. It was caused by one of the gentlemen of 

 the party walking out from camp alone without our knowledge, and 

 remaining away about two hours before we discovered his absence. It 

 was after dark when I first learned that he was not in camp ; and as 

 there were many fresh signs of Indians around, I was fearful he had 

 fallen into their hands. I immediately started out the Delawares in 

 search of him, and ordered our six-pounder to be discharged, with 

 muskets at short intervals, and at the same time made preparations for 

 starting out myself; but no sooner had the cannon been fired than he 

 made his appearance, in a state of much excitement, and had evidently 

 been greatly confused and alarmed, as is always the case with persons 

 who are lost. He states that he had gone out for the purpose of taking 

 a short walk, and in returning over a hill, had lost sight of the camp ; 

 that in endeavoring to make his way back he had become so much 

 confused, that after night he took ours for a Comanche camp, and dared 

 not approach until he heard the signal-gun. 



June 17 to 19. — On the 17th, accompanied by three gentlemen of 

 the party, with five soldiers and three Indians, I started in a northerly 

 direction to go in search of the Canadian river. Our route led us im- 

 mediately out upon the elevated plateau of the Staked Plain, where the 

 eye rests upon no object of relief within the scope of vision. 



Pursuing our way over this monotonous and apparently boundless 

 plain for fifteen miles, our eyes were suddenly gladdened by the appear- 

 ance of a valley and blutfs before us, which I at once recognised to be 

 upon the Canadian ; and after travelling ten miles further, we found 

 ourselves upon that stream, making the entire distance from the head 

 of Red river to the Canadian twenty -five miles. This was a matter of 

 much gratification and interest to us, as it developed and confirmed the 

 accuracy of our calculations regarding the geographical position of the 

 sources of Red river. The point where we struck the Canadian is at 

 the mouth of a small stream called Sandy creek upon the map of the 

 road from Fort Smith to Santa Fe. This being near longitude 101° 

 45', and latitude 35° 58', makes the calculations for the two positions 

 approximate very closely. The formation upon the Canadian at this 

 point is very similar to that upon the Red river, being composed of 

 light-colored friable arenaceous limestone, resting upon a stratum of red 

 sand, with a sub-stratum of blue clay; the whole overlaid by a drift 

 of quartz, felspar, and agate. The soil upon the creek is a dark -brown 



