STAKED PLAIN. 45 



from which, in the distance, we could discern through the dim and 

 murky atmosphere a very hroad valley, through which we supposed the 

 south branch to flow. 



The bare and hot sand over which we had just passed was in strong 

 contrast with the refreshing verdure of the valley before us. After 

 travelling a few miles down the south sloj)e of the divide, we encamped 

 upon a small branch, where we found good water and grass, with a few 

 cotton-wood trees, which furnished us with fuel. 



The geological formation upon the bluffs bordering this stream is a 

 friable red sandstone, overlaid with a stratum of coarse gypsum, with a 

 subjacent stratum of bright red clay, interstratified with seams of gyp- 

 sum. The soil since we left the sand-hills has been good, probably 

 owing; to the fertilizing properties of the gypsum. 



June 25. — The atmosphere this morning was clear, cool, and bracing, 

 with a north-northeasterly wind ; the thermometer at 3 a. m. standing 

 at 69°. The sky at sunrise was cloudless, and the sun shone brilliantly 

 upon some elevated white bluffs which we could see in the distance, and 

 supposed to be upon the border of the valley of the south fork of Red 

 river. 



At an early hour we resumed our march down the creek for about 

 three miles, when we crossed another large stream with clear running 

 water, and taking a circuitous course among the rough and broken hills 

 bordering it, we made fifteen miles, encamping upon a branch where we 

 found water standing in pools. 



Our course to-day has led us through a formation of sulphate and 

 carbonate of lime, which in some places appeared to be decomposed and 

 covered the earth in a powdered state to the depth of three inches. 

 Several fossil shells belonging to the cretaceous system were found to- 

 day : they were much rounded by attrition, and probably have been 

 transported here from a distance by water. 



June 26. — We were in motion at the usual time this morning, 

 and turning our course up the river over a very broken and elevated 

 country, travelled ten miles, when we encamped upon a large branch of 

 the south fork which enters from the north. It is fifty yards wide, with 

 a sandy bed, and at this time contains but little water. The white es- 

 carpment of the Staked Plain has been in sight for the last two days in 

 front and on the right of us. It seems to be very much elevated above 

 the adjoining country, with almost vertical sides, covered with a scrubby 

 growth of dwarf cedars, and from the summit the country spreads out 

 into a perfectly level plain, or mesa, as far as the eye can penetrate. 



