BUFFALO SIGNS. 13 



water came from a distance where there had been rains, but it was very- 

 small, extending not more than three miles from the point where we en- 

 camped. 



Our Delawares report that they have seen numerous fresh buffalo 

 "signs," and that we shall probably soon come upon the herds. We 

 have captured a horse to-day which has a brand upon him, and has 

 probably strayed away from some party of Indians. 



May 19. — Last evening the sky became overcast with heavy clouds, 

 and frequent flashes of lightning were observed near the horizon in the 

 north and northwest. Atmospheric phenomena of this character are re* 

 garded by the inhabitants of northern Texas as infallible indications of 

 rain, and in verification thereof we had a very severe storm during the 

 night. Much rain has fallen, and the earth has become so soft that I 

 have concluded to remain here until the ground dries a little, particu- 

 larly as it still continues raining at intervals, and the weather is very 

 much unsettled. Frequent rains are very unusual upon the plains at 

 this season of the year ; the rainy season generally lasts until about the 

 first of May, when the dry season sets in, and there is seldom any more 

 rain until about the middle of August. The past spring has been un- 

 commonly dry — so much so, that vegetation has suffered from it : now, 

 however, the herbage is verdant and the grass most luxuriant. 



May 20. — Although it continued raining violently during the night, 

 and the ground was this morning mostly covered with water, we yet 

 made an attempt to travel, but found the prairie so soft that it was with 

 very great difficulty our teams were enabled to drag the wagons over it. 

 "We only made five miles and encamped up'on a small affluent of Cache 

 creek, which with all the small branches in the vicinity were full to the 

 top of their banks. We find but few trees along the branch upon which 

 we are encamped ; hackberry and wild china are the only varieties. 



On the 21st we again made an effort to travel ; but after going a short 

 distance up the creek, found ourselves obliged, in consequence of the 

 mud, to encamp and await dry weather. 



May 22. — This morning, notwithstanding it was cloudy and the 

 ground very far from being dry, we made another effort to proceed. 

 Still keeping the high "divide," we travelled in a westerly direction 

 about eight miles, when we turned north towards two very prominent 

 peaks of the Witchita mountains, and continued in this course until we 

 arrived upon an elevated spot in the prairie, where we suddenly came 

 in sight of Red river, directly before us. Since we had last seen the 

 river it had changed its course almost by a right-angle, and here runs 

 nearly north and south, passing through the chain of mountains in front 



