70 MOUNT SCOTT. 



to the interior of their country, and have, upon several occasions, 

 driven off parties who have attempted to examine the country about 

 the Witchita mountains. 



We are encamped this evening upon a swift-running brook, near a 

 very cold spring of pure water, which affords a delightful contrast to 

 the water we have met with upon the Ke-che a-qui-ho-no. Following 

 up the large brook into which the spring empties, I found its source in 

 a most lovely valley, about two miles above our encampment. 



This valley, which is enclosed on three sides by lofty and rugged 

 mountains, is mostly covered with a heavy growth of timber of a very 

 superior quality. The trees, which are oak, are large, straight, and tall, 

 and are the best suited to the carpenter's purposes of any I have ever 

 seen west of the " Cross Timbers." The soil here possesses great fertility, 

 and the whole valley teems, with an exuberance of verdure. 



July 18. — We changed our course this morning to the north, and 

 passing up the valley of the creek, found a gap or pass in the first chain 

 of mountains, through which, after much difficulty, we succeeded in 

 forcing our wagons. This gap, although not very elevated, was broken 

 up into deep and narrow goiges, filled with the angular debris of the 

 adjoining heights, over which it required great care and patience to pass 

 our train in safety. We, however, finally succeeded in reaching the 

 open prairie upon the north, and found ourselves on the banks of a 

 large stream, upon which we made our encampment. Our position is 

 directly at the base of the most elevated mountain in the Witchita 

 chain, which I have taken the liberty, in honor of our distinguished 

 commanding general, to call " Mount Scott." This peak, towering as it 

 does above all surrounding eminences, presents a very imposing feature 

 in the landscape, and is a conspicuous landmark for many miles around. 

 The altitude above the base, as determined by triangulation with the 

 sextant, is eleven hundred and thirty-five feet. 



To the north of Mount Scott lies one of the most beautiful and 

 romantic valleys that I have ever seen. It is about three miles wide, 

 enclosed between two ranges of the mountains, and through its centre 

 winds a lovely stream of pure water, fifty yards wide and two feet deep, 

 the lively current of which rushes wildly down over an almost contin- 

 uous succession of rapids and rocky defiles. It is fringed upon each 

 side with gigantic pecan, overcup, (Quercus macrocarpa,) white-ash, 

 {Fraxinus Americana^ river-elm, ( Ulmus memoralis^) and hackberry 

 trees, (Celtis.) About the base of the mountains we find an abundance 

 of post-oak, (Quercus obtusiloba,) and towards the summits, the red 

 cedar {Juniperus Virginiana) grows. 



