68 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
It lay at at the foot of a high hill or butte, called the Butte de Morale, (see accompanying 
sketch.) Here occurred an engagement between some half-breeds and Sioux, in which one of 
the former, by the name of Morale, was killed; hence its name. The altitude of this butte, as 
determined by barometric measurement, is 281.8 feet above the level of the Shyenne river. 
Our way was strewn by the carcasses of many buffaloes, killed by the Red river hunting 
party. At times the air was very much tainted. One of our men reported having rode through 
a section of land, some quarter of a mile square, on which were strewn the remains of some 
three hundred buffaloes. In killing these animals, the choice pieces and hides are only taken, 
while the remainder is left ав а prey to wolves or to rot on the prairie. 
We had wood to-day for the first time since leaving Lake Jessie, on the 11th instant. Our 
fuel in the mean time consisting of twigs of greasewood and buffalo chips. The sight of a 
camp fire of wood is quite a treat to us. 
Опт camp is beautifully located on a range of hills, nearly surrounded with salt lakes. An 
excellent spring near by furnishes us an abundant supply of cold fresh water. These lakes 
are called the White Wood lakes. 
Mr. Lander arrived. in camp. about 33 o'clock, and reported having crossed a branch of the 
Shyenne, and after passing over eleven miles of flat country again met the Shyenne, which at 
that point assumed а more serious character as a railroad crossing, the channel between the’ 
banks being about one hundred feet deep. He joined the compass line three and a half miles 
from camp, where he met a lake full seven miles in length. 
Mr. Tinkham did лечо in until about 63, having travelled over much more country than 
I expected. gee 
The odometer line клы kicia was ne and a half miles; that pursued by the train 
was probably two miles longer. | 
July 19.— Moved camp about 63. The engineer wagon, being loaded lightly, followed the 
compass course, only varying from it to avoid impassable sloughs or obstructions and then 
returning to the line immediately. Our course lay over a level country, meeting some small 
sloughs, which Were passed with little difficulty. After proceeding ten miles, we crossed a 
branch of the Shyenne. river, at this time very shallow; but the high banks on each side, 
together with the greas, and deposits, gave evidence of its size during the freshet in the spring. 
After travelling sixte А) iles we encamped near a small lake, in sight of the Maison 
du Chien, which, by bi ; in E silentio, Mr. Tinkham estimated to be about twenty- 
one miles distant. 
We passed on ‘the ‘march several salt marshes ошаш with tadpoles, from which the 
eflluvia was very offensive, _ Frogs also appeared in myriads. In some places the ground was 
covered with deponi of salt to the depth of a quarter of an inch, 
làm much pleased. with our new guide, Le Bombard, who appears to have a very accurate 
knowledge of the country, although 1 his ideas of distance are not found to be very reliable, 
which is gen rally the case with voyageu 
| Lander's party, нш of himself, Le Frambois, Guy, апа Rummell, 
2, to make а reconnoissance of Butte Maison du Chien and the Cóteau du 
Missouri, to connect our ork with Lieutenant Grover’s survey, and join us on the Mouse river 
in four days. ye: 3 ШІ”. t 
