NARRATIVE OF 1853. 69 
We moved off about half-past six, and after travelling about five miles reached the first 
tributary of the Mouse river. The stream was very deep, being much swollen by a heavy 
rain which, judging from appearances, must have taken place a day or two ago. The crossing 
occupied nearly three hours, the water being shoulder deep; half the wagon loads were 
removed and carried across in the India rubber boat. 
The road was generally very good, passing over a level prairie intersected with lakes and 
sloughs, but presenting no difficulty to our passage. About twelve miles from camp, we struck 
a beautiful ridge, resembling a railroad embankment, which lay directly in our compass course; 
on the top of this the train moved for some miles. We passed around the first coulée of the 
Mouse river, and after a march of some seventeen miles to avoid sloughs, &c, (odometer 
measurement 15.7 miles,) encamped on the bank of a small lake. 
We estimate our distance from the point where we will strike Mouse river to be between 
five and six miles, and by calculation of angles about seventeen miles northeast of the Maison 
du Chien butte. The marshes surrounding our camp abound in ducks, and for the first time 
on our trip we met with a beautiful variety of the snipe family, (white, with fawn colored 
heads,) several species of which the doctor preserved. 
July 21.—Left camp аё 6 a. m. It commenced raining about 9 and lasted an hour or more. 
About eight miles from camp we saw the tracks of Grover's train in a slough, by which we 
judged that he had passed some days previous. Soon after this we crossed one of the coulées 
making into Mouse river. These coulées are very severe on the animals, in some places being 
very steep; the bottoms at the base are probably one hundred and fifty feet wide, while 
the distance apart at the top may be some fifteen hundred. In these bottoms we generally 
find a stream or indication of a river channel. Various marks give evidence tnat there are 
times when considerable volumes of water pass through these conduits. We passed large 
excavations made at different places by the violent action of the water. The configuration of 
the valleys of the Mouse river and its tributaries resemble the Shyenne. High ridges dividing 
the plateaux, the one bordering the stream, and the other extending into the prairie with the 
coulée. About eleven, Boutineau brought me intelligence of the position of one of Grover's 
camps, and from the indications by fire and other marks he must have passed by some four 
days in advance of us. Desiring to connect his survey with ours, after arriving at camp Mr. 
Adams, with an odometer wagon, was despatched to the place where Grover's camp was 
located. On his return, he reported that Lieutenant Grover had struck the plateau of the 
river to avoid crossing the coulées, and had passed along between our line and the river, a 
mile or so from us, and that his camp was about seven miles from ours. 
We travelled to-day 16 miles, Our camp is located on the top of a ridge, which descended 
into a coulée. We are about 150 feet above the valley of Mouse river. There is plenty of 
timber in the coulée, which we are to cross to-morrow in starting. 
July 22.—Left camp about 63 o’ clock, and found the crossing of the coulée about a half mile 
to our left. On the other side of the coulée we have a fine, level plateau ahead. The Grand 
Cóteau du Missouri was in sight all day. The depth of the first coulée, as indicated by the 
barometer, was some 82 feet below our camp. About four miles from camp, we crossed 
another severe coulée, 108 feet below the level of our camp. The third coulée was a depression 
of 54 feet, the prairie level being some 42 feet lower than the level of our last camp. 
While making our usual mid-day halt we were overtaken by two hunters of the Red river 
