42 FROM FORT KEARNT TO FORT LARAMIE. 



The soil on the top of the ravine seemed to consist of decom- 

 posed sand-rock, among which, however, were found some pieces 

 of silicious limestone, with traces of encrinites. In one of the 

 lateral ravines, a complete section of the rock was obtained. It 

 was composed of layers of white sandstone, calcareous sandstone, 

 sand, sand and clay, and granitic and quartz detritus, cemented 

 by calcareous rocks. The only fossils found were the remains of 

 encrinites, which existed in almost all the strata ; and in some the 

 quartzose portion of the rock was composed of their stems. 

 Toward the lower part of the gorge was a bed or layer of marl, 

 in which were the remains of what very much resembled the seeds 

 of a plant. All the strata were horizontal. On examining them 

 at the mouth of the hollow, on the following day, a stratum was 

 found of botryoidal limestone, consisting of oblong pieces of mag- 

 nesian limestone, cemented by a calcareous rock, and also another 

 bed of sandy marl, containing remains of the seeds already men- 

 tioned, together with some oblong bodies, which were probably 

 those of encrinites. 



Heavy thunder, wind, and rain, during the night. 



Wednesdai/, July 4.— At 9 A. M., Bar. 26.76 ; Ther. 68°. This 

 being a national festival, I determined to spend the day here and 

 celebrate it as well as our limited means would permit. A salute 

 was fired morning and evening, and a moderate allowance of grog 

 served out to the men, which, with a whole day's rest and plenty 

 of bufialo-meat, rendered them quite happy. We had observed 

 yesterday, on the opposite side of the river, a number of Indian 

 lodges, pitched on the bank ; but the total absence of any living or 

 moving thing about them induced us from curiosity to pay them a 

 visit. In order to do this it was necessary to cross the river, here 

 nearly a mile in breadth, with a strong, rapid current. I was afraid 

 to risk any of the animals, as the bottom was known to be very 

 treacherous and full of quicksands ; so it was determined we 

 should wade it. Having stripped to our drawers, we tied our 

 shirts and moccasins around our necks to keep them dry, and, ac- 

 companied by five or six of the men, commenced the passage. The 

 water was up to our middle, and the strong and constant pressure 

 of the current rendered our efi'orts to bear up against it very 

 fatiguing. We struggled on, but very slowly, from the yielding 

 nature of the sandy aiid marly bottom, which was immediately 

 washed from beneath the foot every time it was placed on the 

 ground. If we stood still in the same spot, even for a short time, 



