26 FROM FORT LEAVENWORTH TO FORT KEARNY. 



Amorpha^ Commelina, and Artemisia are still abundant, but the 

 phlox is disappearing. In the bottom of the creek a species of 

 larkspur and wild-onion abound ; our men used the latter freely, 

 and we found them quite palatable in flavouring our bean-soup. 

 Shortly after resuming the march, we reached the dividing height 

 between a tributary of Emigrant's Creek and Sandy Creek, another 

 affluent of the Little Blue. The view here was extensive and very 

 beautiful. The Sandy and its numerous small tributaries could 

 be distinctly traced in all their sinuous courses, by their dense 

 bordering foliage, now turned up by the wind, and contrasting 

 strongly with the encircling bluffs that stood out against the sky, 

 without a single bush or twig to relieve the sight. Indeed, the ap- 

 pearance of a tree, in all these regions of naked prairie, is to the 

 traveller a certain indication of the presence of water ; and in con- 

 sequence, numerous tracks are to be seen, leading off from the main 

 road to some sheltered and sequestered grove, affording the wel- 

 come indulgence of shade, wood, water, and grass to the weary 

 emigrant and his still more wearied beasts. Elsewhere, during the 

 long fatiguing day, shade there is none ; unless, indeed, it be be- 

 neath his wagon, which to him is literally his home. In it he car- 

 ries his all, and it serves him as tent, kitchen, parlour, and bed - 

 room, and not unfrequently as a boat, to ferry his load over an 

 otherwise impassable stream. Many have no other shelter from 

 the storm during the whole journey, and most of these vehicles are 

 extremely tight, roomy, and comfortable. Encamped after a short 

 march of five miles, on the right bank of the Sandy. In the after- 

 noon we met four men from Fort Laramie, who informed us that a 

 large band of some six hundred Pawnees had become so very trou- 

 blesome to the emigrants between the Blue and Fort Kearny, that 

 a force had been despatched from that post to drive them off. A 

 small party had also been discovered a few miles back, lurking 

 under a cliff of rocks, a short distance south of the road, doubtless 

 on the watch for another chance to steal our horses. We were on 

 our guard, however. The camp was formed by drawing the wagons 

 into a semi-circle, resting on the stream, with the tents pitched 

 alternately between them, except those of the officers, which were 

 placed on the bank and faced the enclosm-e. Within this all the 

 animals were carefully picketed, and a strong guard, well armed, 

 set at dusk. These precautions doubtless saved us from molesta- 

 tion. The formation to-day consisted of white and red sandstones, 

 principally the latter, being evidently the sandstone formation 



