TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 35 
September 17.—We had seen all that was necessary of the Little Rockies, and had more game than 
could be carried in; a prolonged stay might be attended with serious consequences, —gagians encoun. 
and camp was therefore broken at 8 for the return to Carroll. Steering by com- — ‘red. 
pass, we had proceeded for a couple of hours, when we saw half a mile ahead three men engaged in 
skinning a buffalo. Observing us, they mounted and started off, but soon halted and began to 
approach us. They proved to be Indians, a small hunting-party from the large camp, and got us to 
understand that they wanted to go in to Carroll with us as soon as they could dispose of the buf- 
falo they were occupied with and another farther on. Though not anxious for their society, I 
assented, intending, in case of the appearance of a large party, and having any trouble with them, to 
hold the three as a sort of hostage. They worked with great earnestness and skill; and, having 
loaded three ponies with beef in a very short space of time, two of them joined us. The head-man 
pointed northeast, to where he said were forty-five lodges of his people. He denied being a Sioux, 
but spoke the language too well to be anything else. Approaching the river opposite Carroll, the 
two Indians wanted Mr. Dana and myself to go directly down the bluff to the river 
with them; but as my rifle had become disabled by an accident, and the pistol 
cartridges were exhausted, their offer was declined. One of them wished to assure me that he was 
unarmed, and throwing back his blanket showed an empty pistol-holster, and said he had lost it 
running buffalo. The same movement, however, exhibited the handle of a pistol on the other side. 
Apparently disgusted at our refusal, they plunged down the hill out of sight, and eventually reached 
town first. 
September 18.—Crossed the ambulance back to Carroll. The steamer Josephine was looked for 
hourly during the day. 
September 19.—At 2 p. m., Lieutenant Thompson, Mr. Wood, and the wagon arrived, and a few 
hours later Messrs. Grinnell, Ludlow,.and Reynolds reached town in a small Mack- Judith Basin party 
inac, with which they had descended the river from the Judith. BERING: 
A march of forty-four miles in two days—September 12 and 13—had taken the party from the 
camp on Armell’s Creek to the mouth of the Judith, where they remained two days, and returned to 
Carroll in four days. The lower portion of the Judith Basin is largely occupied by Mauvaises 
Terres, precipitous and forbidding, and very difficult to travel. A few interesting fossils were found; 
but the extent of the field and the limited time available prevented thorough search. <A large camp 
of Gros Ventres was in the basin intending to winter there, and game was scarce. At 5 p.m., the 
Josephine reached Carroll and discharged. 
September 20.—Boat took on 60 tons of freight, and left at 4.30 p.m. Lieutenant Thompson 
was instructed to take the cavalry escort and transportation to Ellis and to return 
to Saint Paul via the Union Pacific. 
The subsequent journey down the river was uneventful. The stream was very low, with only 
18 inches of water on Buffalo Rapids, and we were frequently aground. When within. fifteen or 
twenty miles of Buford, we met the Key West and exchanged freights; the Josephine returning to 
Carroll to make one more trip. : 
September 26.—We left Buford on the Key West at 8 a. m., reached Bismarck on the 29th, and 
Saint Paul October 2. : 
Thus terminated this most interesting trip, which had covered by rail, water, 
and on horseback thirty-three hundred miles of travel in ninety-three days through every variety 
of landscape, from the most forbidding to the grandest and most picturesque. 
I beg leave to add the following suggestions relative to the National Park. The main points 
are such as would present themselves to any visitor capable of appreciating the 
‘ coe . Remarks and sug- 
wonders of the park, and have been in some cases anticipated in the remarks and gestions relative to 
3 - 5 one ‘National Park. 
recommendations of previous visitors. Nevertheless, a repetition of them can do 
no harm, and will at least show what the concurrent testimony on the subject is. 
Congress, by an act approved March 1, 1872 (sections 2474 and 2475, Revised Statutes, ap- 
pended hereto), set aside the area therein defined (and which intended to include all the more 
remarkable objects and scenery) as a national domain, and consecrated it to the enjoyment and 
improvement of all mankind. For this purpose, the park was placed under the control of the Sec- 
Return to Carroll. 
Leave Carroll. 
Fort Buford. 
