is of an ever changing color, sometimes black, 

 sometimes a peculiar brownish yellow. 

 And sand! Just about a pound to the gallon. 

 So much for the water, the coffee however w a s 

 good, P«ters prides himself particularly upon his 

 ability to produce a good meal. 

 I found it very palatable indeed, with the excep- 

 tion of the biscuit, they were indeed 'hard tack' 

 I ventured to remark to Peters that we were not 

 in need of "paving" blocks on the island, and on- 

 ly saved myself from permanent injury by diving 

 into the tent. 



We spent the time after supper in exploring the 

 island and found dozens of black birds nests. 

 The island was nearly triangular in shape, and 

 about a mile in extent, from point to point 

 Rabbits, moles, gophers and mice were plentiful. 

 This island, like most others in the Missouri, was 

 at first merely a sand formation. 

 These islands "are the results of the swift cross 

 currents in the river, they pile up the sand i n 

 flood time, then when tne water goes down there 

 remains a sand bar. Soon cottonwood and 



— 8— 



