Rocky Mountains. 429 



extremely simple; the margin of the hide being pierced with 

 several small holes, admits a cord, by which it is drawn into 

 the form of a shallow basin. This is placed upon the water, 

 and is kept sufficiently distended by the baggage which it 

 receives; it is then towed or pushed across. A canoe of 

 this kind will carry from four to five hundred pounds. The 

 squaws, who are exceedingly expert in this sort of naviga- 

 tion, transport not only their baggage, but their children, 

 and sometimes adults, across large rivers, in these canoes 

 and with the most perfect safety. They place their 

 children on the baggage, and convey the whole across the 

 stream, by swimming themselves, and urging their charge 

 before them to the opposite shore. It is rare that any un- 

 pleasant accident occurs in this primitive mode of ferrying.* 

 The Elk-horn enters the Platte about fifty miles above the 

 confluence of that river and the Missouri. Its whole course 

 is through a country nearly destitute of timber. The low 

 plains which extend along its banks have a fertile soil ; but 

 the want of timber opposes a serious obstacle to their set- 

 tlement. 



The soil and climate here are so entirely similar to those 

 of the country about Grand river and the Little Platte, al- 

 ready described, that no change in the vegetable productions 

 could be expected. A, species of onion, with a root about as 

 large as an ounce ball, and bearing a conspicuous umbel of 

 purple flowers, is very abundant about the streams, and fur- 

 nished a valuable addition to our bill of fare. 



Soon after crossing the Elk-horn we entered the valley of 

 the Platte, which presented the view of an unvaried plain, from 



* In Father Venegas' account of California, published at Madrid in 

 1758, we find a description of a similar method of transportation, used by 

 the natives of that country. "The inhabitants of the banks of the Colo- 

 rado make of the same herbs (a vine called Pita,) little tubs or bins, called 

 Coritas, which generally hold about two bushels of maize; and in these 

 they transport their goods from one shore to the other, without being in 

 the least damaged by the water, they themselves swimming behind, and 

 shoving these vehicles along before them." Vol. i. p. 44. London, 1759. 



