Rocky Mountains. 457 



and we were beginning to fear that the representations of 

 the Indians, in relation to the difficulty of procuring game to 

 subsist so large a party as ours, would prove true. We found, 

 however, that every part of the country, which we had re- 

 cently passed, had, at no distant, period been occupied by 

 innumerable herds of bisons. Their tracks, and dung, were 

 still to be seen in vast numbers, and the surface of the ground 

 was strewed with skulls, and skeletons, which were yet un- 

 decayed. 



At 4 o'clock P. M. we arrived at an old Indian encamp- 

 ment, opposite an island, on which was some wood, and per- 

 ceiving that none would be met with for many miles ahead, 

 we determined to halt here for the night. 



The 18th, being Sunday, we remained in camp. This in- 

 dulgence was not only highly acceptable to the soldiers and 

 men who accompanied us, they being much harassed and 

 fatigued by their exertions during the week, but was neces- 

 say for our horses, which not being in good condition when 

 we left the Missouri, were perceptibly failing under the la- 

 borious services they were made to perform. At our nightly 

 encampments we found it necessary to confine them, as we 

 had not always a plentiful supply of grass in the immediate 

 vicinity of our camp, and if left at large they would wander 

 in search of better pasture, and occasion us great trouble to 

 collect them again in the morning. Accordingly long ropes 

 had been provided, which were carried constantly on the 

 necks of the horses, and by these they were made fast during 

 the night to stakes driven into the ground. After having 

 eaten all the grass within his reach the horse was removed 

 to another place, and this was done several times during the 

 night, by a guard kept constantly on duty, both for the per- 

 formance of this service, and also to give timely notice in 

 case of the approach of Indians to the camp. Notwithstand- 

 ing this care, on our part, our horses were sometimes but 

 poorly fed, as we were often compelled to encamp in places 



vol.. l. 58 



