468 Expedition to the 



dians, and by hunters, who often encamp where no wood is 

 to be found. We learn from Sonini and others, that the ex- 

 crement of the camel, mixed with chopped straw and af- 

 terwards dried, is similarly used in the woodless parts of 



Egypt. 



The hills on the south side of the Platte, above the con- 

 fluence of the north fork, become more abrupt and elevated, 

 approaching in character those of the Missouri which are 

 destitute of stone. There is here the same transcript of 

 Alpine scenery, in miniature, which constitutes so striking a 

 feature in the Missouri landscape, when viewed from the 

 river bottom. 



We had no sooner crossed the Platte, than our attention 

 was arrested by the beautiful white primrose (OSnothera pin- 

 natifida. N.) with its long and slender corrolla reclining upon 

 the grass. The flower, which is near two inches long, con- 

 stitutes about one half of the enti; e length of the plant.* 



The valley of the Platte, above the forks, is much nar- 

 rower, and a little more irregular in direction than below, 

 and is frequently interrupted by small hills running in to- 

 wards the river. On ascending these hills, we found them 

 of a coarse sand, and containing more gravel and small 

 pebbles than below. Among the gravel stones small frag- 

 ments of flesh-coloured feldspar are distinguished. About 

 the summits of the hills we saw some detached pieces of 

 fine carnelian, with agates and chalcedony. 



We had often examined, with some anxiety, the turbid 

 waters of the Platte, hoping thereby to gain information res- 

 pecting the predominating rock formations of the mountain- 

 ous district, from which that river descends. 



* Considerable additions were made, about tbe forks of the Platte, to 

 our collections of plants. We found here, among others, the Pentstemon 

 criatatum, N Coronopus dydima, Ph. Evolvulus Nuttallianus, Roemer, 

 and Shultz. Orobns dispar, Cleome tryphilla, Petalostemon candidum, 

 Ph., and P. vioiaceum. Aristida pallens, N. two species of a genus ap- 

 proximating to Hoitzia, several species of Astragalus, and many others. 



