4/6 Expedition to the 



the river, where the soil is permanent, it is highly impregnat- 

 ed with saline substances, and too sterile to produce any thing 

 except a few stinted carices and rushes. 



On "the evening of the twenty-fourth, after we had en- 

 camped, several bull bisons, being on the windward side, 

 came so near us as to create a disturbance among our horses, 

 who were not yet so familiarized to the formidable appear- 

 ance of those animals, as to regai'd their near approach with 

 indifference. The bulls, at length, became troublesome, ap- 

 proaching so near, to smell at the horses, that some of the 

 latter broke the cords by which they were fastened and 

 made their escape. A man was then sent to frighten away 

 the bisons, who, in their turn, exhibited as much terror as 

 they had occasioned to our horses. 



On Sunday, the 25th, we remained encamped, and some 

 of the men were employed in drying a part of the meat 

 killed on the preceding day. This was done that we might 

 be able to carry constantly with us a small supply of provi- 

 sions, in reserve against any occasion when we might not 

 meet with game. 



The magnetic variation equated from two sets of observa- 

 tions, was found to be 14° east. Observations for longitude 

 were made; it was also attempted to take the meridian alti- 

 tude of Antares, for ascertaining the latitude, but the obser- 

 vation was commenced a few minutes too late, we having 

 been longer occupied in making the preceding observations 

 than we had anticipated. 



26th The weather had now been for some days fair. As 

 we approached the mountains, we felt or fancied, a very 

 manifest change in the character of the weather, and the 

 temperature of the air. Mornings and evenings were usu- 

 ally calm, and the heat more oppressive than in the mid- 

 dle of the day. Early in the forenoon, a light and refresh- 

 ing breeze often sprung up, blowing from the west or south- 

 west, which again subsided on the approach of night. This 



