30 MxpeditioJi to the 



of snow, which occupied a deep ravine, extending down 

 half a mile from the top, on the south-eastern side of the 

 Peak. This was found impassable, being covered with a thin 

 ice, not sufficiently strong to bear the weight of a nian. We 

 had not been long on the summit, when we were rejoined by 

 the man, who had separated from us near the outskirts of the 

 timber. He had turned aside and lain down to rest, and af- 

 terwards pursued the ascent by a different route. 



From the summit of the Peak, the view towards the north, 

 west, and southwest, is diversified with innumerable moun- 

 tains, all white with snow; and on some of the more distant, 

 it appears to extend down to their bases. Immediately under 

 our feet on the west, lay the narrow valley of the Arkansa, 

 which we could trace running towards the northwest, proba- 

 bly more than sixty miles. 



On the north side of the Peak, was an immense mass of 

 snow and ice. The ravine, in which it lay, terminated in 

 a woodless and apparently fertile valley, lying west of the 

 first great ridge, and extending far towards the north. This 

 valley must undoubtedly contain a considerable branch of the 

 Platte. In a part of it, distant probably thirty miles, the 

 smoke of a fire was distinctly seen, and was supposed to in- 

 dicate the encampment of a party of Indians.* 



To the east lay the great plain, rising as it receded, until, 

 in the distant horizon, it appeared to mingle with the sky. 

 A little want of tran'^parcncy in the atmosphere, added to 

 the great elevation from which we saw the plain, prevented 

 our distinguishing the small inequalities of the surface. The 

 Arkansa with several of its tributaries, and some of the 

 branches of the Platte, could be distinctly traced as on a map, 

 by the line of timber along their courses. 



* It is related in Du Pradt's History of Louisiana, page 71, that in the 

 ye:ir 1724, y. iarg-e tribe of Indians, called Patloucas, resided in several 

 villajjes on vu<2 iieadiuf tlie Kouzas river, tiiat iiicy removed theiict to tlie 

 sourc':-sof tlie Piatte, wheie tliey are ssid still to exist. [See Bracken- 

 ridge's views, (jaj^e i47. Lewis and Clark's Map, &c.] But these accounts 

 need confirmation. 



