CHAPTER IV. 



Natural mounds — Kaskaia Indian and squaw — Preparations 

 for a division of the party — Sandstones of the high plains 

 south of the Arkansa — Floetz Trap Formation. 



In the afternoon of the i9th of July, we passed the mouth 

 of the river St. Charles, called by Pike the Third fork, which 

 enters the Arkansa from the southwest. It is about twenty- 

 yards wide, and receives, eight miles above its confluence, 

 the Green-horn, a small stream from the southeast. The 

 Green-horn rises in the mountains, and passes between the 

 Spanish Peaks into the plains. These two peaks had been for 

 several days visible, standing near to each other, and ap- 

 pearing entirely insulated. If they are not completely so, the 

 other parts of the same range must fall far below them in 

 elevation; they are of a sharp, conic form, and their sum- 

 mits white with snow, at midsummer. 



We travelled twenty-five miles, the general direction of 

 our course being a little south of east, and encamped at five 

 P. M. in a grassy point on the north side of the river. The 

 soil of the islands and the immediate valley of the river 

 were found somewhat more fertile than above. Immediately 

 after encamping the hunters were sent out, who soon return- 

 ed with two deer and a turkey. 



In the evening, the altitude of Antares was taken. 

 Throughout the night we were much annoyed by mosqui- 

 toes, the first we had met for some weeks in sufficient num- 

 bers to be troublesome. 



We left our encampment on the following morning at five, 

 the weather warm and fair. Soon afterwards we passed the 

 mouth of a creek on the south side, which our guide inform- 



