74 Expedition to the 



and the aspect of desolation which so widely prevails, we arc 

 often surprised by the occurrence of splendid and interest- 

 ing productions springing up under our feet, in situations that 

 seemed to promise nothing but the most cheerless and un- 

 varied sterility. Operating with unbounded energy, in every 

 situation, adapting itself with wonderful versatility, to all 

 combinations of circumstances; the principle of life extends 

 its dominion over inhospitable tracts, which seem as if de- 

 signed for the perpetual abode of inorganic desolation; dis- 

 tributing some of its choicest gifts to the most ungenial 

 regions, fitting them, by peculiarity of structure, for the 

 maintenance of life and vigor, in situations apparently the 

 most unfavored. 



At nine o'clock in the evening of the 25th, a fall of rain 

 commenced. We were now ten in company, with a single 

 tent, large enough to cover half the number. In order, how- 

 ever, to make the most equal distribution of our joint pos- 

 sessions, it was so arranged that about the half of each man 

 was sheltered under the tent, while the remainder was ex- 

 posed to the weather. This was effected, by placing all our 

 heads near together in the centre of the tent, and allowing 

 our feet to project in all directions, like the radii of a circle. 



On the ensuing morning, we commenced our ride at an 

 early hour, being encouraged still to pursue the course up 

 the ravine, by a bison path, which we believed, would at 

 length conduct us to the open plain. Our progress was slow, 

 and laborious, and our narrow path so hemined in with per- 

 pendicular cliffs of sandstone, that our views were nearly 

 as confined, and the surrounding objects as unvaried, as if 

 we had been making our way in a subterranean passage. Two 

 black-tailed deer, with a few squirrels, and some small 

 birds, were all the animals seen in the course of the day. 

 Some enormous tracks of the grizzly bear, with the recent 

 signs of bisons, afforded sufficient proof, that these animals, 

 though unseen, were near at hand. 



