222 Expedition to the 



due to an humble friend. He was very frequently accom- 

 modated with a ride on horseback before one of the men 

 when he betrayed unusual exhaustion. But, notwithstanding 

 all such attention, for which he seemed touched with feelings 

 of gratitude, he experienced Csesar's fate and was neces- 

 sarily abandoned. 



The evening camp was pitched upon a luxuriant grassy 

 plain of the margin of the river. On tasting the water it was 

 perceived to be slightly saline, though the proportion of that 

 condiment was not so considerable as to render it unpleasant 

 to the palate. This saline intermixture is, no doubt, due 

 to the Red Fork, inasmuch as the river, above the en- 

 trance of that stream, appeared entirely destitute of saline 

 contamination, and no stream enters on this side in which 

 the slightest apparent degree of brackishness is to be de- 

 tected by the taste. 



The cotton tree is less numerous in this vicinity, than we 

 have seen it higher up the river, and being intermixed with 

 other trees, forms but an insignificant feature of the forest. 



20th. Heavy rain, accompanied with much thunder and 

 lightning, commenced early in the night, and continued until 

 daylight this morning. Hunters, who had been sent out, 

 detained us until nine o'clock, when they returned unsuc- 

 cessful; in consequence of which, and of our having made a 

 sparing meal last evening, on a turkey that had been shot, 

 we were obliged to depart fasting on our way. 



The ravines were muddy, and their banks slippery in 

 consequence of the rain; we had, however, the good fortune 

 to fall upon an Indian trace, which complied with our pro- 

 per direction, and which indicated the best points at which 

 these gullies might be passed. In its course it conducted us 

 to a creek which was pouring down a torrent of water. Here 

 was an encampment that had obviously been occupied withim 

 a day or two, there being fresh rinds of watermellons strew- 

 ed about it. 



