Rocky Mountains. 227 



slow and measured strides, in the shallows of the creek. A 

 Glass snake, (Ophisaurus ventralis) approached us, and was 

 captured. 



In the afternoon, small cumulus clouds arose in the hori- 

 zon, and we again put forward, under a temperature of 95 

 degrees. Three miles farther, a large ravine occurred, contain- 

 ing much water in the deeper parts of its bed, but dry at inter- 

 vals; it is wooded as far as we can trace it with the eye, and in 

 the season of floods it must discharge a large volume of water 

 at its confluence, which is distant about five miles from the 

 creek crossed this morning. 



We passed by several singular, natural elevations, with 

 conical summits, and halted early to hunt, for which pur- 

 pose four men were sent out, who returned with two turkeys, 

 which furnished a very light supper. 



25th. Remained encamped, in order to give the hunters an 

 opportunity to procure some game. We had nothing for 

 breakfast or dinner, and as our meals a few days past, have 

 been few and light, we have become impatient under the pres- 

 sure of hunger; a few fresh water muscles, fUnio) and two or 

 three small fishes, and a tortoise, which had been found in the 

 mud of the ravine, were roasted and eaten, without that 

 essential condiment, salt, of which we had been for some 

 time destitute. The hunters so anxiously looked for, at 

 length returned, bringing but three ducks, ('Anas sponsd) 

 one of them had shot down three deer, but they all escaped. 



As we have no idea of our distance from Belle Point, and 

 know not what extent of country we are doomed to traverse 

 in the state of privation to which we have of late been sub- 

 jected, we have selected from our miserable horses, an indi- 

 vidual to be slaughtered for food, in case of extremity of ab- 

 stinence, and upon which, although very poor, we cannot 

 forbear to cast an occasional wishful glance. 



Biji au, before he parted from us, urged by his wishes 

 for our safety, drew for our information, a sketch of the 



