Rocky Mountains. 297 



of naked rocky islands were disclosed here and there in dif- 

 ferent parts of the channel. On examination we found the 

 apparent dark colour of the water, to depend upon the com- 

 plexion of the rocks which form the bottom and sides of the 

 bed, they being principally a dark coloured argillite, and 

 not only these, but the small fragments of quartz and other 

 whitish stones, had acquired from lying in the water a pe- 

 culiar tinge of dark brown. We expected to find an incrus- 

 tation covering the surface of these stones, but upon exami- 

 nation, the colouring matter seemed inseparably blended 

 with the rock itself. The water seen by transmitted light, 

 was entirely transparent, and had no perceptible saltness to 

 the taste. 



At a distance of five or six miles eastward from the 

 Hot Springs, on the road leading towards the town of Little 

 Rock, on the Arkansa, commences a tract of land having a 

 fertile soil, and a beautiful situation, and extending to the 

 Washita. Some parts of this region afford exceptions to the 

 remark generally applicable to the Arkansa territory, that the 

 best soils are found in the alluvion of the rivers. Some extensive 

 districts of primary soil along the base of the mountains are 

 of a quality rarely surpassed in fertility, beuing heavy for- 

 ests of oak, ash, and sugar maple, which attain here to great- 

 er size than we have seen in other parts of the United States. 

 We arrived about sunset on the 28th at Keisler's planta- 

 tion, where we made application for permission to spend the 

 night. This was readily granted, though as is often the 

 case, in such remote and solitary habitations, the house was 

 not in the most complete readiness for the accommodation 

 of travellers. A quantity of Indian corn, was immediately 

 gathered in the adjoining field, a part of it was given to our 

 horses, and a part prepared for our own supper. 



During the green corn season^ which is a time of jubilee 

 and rejoicing among the agricultural Indians, and scarce 

 less so with many of the white settlers, those who live re- 

 yoL. II. 38 



