404 Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



gems with the army were without springs and roughly built, like 

 common Santa Fe trade wagons. 



This day we made a march* of 31 1 miles, passing along the top of 

 a barren ridge, between one and two miles from the river. .No- 

 thing was to be seen but the curly buffalo grass, now parched by 

 the summer's heat. The sun poured down his rays most lavishly; 

 the men all dismounted and walked, in Order to rest and to re- 

 lieve themselves from the singular sensation produced by the heat. 

 First one and then another of the party became ill, and several 

 were seized with a severe vomiting. 



In the evening I went over to Major Clarke's camp, in order to 

 have an axletree made. There I saw many who appeared to be ill j 

 amongst them were Captain Weightman and Lieutenant Dorn. 



I returned to our camp and passed a sleepless time, listening to 

 the footsteps of the guard- and, now. and then, the conversation of 

 the French boys broke upon the stillness of the night; they, too. 

 were not able to sleep soundly. We were all extremely anxious 

 with regard to General Kearny's health. 



Tuesday ^ July 21st. — This morning we presented quite a sorry look- 

 ing array of human faces. At day-break I was seized with a vomiting, 

 which lasted some time; I was obliged to send for the doctor. I 

 however determined to push forward in compliance with the order 

 of Lieutenant Emory, who was with General Kearny, and commit- 

 ted myself to the wagoner's care, while Lieutenant. Peck took com- 

 mand of the camp. Lying here, my eye roved over but a con- 

 fined prospect; under me were bundles of bedding, with blankets, 

 red, blue and white; near me, a sick man, languidly gazing upward; 

 above me, the bended bows of the wagon that supported a large 

 white cover, through which the sun beat with intense heat; and, in 

 front, through a little hole, one caught sight of the landscape 

 dancing to and fro as the wagon jolted along. 



We formed our camp, after a march of 11 miles, at the Santa Fe 

 crossing, and in the vicinity of Major Clarke's battalion of artil- 

 lery, so that we could have an opportunity of completing our axle- 

 tree that we began yesterday. We soon saw our wagon, and 

 learned that General Kearny had perfectly recovered. 



At this place we obtained some beautiful purple lilies, (eustoma 

 russeliana,) and Mr. Nourse brought me a psoralia, with a monose- 

 palous calyx. On the opposite side of the river there are several 

 Indian bodies, wrapped in blankets and skins, exposed on plat- 

 forms of lodge poles, high up in eottonwood trees, where they are 

 safe from wolves and the sacrilegious touch of men. The air of 

 the prairie produces rapid desiccation, and, in this respect, resem- 

 bles that of Egypt and the islands of the ancient Guanches. 



From the 21st of July until our arrival at Bent's fort, on the 29th, 

 being all the time sick, I have no recollection of- anything that 

 transpired, excepting a drawing that I made of the sand rat, (pseu- 

 dostoma brissarius.) The body and legs are covered with yellow- 

 ish brown hair, plumbeous at the base; belly, "white; anterior claws, 

 strong and large; posterior claws, short; ins, black; ear, projecting 

 slightly. On each side of the upper jaw are two exterior pouches ? 



