394 Ex. Doc. No. 41 



pushed forward for (i Big John spring," which we reached at 5 

 o'clock. Here we luxuriated on the delightful cool water of this 

 celebrated spring, reclining under the shade of a tall oak li sub 

 tegrnine querci," at whose base this spring originates; the tem- 

 perature of the water being only 53°, while that of the air ranges 

 above 80°. 



We saw to-day two beautiful rieties of the evening primrose. 

 (Oenothera biennis,) the white and me yellow. We notices amongst 

 the birds the brown thrush, (orpheus rufus,) the king. bird, (musci- 

 capa tyrannus,) the grouse (tetrao cupido,) and the little quail. 



Sunday, July 5th. — We wished, as we started this morning, that 

 we could have taken this spring along with us, the water was so 

 beautifully clear and so cold, and the spring shaded from distance 

 around by a grove of the walnut, the sycamore, and the oak, around 

 the trunks of which the ivy (rhus radicans) clambered, and at the 

 roots of which grew beautiful lychnis. 



Two miles from our point of departure is Council grove, where 

 there is a fine stream of running water, and great quantities of" 

 quartz and highly fossiiif< j rous limestone. 



Shortly before Council grove, we passed the grave of a white 

 man, who had been murdered by an Osage Indian; a circular pile 

 of stones marks his resting place; from the crevices between the 

 stones the ivy has shot forth; over the grave a long pole leans 

 mournfully.' When I viewed this simple grave, my mind turned to 

 the proud monuments which are built up by the wealthy in our 

 great cities, and which are daily leveled with the ground to give- 

 place 'o come improvement. Here, on the wild prairie, the Indian, 

 and the rude hunter p?ss by this spot, and not for worlds would 

 they remove one stone. 9 



Continuing our march, we travelled over a distance of 20 miles, 

 when we reached u Diamond spring." This is a fine large spring. 

 of three or four feet across, the water extremely cold; the tem- 

 perature of the spring is 54°, while that of the air, the thermometer 

 in the shade, is 87° 



I procured at this place a beautiful white thistle, (cnicusacarna,) 

 of delicious fragrance. We saw a great many night hawks 

 (chordeiles virgins) and plovers, as well as several herds of deer., 

 (cervus virginianus.) I also collected some of the great grasshop- 

 pers of the. prairies. 



Monday, July 6th. — As we set out on our march, the wagon 

 mules took a freak in their heads and endeavored to run off with 

 the provision wagon, but the driver turned them into the wide 

 prairie, and soon succeeded in quieting them for a time, but he had 

 several trials for the mastery before the day's march was over. 

 After travelling 15 miles, we arrived at "Lost spring," but did not 

 stop as its appearance T , as not inviting. 



We noticed near the road numerous large puff balls or fungi, that 

 resembled, both in size and appearance, human skulls of most 

 beautiful whiteness; the under side is puckered as if a napkin had 

 been thrown over a round body and drawn with a string; the 

 interior resembles flour, except that it coheres. 



