390 Ex. Doc. Nc, 41. 



> 



one of the flat boats, three of the Indians who had assisted in ferry- 

 ing us over were soundly sleeping, and far away stretched the grad— 

 Q'ally diminishing trees that overhung the Kanzas water; the king- 

 fisher (alcedo alcyon) was darling along, uttering his shrill rattling 

 scream; flocks of paroquets (centurus Carolinensis) were circling 

 over head, screaming and darting amid the tall walnut and syca- 

 more trees. 



We now made ready for our march, having engaged a fine lock- 

 ing Indian lad to go with the party. Our horses had not had much 

 time to eat last night, and seemed disinclined to pass through the 

 luxuriant grass that lay on each side of our read, and were con- 

 stantly trying to snatch a mouthful of the delicious herbage. 



At 8| o'clock we had a glimpse of the Wakaroosa buttes; on our 

 right there was a large corn field, of about 30 acres, then a line of 

 timber stretching ?s far as the eye, could reach; on our left lay the- 

 broad rolling prairie, and directly in front we could see the road 

 crossing the swells of the prairie, until it could be no longer dis- 

 tinguished. As we continued to advance Vi e "found that our road 

 lead us directly between the two buttes. 



We soon reached them, and then saw the " divide" that sepa- 

 rates the waiers of the "Wakaroosa" from those of the a Alaris 

 des cygnes," or Osage; (as it is called near its mouth;) upon this 

 divide the Santa Fe road is laid out. 



We soon saw the Oregon trail, which here unites with that to 

 Sant.i Fe; shortty after passing the junction of these trails we 

 reached a steep declivity that forms the bank of a small stream, 

 and noticed that the Indians had bee:, working here for ccal; in 

 the superincumbent shale we found traces of fossils resembling the 

 broad flat leaves of the iris (frida?.) While we were examining 

 this formation, my hcrsej that had been driven almost mad by the 

 flies, (tabani,) broke from his fastenings and rushed into the cr 'ek 3 

 in order to rol 1 in the water, and tuus free himself from his tor- 

 mentors; what a misfortune! for my saddle and pistols were on his 

 back; sotnj of the party dashed towards him, and, springing up, he 

 galloped off, scattering all my accoutrements on the road; but I re- 

 covered every thing, even my pistols. 



We continued on over a broad flat-bottom of marshy land, but 

 found, before we had proceeded far, that our course bor^ too nr i 

 to the north. We, however, continued to follow on in hopes it 

 would take a turn, but were disappointed. As it was now late, we 

 encamped on the Wakaroosa rivor, having marched nine miles,. 

 During the day, our animals suffered greatly from the horse-fly. 

 (tabani;) these files completely covered the necks and shoulders 

 of the horses and mules, tormenting them excessively. 



Amongst the birds observed this day, were the dove, (ecto- 

 pistes Caroliniensis;) the flicker, (gieus aurutus;) the bme bird, 

 (sialia Wilsonnii;) the hurting-, (pipilo erythrcsstbakans;) and the 

 crow, (corvus Americanos., The last mentioned birds were loung- 

 ing near a large cornfield, and were, doubtless, watching with 

 interest the ripening of the gram. 



Those friends of the prairie voyageur, the cow-bird, (molothrus 



