TO HORSE-HEAD CROSSING. 
69 
very clear, and flowed over a smooth limestone rock. 
But the opposite bank was found to be impassable for 
wagons. Set all hands at work, some in levelling the 
bank, some in bringing logs, boughs, and stones, while 
a passage through the thick wood which grew along 
the river’s margin was opened with axes by others. 
In an hour all was ready. The teams were now 
brought over singly, and by hard pushing and pull- 
ing they were all got safely up the bank. 
Near this crossing, we observed fine burr oaks ; and 
the ground was strewn with their enormous acorns, 
with beautifully fringed cups. A gradual ascent over 
a rocky surface brought us again to the level of the 
table land beyond. We continued our way over 
gentle hills, pretty well covered with mezquit and 
live-oaks, for about six miles, when we reached Camp 
Creek, a small stream, dry in many places. Stopped 
an hour to water our animals and take lunch, as it was 
my determination to reach Brady’s Creek, about six- 
teen miles distant. 
The ground ascended gradually from this point for 
several miles, when we struck a more open country, 
on a level plateau, which continued without interrup- 
tion during several hours’ march. On this plateau we 
entered a colony of the misnamed “prairie dogs,” 
which extended in every direction as far as the eye 
could reach. The ground occupied by this fraternity was 
distinctly marked by the shortness of the grass, which 
these little creatures feed on, as well as by their hillocks, 
some of which contain two or three cart-loads of earth, 
brought up by them from their excavated dwellings. 
We tried in vain to get one of them as a specimen. 
