168 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 
All of them however run to meet each other and connect with the largest, the 
size of which bears its proportion to that of its tributaries and their number. 
Where these ravines have no outlet into a spring or water course they 
have subterranean drains, and in some of the valleys and even on the tops 
of the hills, there are cavities called “sink holes the earth near these 
holes is ocv^asionally undermined by the water running I'ound in circles un- 
derneath, leaving a crust insufficient to bear the weight of a man, and 
when an unfortunate hunter treads on the deceitful surface it gives way, 
and he finds himself in an unpleasant and at times dangerous predicament. 
These holes sometimes gradually enlarge and run into ravines below them. 
It is almost impossible to traverse the “ mauvaise terres” with a horse, un- 
less with great care, and with a thorough knowledge of the country. The 
chase or hunt after the big horn, owing to the character of the country, (as 
we have described it,) is attended with much danger, as the least slip 
might precipitate one headlong into the ravine below, the sides of the hills 
being destitute of every thing to hold on by excepting a ])rojecting stone 
or tuft of worm wood, scattered here and there, without which even the 
most daring hunter could not ascend them. 
In some cases the water has washed out caves of different shapes and 
sizes, some of which present the most fantastic forms and are naked and 
barren to a great degree. The water that is found in the springs in these 
broken lands is mostly impregnated with salts, sulphur, magnesia,, (fee. : but 
unpleasant as it tastes, it is frequently the only beverage for the hunter, 
and luckily is often almost as cold as ice, which renders it less disagree- 
able. In general this water has the effect very soon of a cathartic and 
emetic. Venomous snakes of various kinds inhabit the “mauvaise terres,” 
but we saw only one copper-head. 
Conceiving that a more particular account of these countries may be 
interesting, we will here insert a notice of them given to us by Mr. 
Dewey, the principal clerk at Fort Union. He begins as follows ; 
“ This curious country is situated, or rather begins half way up White 
river, and runs from south east to north west for about sixty miles in 
length, and varying from fifteen to forty miles in width. It touches the 
head of the Teton river and branches of Chicune, and joins the Black Hills 
at the south fork of the latter river. The hills are in some places five 
or six hundred yards high and upwards. They are composed of clay of va- 
rious colours, arranged in layers or strata running nearly horizontally, 
each layer being of a different colour, white, red, blue, green, black, 
yellow, and almost every other colour, appearing at exactly the same 
height on every hill. 
“ From the quantity of pumice stone and melted ores found throughout 
