LONG PRAIRIE-RETURN OF MR. JONES. 
11 
The hills and plains abound in excellent timber, principally of oak. Small streams, or pools 
of Avater, are found in numerous ravines, and the meadows are covered with grass. 
July 27— Camp 4. —The train moved on five miles, and encamped, to await the surveying 
party, which had returned to bring up the work from the point where it Avas left yesterday. 
The face of the country is unchanged, consisting of hills and valleys covered Avitli patches of 
fine Avoodland and beautiful laAvns. The forests AA r ere difficult to penetrate, and the operations 
of the survey are, therefore, still many miles in rear. 
July 28— Camp 4. —Leaving camp stationary for the day, a party returned to the point where 
the survey had been suspended yesterday. We found it in a ravine betAveen a pile of hills upon 
one side, and a sharp ridge upon the other. Crossing the latter, Ave entered the famous prairie 
that the Indians had so often described to us. It is several miles wide, and extends eastward, 
without interruption, to the Poteau, which receives the drainage of its Avaters. Pursuing it for 
about five miles westward, it terminated in a forest, though the same valley still continued. 
Here, however, it Avas confined between the Sans Bois range of mountains and the hills of 
“Piney Grove,” and thereby contracted to tAvo or three miles in width. There was no way of 
avoiding this dense woodland, and it Avas with great difficulty that Ave succeeded in carrying on 
our operations. In the midst of the valley floAved a stream, near which were many Indian 
farm-houses, surrounded, as usual, by patches of corn and gardens. The residents could not 
speak English, and hence we obtained little information from them. They were kind and civil, 
hoAvever, willing to share with us their scanty stores of food. Having arrived at the house of 
one John, from Avhom we learned that the forest extended some ten miles farther before opening 
to a prairie, we suspended work, and returned to camp, which has remained unmoved during 
the day. This enables us to obtain observations for latitude and time, at the same place, on 
two successive nights, affording results for correcting the rates of our chronometers. 
July 29— Camp 5. —Mr. Campbell, from fatigue and exposure, is sick to-day. Unable to 
ride his mule, he was compelled to take a seat in the ambulance, as the train moved from camp. 
The surveying party returned to John’s house, and resumed operations. The forest was dense, 
and thickets covered the numerous rivulets so closely that it Avas difficult to make one’s way 
through them. Having, Avith difficulty, accomplished five miles of survey through the valley, 
at a late hour Ave took an Indian trail leading northerly, in search of the road and camp. The 
path led up a steep hill called Piney GroArn, about 500 feet in height, from which we had a fine 
vieAv—the Sugar Loaf and Cheviot hills in the distance; the Sans Bois mountains nearer ; and 
below, the forest valley, through which passes the line of survey. At the northern base of this 
hill is a Avide lawn, and beyond sweeps a meadow, through which floAvs a tributary of the Sans 
Bois. Its sources are springs that gush from the hill-side, Avhere a farm-house is situated. 
Camp we found about half a mile distant, near other springs of good water. The spot chosen 
was in the midst of a noble grove, delightfully cool, though not a favorable place for astronom¬ 
ical observations. But the night being cloudy, they were not attempted. 
Mr. Walter Jones, jr., was taken quite ill soon after his arrival at Fort Smith. He recov¬ 
ered sufficiently to enable him to undertake the journey, but finds his strength unequal to the 
task. To-day he is again quite sick, and, completely disheartened, proposes to return home. 
Upon consultation Avitli Dr. BigeloAv, the surgeon, he has concluded to stop at Johnson’s 
house till he can be carried back by Avagon to Fort Smith. He will take passage home as soon 
as his health is sufficiently restored. 
July 30— Camp 6.—Leaving Mr. Jones in charge of a servant, and of Choctaw women, who 
seemed disposed to afford him every necessary care and attention, we moved camp, and con¬ 
tinued the survey. After progressing a feAv miles from the point of suspension yesterday, the 
forest became somewhat broken—there being here and there a spot devoid of trees. The scenery 
was beautiful—just wild enough to realize our ideas of an English park. At length the Avoods 
receded upon either hand, and an extensive prairie opened, leading the survey to Camp 6, 
which was pitched at a distance of six miles beyond Johnson’s house. The survey thus far 
