14 
rERRY’s FARM —CHICKASAW VILLAGE.—COAL MEASURES. 
measured by odometer, and the party arrived at camp before dark. Being surrounded by tall 
trees that formed almost a canopy of foliage, the observations for latitude and time were few 
and unsatisfactory. 
August 5 —Camp 11.—Crossed La Honda, and a quarter of a mile beyond, forded Gaines’ 
creek. Continuing through the forest, we passed a village of Choctaws, and camped at a walled 
spring near the farm-house of Stephen Perry. The country is beautiful, and the soil fertile. 
Wherever a seed is sown, it produces a rich harvest. 
Fraser, the guide, learning that his child had been taken ill, took leave of us with a sad 
countenance to return home. At sunset, Stephen Perry arrived from the Perryville races. He 
speaks English fluently, and gave an amusing description of the festival he had attended. He 
is a complete Indian in color and features, but claims to be of mixed blood—Chickasaw, Choctaw, 
and white. Upon bis farm are several negro slaves, who seem to have the principal manage¬ 
ment of the estate, buying and selling, and as close at a bargain as if the profits were their own. 
They appear healthy and happy ; the children especially so. No work is required of them till 
they arrive at the age of ten or twelve, and even then their duties are light. This evening we 
were favored with a heavy shower, during which there fell 2.5 inches of rain. 
August 6 —Camp 12.—Finding a Shawnee Indian at Perry’s store, we induced him to accom¬ 
pany us as far as the first Shawnee village, about 25 miles distant. He possessed a portly figure ; 
and, upon the route, the only occasions upon which lie seemed to deem his presence necessary 
with the train were during meals, when he never failed to claim his ration. He was so digni¬ 
fied and reserved, that it was some time before we discovered that he could speak English. The 
survey proceeded very well. A high ridge was crossed which might have been avoided by 
turning to the left. With this slight detour, the route for a railway would be nearly level. 
August 1—Camp 13.—We moved on, six miles, to Long Pond creek, where we are encamped. 
The country traversed by the survey was quite hilly, though not decidedly unfavorable for a 
railway. Woodlands occur both upon the heights and in ravines. The prairies also are more 
undulating than they were east of the Sans Bois. The regular occurrence of these prairies 
throughout so great an extent of forest country, is a phenomenon which I have not heard 
satisfactorily explained. There appears to be no radical difference of soil to produce it. Their 
alternations with forest seem independent of locality or exposure to winds. They exist equally 
upon the hill-tops, the slopes, and in moist valleys. They occur too regularly, and are of too 
limited an extent, to have been produced by fires. 
The stream upon which we are encamped, in its course towards Coal creek, is obstructed by 
ledges of rock, producing long and deep reservoirs of crystal water, abounding in fish. It 
makes a capital bathing place. 
August 8 —Camp 14.—Leaving camp, the road soon led us to bad hills. Mr. Campbell and 
myself rode several miles upon both sides of the trail to reconnoitre ; and found that by keep¬ 
ing south, near a branch of Coal creek, a more level route could be traced. Arriving at a 
small Chickasaw village, we obtained, from an Indian, information about the country, which 
corresponded with our own views. He told us that he had lived in this place seventeen years ; 
that the road had been opened over the hills and ridges for the purpose of avoiding the soft 
miry ground during the wet season upon the rich bottom lands near the streams. The trail 
followed by our wagons, therefore, presents features more unfavorable for a railroad than others 
that could be selected. Having surveyed ten miles by the road, we encamped upon a branch 
of Coal creek. This stream is rightly named, for the coal-bearing strata are seen throughout 
its course. The whole region from Fort Smith, being of the carboniferous formation, is believed 
to be rich in bituminous coal. The inhabitants speak highly of it ; and, judging from use in 
our blacksmith’s forges, it seems to be of excellent quality. Sandstone and limestone sufficient 
for the construction of bridges and viaducts occur in many parts of the route. 
Our Shawnee traveller, “ Wen-the-eh-bih,” returned from the village, bringing with him a 
large deputation from his tribe, laden with fruits, melons, and other articles of traffic. Learn- 
