WALNUT CREEK AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. 
23 
with difficulty be forded. The valley, as far as it could be seen, was from one to two miles in 
width, and luxuriant in timber and grass. While searching for a good place to cross, the quar¬ 
termaster proposed to encamp, and allow the mules time to graze upon the green meadow-grass. 
Though the march had been short, the animals were weary from crossing the marshy streams ; 
and, fearing that another as good camp ground might not present itself, we concluded to re¬ 
main for the night. Having taken a portrait of the Ivichai, and a vocabulary of his language, 
we gave him a shirt, a string of heads, a pipe, tobacco, and a dollar in money, and allowed 
him to depart. He said that he was afraid to sleep in camp, lest his friends might think we 
had killed him. So he went away, promising to return on the morrow, and guide us onward. 
We have had rain to-day, falling about one-eightli of an inch. The night being cloudy, no 
astronomical observations can be made. The cloud lifted from the west just sufficiently to show 
the comet, which has considerably increased in brilliancy and size. Its train is now turned to 
an angle of 5° from the vertical, and seems to be about 6° in length. The nucleus appears 
nearly the same as when it was first seen. 
August 25 —Camp 25.—Our Indian guide returned to camp early this morning begging for 
coffee. He says that he slept in a thicket near by; and some of our party think that it was he 
who created a disturbance last night among the mules. It is very possible that he may have 
desired an animal to ride home upon, but the sentinels were vigilant, and he will go as he came. 
While preparing to move on, a negro rode into camp, express from Capt. Montgomery and Mr. 
Aird, bringing the mail. Letters from our friends at this distance were an unexpected pleasure. 
Having bridged the stream, we passed through fertile valleys with groves of superb timber, ash, 
walnut, and oak, bordering the water-courses. Numerous lawns sloped down to the banks of 
Walnut creek upon the right, whose rich meadows were so mellow as to compel us to seek firmer 
ground on the swell of the prairie. Many rivulets, with crystal waters dancing in the sun¬ 
light, added to the beauty of the landscape; but, from the marly nature of the soil they trav¬ 
ersed, greatly retarded our march. Having passed several branches, whose clear depths afforded 
new varieties of fishes, the trail conducted us at length to the bank of Walnut creek. To 
avoid the crossing we turned south, ascended the higher ground, and travelled along the edge 
of a belt of the Cross Timbers, whose small trees of live oak, post-oak, and black jack, were too 
thick to penetrate. Upon the opposite side of the Canadian, we could trace the long line of 
similar forest that borders the river. We continued a mile or two nearly south ; then west and 
northwest. After travelling twelve miles we found two springs ; one flowing into the Washita, 
the other towards the Canadian. Upon the latter we encamped. Though this is supposed to be 
the driest period of an unusually dry season, the country proves to be a land of springs and 
streams, watering beautiful and fertile valleys. The surface of the intervening prairies is what 
is termed u rolling,” and a railway near our track would require a moderate amount of cutting 
through hills of compact gravel. But a more level route appears along the valley of Walnut 
creek. The banks of the Canadian itself, probably ten to twenty miles north of our trail, may 
offer still greater advantages. 
The night is quite cloudy; but we have succeeded in making a few astronomical observations. 
The comet was visible for a while, covering, with its train, about six degrees of arc ; but, per¬ 
haps from the greater brightness of the western horizon, it appeared somewhat less luminous 
than on the previous night. Its distances from Polaris and Arcturus were observed before it 
was obscured by a cloud. 
August 26 —Camp 26 .—At early day a Hueco Indian came into camp. It appeared, from 
what he said, that the one who had endeavored to lead us astray by conducting the train south¬ 
ward towards their village had informed his friends that we wished to see the chief; who had, 
therefore, with a few followers, attempted to overtake us. But the night previous, the chief 
had abandoned the pursuit, and sent forward the messenger who had now reached us. It is 
probable that they were all lurking near camp last night, and at that moment were watching 
us from some concealed spot to witness his reception, according to Indian custom. They wished 
