ROCK MARY.—NATURAL MOUNDS.—END OF CROSS TIMBERS. 
25 
only imperfect observations were taken for time. For the same reason, the comet was in¬ 
visible. 
August 28 —Camp 28.—Having crossed tbe creek, we found many Indian lodges upon the left 
bank, and remains of fires. After examining tbe latter, Vincente pronounced them to have 
been made by Kickapoos; tbe different tribes having peculiar arrangements for the sticks that 
compose their camp-fires. 
Following the trail, we left Deer creek, and, having travelled north two miles to the 
“divide,” turned westward parallel to the river Canadian, which appeared about two miles to 
our right. Water we did not search for; but ravines upon the left bore indications of it. At 
the end of thirteen miles, finding a spring supposed to be near the head of Deer creek, we en¬ 
camped. Spurs from the ridge that divides the Canadian from Deer creek, rendered our route 
to-day moderately hilly. A railway, however, would keep the valley, it being not only level, 
but more direct. The night has been partially clear, affording good sextant observations for 
latitude and time. The comet appeared more brilliant than before, with a train about eighteen 
degrees in length. 
Augusts—Camp 29.—Have travelled to-day nineteen miles, passing “Rock Mary” and 
other mounds accurately described by Simpson and others. The first part of the march was 
Eock Mary. 
over a pleasant country, with occasional springs, and a view of the Cross Timbers to the left. 
But entering among the remnants of mesas called “natural mounds,” we found ourselves i i 
the midst of a desert of sand. The mounds looked like the evil genii of an evil place, and we 
became impatient to reach the end of this dreary waste. At length, after going about t n 
miles, grass began to appear, and a rivulet was found, affording a place for camp. There is 
no timber near, but sufficient wood for cooking purposes. The belt of Cross Timbers we 1 ave 
now left behind us. Upon the opposite side of the Canadian, however, the forest has occasion- 
4 h 
