26 
GYPSUM CAVES.—VALLEY OF THE WASHITA. 
ally been seen to-day, appearing to extend still farther west. The night is again cloudy. 
Few astronomical observations have been made. The train of the comet is inclined about 8° to 
the south of the vertical. 
August 30 —Camp 30.—Gypsum in every variety of form—fibrous, laminated, and crystal— 
has now become abundant. Irregular caves appeared to-day to the right of the route, among 
huge masses of this rock, so large that we entered to explore them. Except to the geologist, 
however, they were of little interest. A want of trees and scarcity of grass characterized the 
level plain we have traversed. Sixteen miles brought us to a spring on the right of the road, 
where we encamped. The water is slightly brackish. Buffalo-bones are bleaching near it. 
August 31 —Camp 31.—A mile from camp we entered a pretty little valley watered by a 
rivulet, with pools abounding in fishes supposed to be of unknown species. We call the stream 
Gypsum creek, from being the first of importance in that formation. It is finely wooded with 
red oak, post-oak, alamo, and elm. The water is tinctured with magnesia, and is disagreeable 
to the taste. The channel is deep, leaving, at the present low water, high steep banks difficult 
to pass. At some seasons the water must be so high that a bridge or boat would be required 
for crossing. Four miles west, having passed a prairie spur which runs out from the low ridge 
that separates us from the waters of the Canadian, we enjoyed an extensive prospect. Spread 
before us was a wide basin watered by numerous well wooded rivulets, coursing towards a su¬ 
perb valley upon our left. There, from northwest to southeast, flows the Washita. As we 
descended to the first of these streams, two black bears issued from the wood, and rolled their 
ungainly bodies towards the prairie. The hunters lost their game, but the stream nevertheless 
acquired the name of Bear creek. Moving onward, somewhat south of west, across a prairie, 
three miles brought us to another stream about twelve feet wide and three feet deep, also flow¬ 
ing south to the Washita. As elms were thickly interspersed among the oaks and alamos on 
its banks, we named this Elm creek. The crossing was exceedingly bad. At high water it 
would not be fordable. The canon in which it flows, however, is not more than forty feet wide, 
and therefore may easily be bridged. Crossing a ravine, within a mile we entered the beautiful 
valley of a river about twenty feet wide, and flowing from west towards the southeast, probably 
the main branch of the Washita. Having followed the left bank for some distance, we again 
ascended the elevated prairie to avoid ravines, and, four miles beyond, encamped upon the steep 
bank of another branch called, in honor of the splendid visitor which has for several nights 
been beckoning us westward, Comet creek. 
Through a country like that we have been traversing, there can be no difficulty in selecting 
a route for a railway. There is plenty of material for its construction. The soil of the valleys 
is rich, and eminently adapted to agriculture, while the prairies afford abundant pasture for 
flocks and herds. Mills could be erected upon the streams, which seem to be unfailing. The 
water is slightly saline, but not decidedly unpalatable. Indian fires have been seen, and a 
bright light appears this evening to the northeast. We tried to observe the comet, but a thick 
haze in the west rendered it invisible till daylight was passing away, when it appeared in the 
horizon for a moment to bid us, probably, a long farewell. 
September 1 —Camp 32.—Having with much labor cut down the banks of Comet creek, and 
with branches of trees made a firmer road over the miry soil, the train crossed safely, and 
passed over rolling prairies, with fine views, to the left, of valleys, and streams fringed with 
trees. We came, to-day, to the lower bed of the cretaceous formation overlying the gypsum. 
Oolitic sandstone, limestone, and oyster-shells abounded, proving the theory of the geologist, 
that the sandstone we have passed is, like that of Lake Superior, the neio red. 
Leaving upon our left the great valley of the Washita, of which we have since had occasional 
glimpses, we passed over a long extent of prairie, and encamped upon Silver creek, a small 
tributary fifteen miles from Comet creek. Excellent water and grass are found near. Wood 
occurs upon the stream a little below. Astronomical observations have been obtained for lati¬ 
tude and time. 
