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Show 38 FROM FORT KEARNY TO FORT LARAMIE. The formation over which we have passed the last two days has been composed of beds of sand and sandy shales. No rock has been met with; and wherever a section of the soil was obtained, it presented layers of sand containing small proportions of argillaceous matter. The general profile of the hills is rounded and un-dulatory. Rock, apparently in regular strata, is to be seen in the opposite blufis, which are bolder and approach the river more nearly than on the south side. Sunday, July 1.- Ther. at 9 o'clock, 81°; Bar. 26.74. The day being very warm and fine, advantage was taken of it to dry more thoroughly the meat we wished to preserve. Our breakfast this morning, which was spread out on the ground, with a piece of India- rubber cloth for a table, under the shade of one of the wagon-covers, consisted, for five persons, of two buffalo- tongues and the hump of a fat cow, nearly the whole of which was consumed. The flesh of a fat buffalo- cow is perhaps the best beef that can be eaten, wholly free from the rank flavour which marks the fat of the male: it is at once juicy, tender, nutritious, and very digestible, added to which it has a game flavour which renders it far superior to the very best beef of the States. It may, in fact, be not improperly denominated " game beef. 1* This was the first time that any of my mess had partaken of that famous dish, the " hump," and the quantity disposed of was the best proof of the intense relish with which it was enjoyed. This and the tongue, tender- loin, bass, and marrow- bones are considered the choice parts of the carcass, and, where the animals are plenty, no other parts are taken, the residue being left on the ground for the wolves. Some idea may be formed of the great digestibility of this species of food, as well as of the enormous quantities devoured « at a single meal, from the fact that the regular daily allowance or ration for one employee in the Fur Company's service is eight pounds, the whole of which is often consumed. It is true, however, that an old mountaineer seldom eats any thing else. If he can get a cup of strong coffee, with plenty of sugar, and as much buffalo- meat as he can devour, he is perfectly happy and content, never feeling the want either of bread or vegetables. A partial examination was made to- day of the north bank of the river. The rocks which had attracted attention yesterday were distant about four hundred yards from the stream and very much weathered, presenting a broken surface, owing to some of the strata having disintegrated faster than others. The perpen- |