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Show 158 JOUPNAL OF A VOYAGE 29tb October, Tifledncsday.-Marched after breakfast and in the first hours march, passed two fires, where twenty one Indians had recently encamped, in which party (by their paintings on the rocks,) there were seven guns. Killed a buffalo, halted, made fire and feasted on the choice pieces of n1eat. About noon discovered two horses feeding with a herd of buiE1lo; we attempted to surround them, but they soon cleared our fleetest coursers. One appeared to be an eleo·ant horse ; these were the first wild horses we b had sct"n. 'fwo or three hours before night, struck the Spanish road; and, as it was snowing, halted and encamped the party, at the first woods on the bank of the river. The doctor and mysc1f then forded it (the icc running very thick) in order to discover the course the Spaniards took, but owing to the many buflalo roads, could not ascertain it ; but it evidently appeared that they had halted here some time, as the ground was covered with horse dung, for miles around. Returned to camp. The snow fell about two inches deep and then it cleared up. Distance 12 miles. 30/!J October, Thursday.-In the morning sent out to kill a bufralo, to have his 1narrow bones for breakfast, which was accomplished; after breakfast the party marched upon the north side, and the doctor and myself crossed with considerable difficulty (on account of the icc) to the Spanish camp, where we took a large circuit in order to discover the Spanish trace and came in at a point of woods; south of the river, where we found our party encamped. We discovered also that the Spani!:>h troop had marked the river up, and that a party of savages had been there not more than three days before. Killed two buflalo. Dis. tance 4 miles. 31st October, Fridny.--Fine day-marched at three quarters past nine o'clock, on the Spanish road. Encamped, TO TILE SOURCES OF Tli~ ARK ANSA \V, &c. 159 sun an hour high, after having 1nade sixteen miles. We ob. served this day a speci s of chrystilization on the road (when the sun was high) in low places where there had been water settled, on tasting it found it to be salt; this gave in my mind so1ne authenticity to the report of the prairie being covered for leagues. Discovered the trace of about twenty savages who had followed our road; and horses going down the river. Killed one buffalo, one elk, one deer. 1st No·vember, Satu.rday.-Marchcd early, just after commencing our line, heard a gun on our left ; the doctor, Baroney and myself being in advance, and laying on the ground waiting for the party ; a band of Cabrie came up, amongst our horses, to satisfy their curiosity ; we could not resist· the temptation of killing two, although we had plenty of meat. At the report of the gun they appeared astonished, and stood still until we hallowed at them to drive them away. Encamp d in the evening on an island, upon using my glass to observe the adjacent country, J observed on the prairie a hetd of horses ; doctor R obinson and Baroncy, accompanied me to go and view them; when within a quarter of a mile, they discover d us, and came immedi·ttely up ncar us, making the earth tren1ble under then: ,(this brought to my recollection a charge of cavalry). l hey stopt and gave us an opportunity to view them, among them there were some very beautiful bays, blacks and gre) s, and indeeJ of all colours. We fired at a black horse, with an idea of cr 'asing him, but did not succeed; they flourished round and r eturned ao-ain to sec us • wh e n we returnctl to camp. b ' 2d No~em/)('r, Suuday.-In the morning for the purpose of trymg the c.xpcrin1cnt, we equippcc.J. six of our fleetest coursers with riders and ropes, to noose the wild horses if in our pow r to come among the band. They |