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Show !6:::! JOUl{Ni\L OF A VOYAGE horseg growing weak, two gave out, being then along empty, cut down trees at night, for thcn1 to browze on. Killed one buffalo. Distance 20 miles. 11th November, 'fuesday.-Marched at the usual hour. Passed two old, and one last summer, can1ps which had belonged to the savages, and we suppose Tetaus. Passed a Spanish camp where it appeared they ren1ained some day~ as we conjectured to lay up n1eat, previously to entering the Tetau country, as the buffalo evidently began to grow much less numerous. Finding the impossibility of performing the voyage in the time proposed, I determined to ~pare no pains to accomplish every object eYen should it oblige n1e to spend another winter, in the desert. Killed one buffalo, one brelaw. Distance 24 miles. 12th No'L'embcr, Wedncsday.-Was obliged to leave two horses, which entirely gave out. Missed the Spanish road. Killed one buffalo. Distance 20 miles. 1 Stb November, Thursday.-We marched at the usual hour. 'I'he river banks begin to be entirely covered with woods on both sides, but no other specie than cotton wood. Discovered very fresh signs of indians, and one of our hunters informed me, he saw a man on horseback, ascending a ravine on our left. Discovered signs of war parties ascending the river. W oundeJ several buffalo. KiLled one turkey, the first we have seen since we left thr· Pawnees. l ·J..tb November, Friday. - In the morning, doctor Robinson, one man and myself, went up the ravine, on which the man was supposed to have been seen, but could make no important discovery. Marched at two o'clock; passed a point of red rocks and one large creek. Distance 10 n1ilcs. l5tb November, Saturday.-Marchecl early. Passed two dec'p crec~k<s and n}<my high points of the rocks; also, TO TilE SOUHCES OF TliE ARK ANSA \V, &c. I6J large herds of buffalo. At two o'clock in the afternoon 1 thought I could distinguish a mountain to our rj~ht, which appeared like a small blue cloud; viewed it with the spy glass, and was still more confirmed in my conjectnrc, yet only communicated it to doctor Robinson, who w·1s in front with me, but in half an hour, they appeared in full tiew before us. When our small party arrived on the hill they with one accord gave three cbecrs to the Mexican mountaim. Their appearance can easily be imagined by those who have crossed the Alleghany ; but their sides were whiter as if covered with snow, or a white stone. Those were a spur of the grand western chain of mountains, which divide the waters of the Pacific from those of the Atlantic oceans, anJ it divided the waters which empty into the bay of the Iloly Spirit, from those of the Mississippi; as the Alleghany docs, those which dischargl' themselves into the latter river and the Atlantic. They appear to present a natural boundary betw ... cn the province of Lousiana and New Mexico and would be a defined and natural boundary. Before evening we discovered a fork on the south side bearing S. 25° W. and as the Spanish troops, appeared to have borne up it, we encamped on its banks, about one mile from its confluence, that we might make further discoveries on the xnorrow. Killed three buffalo. Distance 24 miles. J 6tb No·vcmbcr, Sunday.-Aftcr asserting that the Spanish troops had ascended the right branch or main river; we marched at two o'clock P. M. The .Arkansaw appeared at this place to be n1uch more navigable, than below, where we first struck it; and for any impediment I have yet discovered in the river, I would not hPsitatc to embark in February at its n1outh and ascend to the Mexican mountains, with crafts properly constructed. Distance I 1 1-2 miles. • |