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Show 8AUK INDIANS. 17 ridge to avoid the spurs and ravines on the right. We are now fairly on the broad open prairie; the air fresh, cool, and delightful ; the view on all sides very extensive. In the afternoon we were met by a small band of Sauk Indians, who presented a paper, written by some philanthropic emigrant, representing that as we were now passing through their country, consuming their grass, water, and wood, ( the latter of which was very scarce) they wished to receive something by way of remuneration, whether mpney, biscuit, ( of which they are very fond,) or tobacco. They were rather a fine- looking body of men, and seemed quite peaceably disposed. They were evidently on the look- out for the different companies as they passed, with the purpose of levying contributions. They accompanied us to camp, and received some biscuit and tobacco, with which they seemed well satisfied. The formation passed over to- day has been the same as that observed heretofore, except that the shales appear to be rather more predominant, and the limestone more ferruginous, and perhaps more siliceous. In a deep ravine the shales were very evident, being in some places washed out to a great extent from the overlying limestone, which presented large tabular masses, in place, in which no dip was discovered. Tuesday, June 5.- Bar. 29.17; Ther. 70°. The country traversed to- day has been principally rolling prairie, rising gradually for about six miles; our road, following the crest of a ridge, with heads of ravines from the north and the south interlocking, was rendered both crooked and undulating. After tracing this winding track for some time, we entered the main emigration road from Kansas. Up to this point the road has been very good- smooth, hard, and dry, and free from abrupt descents or ascents. The country around us is entirely destitute of trees; not so much as a twig is to be seen; all is bald, naked prairie, with sweeping undulations of the surface, as if a heavy ground- swell of the ocean had been suddenly arrested and converted, by the wand of some enchanter, into fixed and solid soil. Rain came on about noon, with occasional showers, until nearly sunset, when it cleared off, with high wind from the south. Ferruginous and slaty limestones were occasionally exposed in the ravines, very fossiliferous, containing principally testacea. Some stems of crinoideae were also found in the rock, in place. Plover and prairie hens were now seen very frequently; the former, however, for the first time, and very shy. In the afternoon, we met a 2 |