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Show COTTON- WOOD GROVES- INDIAN FORTS. 245 behind at the morning's encampment, nor was the incident discovered until near the end of the day's march. Two men were immediately sent back to recover him, but returned unsuccessful. They declared that the creature must have hidden himself purposely in the thicket near the camp- a trick to which it is said some of these animals are addicted. A detail of six men was ordered to start back for him early in the morning. Archambault killed a remarkably ftt buffalo cow to- day, which gave us plenty of the finest beef. Side and hump ribs, and buffalo hump- that precious morsel of all mountain connoisseurs- graced our humble board, ( or rather the top of our mess- chest,) and we only needed the presence of dear but absent friends to render our dainty repast all that an epicure could desire. Another cow was also killed, which contained a dead and thoroughly dried foetus, about one- third grown, which had apparently been enclosed in the uterus and preserved for a long time. The hunters say that such is not an unfrequent occurrence. Sunday, September 22.- We remained at this pleasant camp all the day, being Sunday. The detail sent after the missing pack-horse returned about one o'clock, having discovered him, with his pack undisturbed, hidden in the brush in the vicinity of the camp of yesterday morning. The day was warm and balmy, with fresh breezes from the northwest. The evening closed with heavy gusts of wind from the south- west, with appearance of rain. Several herds of buffalo were seen during the day. Monday, September 23.- Morning warm and cloudy. High wind during the night, with a slight sprinkle of rain. We followed up the left bank of the Platte, in an eastern direction, when we crossed it on a ripple, with a depth of eighteen inches. Swift current, clear, transparent water, rolled stones and pebbly bottom. A large portion of the way from camp was through a natural park of noble cotton- wood trees, sixty feet high, and two and three feet in diameter, and over a rich level bottom, covered with a luxuriant growth of grass. Major Bridger informs me that, for twenty miles above, the river presents the same beautiful appearance, every little bottom formed by the windings of the stream being covered by a growth similar to that through which we had just passed. Immediately above where we crossed, were about twenty Indian forts, or lodges constructed of logs set up endwise, somewhat in |
