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Show RKTURNIX* EMIGRANTS. 19 however, had been subsequently filled up with sticks by some compassionate traveller. It was an affecting otgect, And no good omen of what might be looked for, should any of us fall by the way in our long and arduous journey. Upon a ridge near our noon halt, was found considerable detritus of primitive rocks, scattered over the surface of the ground, and many boulders of granite. Above this lay the limestone, the lower strata of which appeared to be composed of honey- comb limestone; the upper strata were more sandy and without fossils. After a march of seventeen and three-fourths miles, encamped on the left bank of what out guide called Legerette Creek. The banks, at the grossing, were high and steep, and afforded some very good sections of limestones interspersed with shales. A road had been made, with no little trouble, by the emigrants, down the banks on each side, and the crossing was tolerably good. The stream is thirty feet wide by one foot deep, and flows with ft bold and rapid current into the Missouri. The strata, exposed by a section at the crossing, the direction of which was S. S. E. and N. N. W., were limestones with strata of shales, - conformable, with a marked dip of 12° to the west, and containing a considerable number of fossils, productus, spirifer, & c. Our camp for the night is situated on, the edge of a. beautifully broad and level prairie, nearly elliptical in form, almost encircled by this lovely stream, whose bank* are fringed with the richest foliage: noble old oaks, elms, and walnuts overhang the water, with a background of rising hills covered with grass and flowers. . Friday, June 8.- Bar. at sunrise, 28.79; Ther. 68°. Wind north- east, cool and ( Jelightful. A small party, with a jingle wagon, drove into camp just as we were leaving the ground. They had formed part of a company from St. Louis, had proceeded within sixty miles of Fort Kearny, but had quarrelled, and become disgusted with the trip and with each other, and had separated. These persons were on their return to St. Louis. They gave discouraging accounts of matters ahead. Wagons, they said, could be bought, upon the route of emigration, for from ten to fifteen dollars apiece, and provisions for almost nothing all. So much for arduous enterprises rashly undertaken, and prosecuted without previous knowledge or suitable preparation! What . else could be expected? The road to- day has been quite circuitous, ranging from S. by W. to W. by N. We have been following the ridge dividing the two main forks of Legerette Creek, juftt above the junction of which we encamped last night.. Extensive grassy |
