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Show • STOEM 0 * THE PRAIBIE. 25 otter, from time to time, on the road. The last we saw of him was on the Sweetwater, engaged in sawing his wagon into two parts, for the purpose of converting it into two carts, and in dispos-ing of every thing he could sell or give away, to lighten his load. ( Enothera, with its bright yellow flowers, was frequent in the landscape, both to- day and yesterday, with Amorpha and Artemisia. The prairie- rose is becoming quite abundant. JJear Wyeth's Creek, a section showed the tipper rocks, near the top of a ridge, to consist of dark ferruginous sandstone, under Whioh were white clayey shales, the soil being formed principally by decomposed sandstone. After travelling twenty- six miles, we- encamped on the level bank of Walnut Creek- a tributary of the Little Blue, with a tolerable supply of glass and water. Near this encampment, a small section showed the formation to consist of red sandstone, apparently horizontal, very friable, and containing traces of organic remains, but none recognisable. Under the sandstone were traces of shale, light- coloured and very sandy.* Black iron- ore was discovered in the sandstone. Wednesday, June 18.- About two o'clock in the morning, the camp was suddenly aroused by the bursting upon it of a most furious storm. The wind blew a hurricane, the rain fell in torrents, while the thunder and lightning were terrible and incessant. Fortunately the camp had been pitched in a sheltered spot, or it must have been entirely blown away by the tempest: as it was, the tents were prostrated by the wind, and preserved with much difficulty. Our men were exposed to all its- fury for several hours. At length, however, the sky partially cleared, but the lowering, enemy seemed still to linger, as if meditating another attack* The morning proved exceedingly hot and close; the barometer continued to fall. Our poor mules having been picketed within the lines all night, and consequently exposed to the storm, seemed dejected, tired, and hollow; and altogether the camp seemed weary and dispirited. The weather looked so very doubtful that we did net move until half- past two o'clock; the men being until then engaged in drying their bedding* which had been thoroughly soaked by the rain. An immense number of black beetles • and other insects swarmed around the camp last evening. Attracted by the light, they annoyed us beyond measure, and could be heard all night, pattering against the tents like large drops of rain in n heavy shower. |