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Show 62 FROM FORT LARAMIE TO FORT BRlDGfcR. fossils. Among these were perfectly rounded masses, fully a foot in diameter, and others of stone apparently contorted like a rope tied into knots; they all appeared to have been attached to a stem. The formation, on the left side of the river, consists of sandstone with some beds of clayey shales and slaty shales. Salt was found efflorescing on the rocks in two er three places, and this was the case also on the opposite side, at the coaV* beds on Deer Creek. Artemisia was almost the only vegetation, and great difficulty was experienced in obtaining enough grass to subsist our animals. The soil appears very barren, more from the absence of moisture than from the character of its constituents; as even the alluvial bottoms epchibit the same destitute and naked features. The road, since crossing, has been through deep fcsnd, making the travel extremely slow and fatiguing. Day's march,* fifteen and Srhalf miles. Thursday, July 26.- Early this morning we passed a timall island in the river, promising a welcome supply of grass for our wearied animals, which for the last three days have had very little to eat, and begin to exhibit the effects of this want of nourishment. Having afforded them a hearty meal, we continued up the valley to a high bluff running to the river: we erossed it and encamped in a deep valley beyond, where some pools of standing water afforded drink for our stock. The grass was quite sufficient. Some of the pools were so highly impregnated with salt as to be quite unpleasant to the taste. The general character of the formation is the frame as that of yesterday- sandstone and shales: coal was found in two places, the first near the island where we nooned, and agam about five miles beyond. In both cases the overlying strata were shales and olay; and that beneath, sandstone. The dip has. been mostly to the north; but, where the coal was last seen, the strata were found dipping to the south- west, at an angle of about 20°. They then became horizontal, and in about half a mile . the dip ifas again to the north. Some specimens of shale, with impressions of leaves, were collected, and also some crystallized carbonate of soda. Friday, July 27.- Morning bright and cool. The road for the greater part of the day has been through deep, heavy White sand, of which the hills seem to be chiefly composed. Turning off from the river, we left the road for the purpose of finding grass, and encamped directly behind the Bed Btittes, five miles distant from the river, on the margin of a small kke or pond, formed by no- |
