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Show i8 FROM FORT McPHERSON towards camp, when every mule would stop grazing, and follow on. As they approached the wagons, each would select his own and go to it, to be haltered and fed for the night. After observing this and other things in their hab its, I came to the conclusion that the mule is a much slan dered animal, and will never refer to him again as an ex ample of stupidity. He fully bore out his reputation for ob stinacy, however. Ranches continued as numerous along the Platte as they were south of Kearney. In referring to these establish ments in my first letter, I neglected to mention a very im portant item in their business, viz., the sale of grain and hay to emigrants, during the season when animals cannot subsist on the grass. The grain is brought from the Mis souri river, and commands a very high price, but the hay is the wild grass that grows on the prairie, which is cut in the summer, and stacked up until there is a demand for it. The most extensive ranch or trading post I have seen on the plains is one conducted by a Frenchman named Beauvais. It is on the South Platte where the old Califor nia road crosses that stream, and is known as the " Califor nia Crossing." Beauvais has accumulated a large fortune since he started this ranch. His principal profits are from his advantageous trading with the Indians. This he does on a very large scale, and it is the common talk on the plains that the savages obtain from him arms and ammuni tion with which emigrants are murdered, in exchange for robes and skins. He may be innocent of the charge, but it is a singular fact that the Indians have never disturbed Monsieur Beauvais' establishment, when almost every other ranch in that part of the country has been destroyed, at some time, and there has always been more plunder to be had at the California Crossing than at any of the ranches destroyed. Agricultural pursuits are entirely neglected by the set tlers in the Platte Valley, though the soil and climate are such in my opinion, as would produce the cereals if not more delicate vegetable growths. In almost every respect |