The Arkansas advocate., 1831-03-09

The weather was so extremely severe, that the party obliged to halt once twice during the day and kndle fire to prevent them from becom- ing frost bitten; tie wind blew hard from the
 north, and the drifting of the sand in the Canadian
 covered up the trail rapidly, that the track of horsenan could not be followed ten minutes after he had passed. We compelled to encamp at
 an early hour the north side of bend Of the rv-
 CT, where we found some shelter from the incIem- ency of the eather, and where our good fortune supplied our horses with small quantity ef acerns, which had escaped the ravages Of the hunters fire. l From the freshness of the trail, l coniectured
 that tie party was ill pursuit of, could not be far distant, and having fired few signal guns, was promptly answered by similar number from camp
 the opposite side of the river, about quarter of mile above. messenger was despatched to as
 certain what party twas, and reported 1t to consist of l5 CheFokecs on their return from Washita who had taken us for of their own nation who were expected 10 join them From them learned 4that the Ghocktaws and Chckasaws were but day,s march ahead of us, and on the next morning we Ecehtinued our march by sunrise, their trai. .
 leading out from the Canadian, following the ride-
 es parallel to the rlver about twelve miles, and at
 md day, found them encamped, account of the
 severity of the weather, on large creek running into the Canadian, two miles below.
 The ice formed during the preceding night, was
 sothick, that we had to cut passage for ford with
 axes; II was sufficiently strong to tear the horses 1 but tive could not force them to cross until clear I PaoshS
 stood in much need of guide, as had suspected
 from the deyionsness of their route, and tleir se- llection for encampments.
 l The Deieware l had with me- was aecordinei, Iemployed guide to the whole party; the low
 condition of the horses rendered 1t absolutely neees-
 sary that should find range for them ey ry night | By our estimate, were now between 90 or 100 miles above the Forks, following the windings of the rlver which is here much reduced in width, and
 different in aspect from what t is below rhe
 clr.
 loftier; the bottoms of better quality, being higher and better tmhered presenting altogether
 more pleasing country than we had seen on the
 Canadian above the Delaware village. It was de-
 sired by the agent for the Chickasaws, that he l should obtain ledge of the Canadian 1GG
 miles higher up, extending into beyond the Cross
 Fimbers, where tie Executive believed country
 suitable for the Chickasaws could be found join
 ing tue western line of the Chocktaws, hy which the
 Chickasaw treaty could be defnitively carried in
 to effect to the perfect satisfaction of all concern ed. The burHng of the country, and rgor of the
 season, had rendered the borders of the Canadian a perfect desert, where neither man horse could lind subsistence, and on the information furnished Dy he Delaware guide, the plan formed of cross ing the head waters of the Boggy and Blue Water,
 on ;. W. course towa ards the Nashita. The whole Iparty accordingly left the Canadian the third time,
 and moved south. four or five miles, thence :. ST. ten miles, through heavy rain and seet, which finally compelled HIS to halt and encamp on a creek, running into tire Canadian below, which
 we found large quantity of fine bottom land and first rate timber. Fromthis encampment the Pine EsMountains, dividing the Red river and Canadian waters were visible. At this eneampment we re-
 manned day two some of the delegation being
 indisposed, and several of the horses estray. On
 the 25th, we struck our tents once more. and tra- yelled 5. w. l5 miles, through sterile prairie and black jack ridges, and cncamped on small river, which the guide called the Boggy-it proved to be the Eastern Branch of the Muddy Fork of that riv CT. In the course of the next day, it explored
 nearly to its source, by which 1t ascertained,
 that rises within l2 or l5 miles ef the main Cana dian running about 5. E. in its general to-
 wards the Red river
 The bottoms of this stream, are here free from
 overflow, very fertile and well timbered. While hunting near this point, we fell in with hunting 1 party oi Greeks, among whom, the Little King and several others of the Deresaux family recog-
 nized. They informed me, that another party of
 their nation had lost seven head of horses, which were stolen by the Osages, between Washita and Blue Water. The party of Delawares l had seen
 on the Canadian, corroborated this statement; they
 had seen the horses in the possession of the Osages, who endeavored to palm them on the Delawares for Pawnee horses. They represented the Osages to be in starving condition when they came to their camp, and scarcely able to travel from hardship
 and fatigue. While at the Greek camp, the Chock-
 taw head chief Netock i-o, arrived with his speak
 CT, accompanied by deputation of Chckasaws.
 They held friendly council with the Greeks, ex- pressing strong desire that good understanding
 should exist between them and the tribes resident
 wsst of the Mississippi. From camp the
 East Branch of the Muddy Fork of Boggy, we tra- yelled S- ". l5 miles and reached the " Branch of tliat Fork, where made halt During this
 days travel, we several times crossed hlazed trail,
 or what is known by the hunters, ssRogers Road' Ii was made by party of men in tie employ of Capt. John Rodgers of Fort Smith, who went over to the Wasita few years since to receive peltres 1 from the Cherokees, hunting on that river.
 On tine 29tE December, continued route through prairie and post-oai land, 5. w. 20 miles,
 and reached what believed to be Blue Water, but which we afterwards ascertaned to be the Clear Fork of l3oggy. The bottom lands of this
 stream are very rich. and are covered by a luxnri-
 ant growth of cane and heavy timber; the exterior
 edge of the bottoms Is skirted by growth of bois
 dare, yellow wood, half mile in width. The
 soil in which it seems to flourish best, is wet and