The Arkansas advocate., 1835-05-22

This made the ceaseess toll of travel sweet,
 Beat back keen winters cold and welcomed summers
 heat.-BYRoN.
 Continued.
 28.-Gathered up our horses and left the camp of the Cumanches, directing our course nearly due east, and following the trail by which the chief and his party had come day or two before. Our route at first, lay through sand-hills, just before em- erging from which, we found two or three hackberry trees, and several of US delayed, picking the berries. From the sand-hills, we now came again upon the prairie, and found much difficulty in tracking the marks of the lodge-poles along it's hard surface-and in addition 1t began to rain. Just at night, followed the path into break in the prairie, which opened into long hol- low, in which we encamped by the side of pond, which is the head of one of the chief branches of the Colorado or the Bra- EOS de Dios river.
 Lest may be misunderstood, will ex- plain why use both these names in speak ing of this river. The reader, by consult ing the map, will find two rivers running through Texas, of which the longer one is called (in most maps, if not in all) the Co., lorado. But l have been informed, that not long since the names were changed, and that the long river is now called the Brazos. The reason given me for the change, IS this Some years ago there was a drought in Texas the short river (Brazos) became dry, and the only water came down i'll the long river Cor the Cobra do.) The pious Spaniards accordingly changed names, and called the long river the Brazos de Dios, (or the Arms of God on account of the especial care which it took of them, and of the benefits which they received from it. We were now in the Canon del Resgate. and supposed our- selves to be on the heads of Red River, but we began to question the probability of find- ing the immense quantities of beaver which we had anticipated. Still, however, we had abundance of hope, though it was at times mingled with little distrust. Our beef, too, was nearly gone, but Bill Williams, fortunately, Kied an antelope, which was divided as usual. Ducks were abundant iii this pond, and one or two were killed Yesterday we travelled about twenty miles northeast, and to-day twenty more, little south of east, making in both days about forty miles.
 29.-This day we followed the valley down for some distance. There was the bed of a stream, but water was not rum ming. Here and there it stood in ponds and holes. The day was cold and windy, with little rain. We then went out of the valley to the left, and travelled in the prairie, for the canon was merely break Tn the plain, of the width of two or three hundred yards, and as soon as you ascend ed the low sides of 1t, you were again on the illimitable plein; and, like well m the desert, the valley cannot be seen until you are close upon it. About the middle of the afternoon we saw in the valley another encampment, and descended to it, for the purpose of procuring wood and water- On our approach, the women mounted their horses and took to the hills. A boy, whom they had taken prisoner from the Mexicans, came out and talked with us, and we sent him to assure the fugitives of our friend ship. They soon returned, and as it was raining hard, we commenced trading for wood, and with difficulty bought enough to make fires. Bill Williams then went over and obtained part of lodge cover, and two of the ugliest cid women ever saw brought the lodge poles and put it up for him. One of our party was lame with the rheumatism, and we managed to keep him out of the rain Tn the lodge. We bought some more dried meat, some dried grapes and acorns, paying tobacco, as usual. The rain poured upon us all night, and almost every gun Tn the camp was wet. We trav- eled this day about fifteen miles in a south east direction.
 30.-Left the valley and travelled in the prairie to the right of it. Late in the after noon we turned down to timber, and found no water in the valley. Some of the par- ty went to the distance of two miles above and below. Several of the party, among whom was myself, brought in terrapins hanging to their saddles. Our meat was gone, and these animals cost no ammuni- ton. Some. likewise, had killed prairie dogs. The little plot of hackberry and bit s ter cottonwood, where we encamped, ap- peared to have been great haunt of the buzzards and crows, and just after sunset, the hawks began to gather in, and we com z nenced shooting them, and thus, by means 2 ot hard labor, managed 10 satiate our hun