The Arkansas advocate., 1835-05-29

The scene was savage, but the scene was new;
 This made t!.e ceasc!css tel! Of travel sweet,
 Beat back keen winters cold and welcomed summers
 heat.-BYRoN.
 Continued
 I5.-This morning we turned 10 the east and left this river, which we there named the Salt Fork of the Brazos, or in good Spanish, the 'Brazo Saado.' Part of the morning we travelled in high prairie, or ta- ble land, and we then came to place where this table sunk down abruptly into a lower country. Here we descended into long, narrow valley between the abrupt sides of the upper table land, which seem ed, to look back upon them, to be mountains rising out of the plain. The country ahead, too was very hilly and broken. About ten we arrived at large, clear, lime- stone spring of water, where we stopped and drank pientifuly; from this spring a snall stream of water ran down the valley, in q course nearly northeast. We follow ed tho valley down, and crossed this hollow about forty times. The valley was full of horse tracks and signs of Indians; and still, the temptation of large catfish or two which we saw in the spring under the shelv- ing rocks, was enough to induce US to fire a shot or two at them, which, however, was unsuccessful. About two miles below the spring, we eneamped on the edge of tue branch, in green, heavy grass, and close to an abundance of hackberry trees, with good fresh water. The vale was here running a course nearly north-east-and after din- ner, we continued that course, until weary of crossing the creek, we bent more to the east and left 1t 10 our left; crossed the point of hill, and left high and conspicuous concal hill to the right, about six miles be- yond which we emerged from the broken hills into the mesquite, covering the bottom on the edge of another river, about as wide as the Salt Fork; and of the same charac- ter. Just on the descent to the river, was an old enclosure, which had been built by the Cumanches, of brush, and a circle sur rounded with eonverging poles, which re- minded me of tue threshing floors of the New Mexcans. Passing through the mesquite, we reached the river, and found water, but salter, if possible, than the for mer. While we were sitting on our ani- mas, watching them put their mouths to the water and refuse 1t, Lewis raised laugh, by observing that if Tom Banks reached that river he would have salt tea enough-alluding to hls yerbiage about Saltillo. This branch ran the same course as the former, and we supposed joined it not far below. Crossed 1t and went LID 10 the high mosquito prairie on the other side of 1t, and encamped without water. We now supposed ourselves to be on the north side of Red River, but we were immensely out of the matter. Travelled this day eighteen unles; gained perhaps twelve east.
 16.-0ur route this day, lay in the fore noon through a level prairie covered with mesquite bushes. We now began to hope that we should soon arrive at the open prai- Tie. But at noon we came upon break of the prairie into low, uneven ground, and saw away in front of us what appeared to be large river. Here Lewis went out, killed deer, and brought 1t in whole. Al ter dinner delayed in camp until the party were two miles ahead. About three miles from camp we passed a small hill with a pile of stones on the summit probably the fruits of the superstition of the Cumancbes. At night, we eneamped on a small branch of salt water, which runs into the river. Here we saw a bear, but could not get shot at him. To-day travelled about fifteen i. miles northeast.
 l7.-Crossed the river, which is about twenty yards; or perhaps thirty, wide-san- dy, and with little water, like all the rest; and like thems too, running to the south east. After crossing the river, we confin- E ued on about three miles, and crossed branch of the same stream, running with clear but very salt water through grassy valley After crossing we kept up the branch for some distance, and aseended in- 5 10 the prairie, which was still clothed with mesquite bushes. Here we tried in vain to kill deer. and stopped at noon on deep hollow with brackish water In the after noon we kept on through the prairie, and towards night came upon hole of muddy water, beat up, as well as surrounded by in- numerable horse tracks. Here we conclu- ded to pass the night; and immediately on stopping, Ish pointed out to us four or five wild horses, very quietly feeding not far from the water. Lewis and he according iy went out with the intention of killing one; and after several shots, succeeded, and re- turned to camp, bearing portion of the 7Rnlaaal. Fire had been made in the mean ai1ae, and every man was soon busily em-