The Arkansas advocate., 1835-05-22

much freedom from law and restraint. from form and ceremony, that one who common ces the life is almost certain to continue in It. With but few wants, and those easily supplied. man feels none of the afthrai- ments which surround him when connected with society. His g;in ai,dd his own indus try supply him with fire, food and clothing. He eats his simple meal, and has no one to thank for 1t except his Maker. He travels where he pleases, and sleeps whenever he feels inclined. If there is danger about, it comes from enemies, and iiot from false friends; and when he enters settlement, his former life renders 1t doubly tedious to him; he has forgotten the forms and cere- monies of the world; he has neglected his person, until neatness and scrupulous atten- tlon to the mnutia of appearance are wea- rlsome to him; and he has contracted ha- bits unfit for polished and well bred society
 Now, he cannot sit cross-legged upon blanket; and instead of his conmon and luxurious lounging position, he must be confined rigidly to chair. His pipe must be laid aside, and his simple dress is ex- changed for the cumbersome and confined trappings of the gentleman. In short, he is lost, and he betakes himself to the woods again, for pure ennui; and the first night on
 which he builds his fire, puts up his meat to roast, and lies down upon the ground, with the open sky above him, and the cool, clear, healthy wlnd flaming his cheek, seems to him like the beginning Of a better and ffeer life.
 l3.-We started this morning early, and at noon we reached another and still larger
 branch of the Brazos, running the same course, ito the southeast. We crossed if, and rested on the north bank, near a
 large hole of water in the bed Of the river, but which was so immensely salt that our animals would not drink 1t. tasted some of ii from the tip of my finger, and it is no exaggeration when say that 1t was as salt as the water of the ocean. It was, in fact, perfect brine, of a deep yellow color, so deeply was it impregnated with salt. After stopping two hours, we went down the ri- yer short distance among the mosquito bushes, and Lewis shot young doe, and lsh an old buck. We cut up and packed the meat, crossed the river, and kept on to- wards the southeast, which course we had pursued ali day. Just at night we came upon the river again, crossed it, and en- camped on the other side of 1t, in small
 thicket of bushes. This afternoon we had seen an abundance of horse tracks, and marks of lodge poles, and we concluded that there must be village of Cumanches not far above where we encamped. Here we dug several holes in the bed of the ri- yer, which was hundred yards wide, and contained water in holes. It was all alike salt, and we found it itimpossible 10 drink it.
 We foolishly cooked part of our deer and ate it; and more foolshly still, some of us added salt, of which I had little in my pocket. At tdusk we put out our fire, and would have slept well, had we net dreamed of drinking huge draughts of water. Once in the night, conceived myself lying flat by river, with the water touching my lips, but entirely unable to get drop out of 1t into my mouth. Travelled cast about eighteen miles.
 14.-Left the river early. and bore to the northeast. About ten in the forenoon we came in sight of the river again to the right of us; descended into deep narrow valley running into the river at right angles, and containing the bed of little stream, which we followed up for two miles, partly searching for water, and partly because we were unable 10 cross 1t. Found no water; crossed it high up, and took our course again. About two in the afternoon, we came upon the river again, still to the right, and rtpuinn q, co,,rSa r,, rolI al .,,;t ,,,. h.< down towards if, and came upon deep, rocky hollow, running into it, and contain- ing water in holes. Tormented with in- tense thirst, and with the heat of the day, we were rejoiced at finding water, and not more for ourselves than for our animals, who were trembling under us with weak ness, and wearing that dim glassy look in their eyes which they always have when suffering from thirst. Drove them down the canon, at the risk of breaking thelr necks, and followed them. We found the water very salt, but we could drink 1t. Itl seemed as if our animals would never be- come satiated with the water; they return ed to 1t again and again, and stood paving in it whenever they were allowed to get to it, until after dark. The quantities which we ourselves drank of it were immense. The large wooden Cumanche bowl, which Irwin bore, and which held about pint and a half was but single draught for either of us, and for half an hour it was hardly out of the hands of one of us before it was in those of another; and so salt was the wa ter, that It had hardly passed down our thrOatS before we were as thirsty as auar