The Arkansas advocate., 1835-05-15


 This made the ceaseless toil of travel sweet
 Beat back keen winters cold and welcomed summers
 heat.--BYRoS
 Coniinaed.
 SEPT. 21.-We left the Pecos, taking a course to the northward, in search of the road which was to lead US to the Canon del esgate Our ll;;sj l;y, fer about ter, miles, across an uneven, dry. barren plain towards the edge of the Stake Prairie, which seen- cd like low ridge before us. Reaching this about noon, we discovered that two of our Mexicans were missing, intending as we supposed, to join the party of Camp 2 beii, through fear of entering the desert.- Two or three of the party went back ac- cordingly, and brought them up. We then; proceeded three or four miles, passing, on our way, good sweet spring of water, where we first came into the road and following up the branch which ran down by this spring, we encamped in a grassy mead ow 10 the east of the stream. This day Bill Williams killed an antelope, which was divided among the whole party of forty-fve men. Here We sas plenty of sign of wild horses.
 22.-Left camp early, and followed the road, which now took south-easterly di- rection. The day was exceedingly hot, and we were frequently tantalized by sec ing at distance ponds which appeared to be full of clear ripping water. The de- ception would continue until we were with in dozen rods of the place, and 1t would then be found to consist of merely hol- low, encrusted over with salt. About noon, k.a us rode ahead. The prairie was still un- even and rugged. We passed through a body of sand-hiIls, and then descending from them, came upon a hollow where the earth appeared damp, and there were two or three old holes which had been dug ei- iher by the traders or by the Cumanches.- We here stopped and dug for water, obtain ing enough to satiate our thirst. It was warm, but fresh. The eagerness with which our men drank, as they came up one by one, and threw themselves upon the ground, was amusing. Some of the party were for encamping here, but we overruled them, and went on. After travelling four or five miles, we came upon large lake, and turning to the right of it, we found a spring by which we encamped. No antelope was killed to-day. Some of the party tried to kill cranes, and Bill Williams succeeded towards night in bringing one 10 camp E. This day we saw two skulls bleaching in inc sun. Travelled this day about eighteen miles.
 23.-Started early again. and hunted the road an hour or two; in the mean time crossed piece of marshy ground. Some of us here went ahead to hunt killed nothing. Towards night we thought we saw buffalo at distance upon ridge; we went to it accordingly, but found 1t to be only weeds looming up in the distance turned down to piece of low ground, where there was water in holes, and en- camped; found here the remains of de- feated party of Spaniards-old blankets, saddles, &c. Here, finding ourselves in danger of starving, Harris killed an old mare, Of which otiI mess refused to be par takers. We had determined to starve two days longer before eating any of it. This day we travelled on the road about twelve .miles. This road was now broad and plain, consisting of fourteen or fifteen horse trails side by side; its course still southeast
 24.-Early this morning Bill Williams killed an antelope, which was divided among the whole party. After eating, we started again, still keeping the road, still very hot, and no water on the road Stop ped ct noon on hill, and lay in the sun :; saw horse tracks here. About the middle of the afternoon we reached low place fed by spring which came out under lime stone rocks; this was very good water.- Here were plenty of old Cumanche lodge poles, sites of lodges, half burnt sticks, &c., and piles of buffalo bones. Wherev- er the Cumanches kill buffalo they make piles of bones, for the purpose of appeas- ing the offended animals, and have ccremo- nies performed over them by their medicine men; and no matter how poor fire they have, or how wet and cold 1t may be. they will not burn hone, alleging that it would make them unlucky in hunting. A son of Harris killed an antelope here, aud our mess still ate no horse meat. We travelled this day about twelve miles, and still toward the southeast. following the road.
 25.-Six of us, this morning, kept 10 the right of the party, for the purpose of hunt ;ag. About noon we reached a hole of water, at which we found the track of a buffalo bull Nc separated, accordingly,