Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-07-06
PRAIRIE SKETCHES.

nundred strong,!eft Austin for Santee Fe. nal
1t is now about the season that trad air
ing companies move off for the same des- hel
tnation across the plains of Missouri, and Ia
many Of the traders for both routes may SKI
be found now in this city making purch, ioI
asses for THE Mexican market. A brief ira
sketch therefore, of the Missouri route, ly
enumerating the creeks, wooded places, co
buffalo regions, distances, &c. we deem stl
must be found at this time useful as we'll to
as interesting.
From the town of Independence the SO
road runs for about four miles through n
dense forest, very thinly scattered with m
farm houses, until it opens suddenly upon o.
the broad, ocean.like far-famed Western IL
prairies. Here it is that the young trav- n
eller becomes absorbed in the dreamy de- a
| light Of long cherished and no first graft. q
fed curiosity. The sight is not surpass- l,
ed, not even by the snow capp'd rocks
of Oregon, until the fair plains are black L
with buffalo, and .hen new excitement
springs up in the youthful hunters breast,
which the writer used not waste time in
describing, as it can only be- appreciated |
by personal enjoyment.
| About half days travel brings the
Sante Fe bound traders past the flourish.
ING plantation of Farmer Rice, where
leisure travellers often linger to enjoy his
sweet bacon fresh eggs, new milk, and
other nutricious and unsophstcated luxn-
ries, that always appease appetite without
encumbcring digestion. Eight miles fur
Their, after crossing stream called the
Little Blue, another and the last farm
: house is reached, after leaving which the
r wav.farer turns and turns again to see
e the solitary christian roof fade rapidly
o down TO The horizons verge; as the des-
e ert opens sill vaster and wilder In adj
i vance.
: Without making too minute detail, II
r is enough to say between this and Coun-
e Gil Grove, the grand rendezvous OF ad-
IS venturous expeditions, there are about a
E. half dozen creeks, some dry, some deep
d, and some difficult to cross.-One OF these
- is precipitous hollow. that excltes the
TO utmost establishment in raw traveller as
ok to how heavily laden wagon can posi-
ar bly be transported to the bottom and up
Ter again, without being dashed to pleces,a and
'm killing every mule attached to 1t. lei
I'd, the thing is accomplished, generally with
in little DELAY, and in the utmost safety. a
he brief and pleasant travel from CouncI
to Grove. leads the traders TO Cotton Woo
ich Grove, another delightful resting place 10
1ed the prairie pilgrims, and from here IN
Who lone and dreary aspect of the.travel be
all gins daily and heavily, to bear upon I'm
ear spirits. H.. crosse
gift the road is the Rio de NePestita or LII
ace tie Arkansas, which, when low, seldol
pom DELAYS the traders with any serious moor
llar venience. There are two or three nam
Ter less water courses between this and 20
elo. creek. which is the point where buIiaIo'
5 in are first looked for by the traders;
was i about fifteen days smart travel iro
the Indeneudence, and variously estimated
eem he some $50 or 300 miles, from SAD sta
n of ting place. Here the night guard is
cou. no;1ied and set, to be continued IN clio
with duty for the remainder OF the lU Mey
and The next point is Round Mounu'
long beautiful hlock, covered WIN P1%,
e re- trees. in the middle of a flat prairie; I +
went here the travellers strike the ArKanS
# the and for many days continue along
eces- hanks. vast legions of buffalo now
/ the nearino almost daily, approaching
from vide stream to drink and leaving 1t
ira gain in search of a new pasture. :,
ne 10 There is a well known fordlng Pr
bore. conducting to the Semlrone h'
used which cuts off wide extent .. l sn1 ~
eutral bnt onlv,the more daring and adVenlu'
lost of Oursne T. as depredations from the ;,
MUIR manches have been frequently sunS
But IN that region. Timorous traders
h one narties inferior In number tnerelor1
pro- Time forward upon the safer tracA'
ingua ford the Arkansas, at Bents forI' I"
. On ION or $50 miles nearer It's source
left, l Following this route, there IS a q :;
crying I'o Use n be crossed, called HI
smoke w Mea. or Walnut Creek. This is o
nanish ~ NuOu9 ost difficult crossings in thew
1rt but :,.nav and travellers are often
follow. o n,iaJ - eneamp, water-bound upo
lar and bank for many days, unless '"I -,
French termne 10 cut down trees anu ~
Icellent bridge for the wagon TO cross.
" with II is lust one days smart t a.,
der six bore TO Ash Creek, and brlel sPa e.
Piled in brings up the caravan to an oo anu anu IL 4
myself 49, Taa,50 caron ground, now IN use D
rs car .a de- called Pawnee Fork, oeing
E. By 1i@b,fI ' wood and watering place at I
he quiet r1nt turn of Pawnee River l.
YOU the sOR Various clefts and channels
,bo n ~ mostly dry, and kno
HrNE. t',v and Turtle creeks, now app
No. in,orv ais of two, three and five NIUE MI.
10 10 up ,"ss to encamP here. by 81
- ~ hard me anoroach of night, water =: p
,neak Of found IN these hollows, but WOOD : :
,Pv ,vav or 10 exnected. Should rain waite
the Sbpfalo chips" such thing as
dinner Of fire is impossible. -, ...vsl h
ol,s orau. hills mon the Mexican side Of =,
q .,0g ike mus form spectacle Of sIngu
.;,h p n;ras and dones and casteilated :
sun w ,oo .s to fire the fancy with most ST,
to ioOa as ssl ~ In the desert you
'cNn'U ofcities and familiar scenes aH
seems near yous ..;nc
and nave Big Timber is the next res Ios
hard work n attraction, and after lea'
5, SIN pay peculiar ..av aI sets down the pgf
s aates Of Fort William, where !, !.
Ter out OF q sI;,v of the Messrs. Bent Is 70
scratch out tallly "a az - IL tho recolleci