Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-08-16


He's neither fit 70 20, nor in the cart to draw
So wen whip him, xii him, skin him, and to
the hunismen let him 60.
Poor old horse! he must diet
do not give this from any intrin-
sic merit it possess, and will not say
that | have quoted the author right
although he has probably been dead
for a century and consequently una
bic TO correct il; have simple given
the verse to show the well-known ac-
centricities oil the memory by which
man is often placed in situations or is
witness to scenes which suddenly
awaken and bring to his recollection
the long-iorgotten associations Of his
childhood.
But to return TO my narrative. The
horse was killed, and 10 quicker time
than it takes me to tell it, his hide was
off and his flesh distributed. ! have be-
fore stated that the meat of a young
mustang is excellent-an old, broken
down horse is another affair. 1t was
as tough as India rubber, and the more
piece Of it was masticated the larger
it became in the mouth. Poor as it was
however, and hard to swallow, / am
confident that many a man in the crowd
eat four oThve pounds of it,half cook
ed and without salt know that /
swallowed my share.-That ! felt
mean while eating thIs food | will not
pretend TO deny, and buzzard who
sat perched upon dry limb of a cot
ton wood above appeared 10 look
down upon us reproachlUlly as he saw
us derouring food ligitimateIy belong
Ing to him. There was something, too,
like honest indignation expressed in
the countenance Of a wolf, who sat
quietly watching our operations from
the adjoining prairie, but at The time
we were hungry enough to have made
a meal even Of him had he fallen into
our hands. A man never knows what
he will eat until driven by a weeks
starvation.
Compclledto take a "Back Trach"-
Crossing a Spur qfMe Rocky Noun
tains- Beautiful and Romantic Tdl-
leg among tie Mountains-1 Meal
If Cdgish-Road Discovered Nert
Day-The Angosturos Foot Prints
ofMen- joyful AatjcipatiOas.
We directed our steps on the morn
ing ofthe 11th September in a south
west course, and TO what appeared to
be a passage through the hills, but af-
ter travelling some six or eight miles
found our further progress cut off by
high and precipitous hills. To return
was our only alternative, and at noon
we again found ourselves near tie
point from whence we had started in
the morning.
A consultation was NOW held as TO
our future course. Running directly
moth was high. chain Of mountains,
extending as far as the eye could reach
and many contended that our best
course would be TO travel along the
base olthis chain until we either found
a passage through or met with the trail
of the ST. Louis traders. Others again
thought our wisest and safest plan
would be TO attempt crossing directly
over the mountains where we then
were. The latter party prevailed and
the laborious attempt TO cross was i'm
media,e'y made.
After incredible fatigue to both hor-
ses and men, for we were obliged to
dismount and carry our arms and bag
gage in our hands, the ascent was final
ly achieved, Arriving at the summit a
beautiful prospect was before us. Be-
low a beautiful and romantic valley
was spread out through the centre Of
which the large stream we had left the
previous day wound along.-numeIa-
bic brooks, taking their rise in the
mountains around, meandered through
this valley and found their way to the
larger stream. Their immediate Dor
ders were fringed with small trees and
bushes of the deepest green, while the
borders Of the river were skirted with
a narrow belt Of timber Of larger and
luxuriant growth. The valley was hem
med in on all sides by mountains,
whose frowning and prccipitous fronts
appeared to offer perfect barriers
against all approach TO The beautiful
scene. They did not resent obsta-
cles sufficient 10 check US, however
for after an hours rest we started our
horses down the sides, and in less than
an hour found ourselves safe at the
bottom. Here it was discovere d that
two of our men were missing; but in
the state we were all in it was impos-
sible TO go back in search ofthem.
A brisk ride three or four miles
through the valley brought US to the
banks Of the river, and there we en-
camped for the night, Rigging our
fishing tackle we soon found that the
stream abounded with catfish OF a large
size, and that night we had a regular
feast by simply billing them in water
or roasting them in the ashes,
Sunset in this secluded valley was
a magnificent sight. The tops Of the
mountains, upon which the blue vaul
Of heaven seemed to rest, were gildeC