Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-08-09
that we must cross here or travel many

Dismounting from our animals we
looked at the yawning abyss before US
and the impression with all was that
passage was impossible. That bufta-
10 mustangs, and very probably Indian
horses had crossed here was evident
enough, for a zig-zag path had been
worn down the rocky and precipitous
sides; but many of our horses were
unused to sliding down precipices
as we'll as climbing them, and drew
back repulsively on being led to the
brink Of the chasm. After many
unsuccessful attempts a mule was star
ted down the path then another was
induced to follow, while some of the
horses were fairly forced, by dint of
shouting and Furnishing TO attempt the
descent. In some places they went
along the very verge OF rocky lodges,
and where a false step would have
precipitated them hundreds OF feet to
instant death,in others they were com
PEELED to slide down pitches nearly
perpendicular. Many Of them were
much bruised, but after an hours hard
work we all gained the bottom without
Sustaining any serious injury.
Here we halted for couple OF
hours 10 rest the weary animals and
find the trail leading up the opposite
side. This we 6hally discovered, and
after the greatest exertions succeeded
: in clambering to the top where we
found ourselves again upon smooth
and level prairie | shuddered on look
ing back to see the (rightful chasm we
had so successfully passed, and at the
time thought it almost a miracle that
we had got safely across; but a few
days afterwards | was convinced that
: in comparison the undertaking we had
, just accomplished was as nothing.
e After giving our animals another resi-
E we resumed our journey across the
lone and dreary prairie. Not tree OF
bush hardly weed could be seen in
E any direction. A green carpeting o.
short grass was spread over the vast
scene with naught else TO relieve the
/ eye. People may talk Of the solitude
e of our immense American forests a;
' they please, but there is a company
in trees that one misses upon the prai.
| RE. There is food for thought too
! in the ocean wave not to be found in
> the Interchangeable face Of these grea
Western wastes, and no where else
, does one feel that sickly sensation o.
; loneliness with which he is impressed
r when nothing but boundless prairie
is around him. There he feels as if a.
the world although not oft there he
finds no sign or trace to tell him tha
there is something beyond, that mil
/ lions Of human beings are living and
moving upon the very earth on which
. the stands. Shakespeare was in the
? woods when be found
: Tongues in trees, books in the running brook.
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing,
Had he been on the immense prai.
n RE am now speaking about he woulc
r have found no such companionship.
: We rode briskly along until neal
r shutdown, and then encamped by the
e side Of small water hole--the reser
: voir or bason formed by hollow If
n the prairie, Although only two days
out, the rations of many of the M
: were nearly gone by this time, =
q much Of the meat had been spoiled
: from having been improperly cured
: Not buffalo could be seen upon the
prairie, nor was any fresh "sign'' visi
1t BILE. The mustangs, too, had left thi.
$ part ofthe prairie, as also the deer anc
= antelope, driven off doubtless by the
- scarcity of water. Had not been fo
IS the showers we had while travelling
a this dreary waste we should all mos
81 inevitably have persisted; for even the
ut immense chasm had no other water il
'f them that which had fallen after We
u left the Arroyo Quietufue.
!, Scarcely had we rolled ourselves ur
, IN our blankets before we were ag air
d visited by tremendous shower: bu
,. this time we had chosen higher grounc
IT and though thoroughly drenched We
m were not washed from our fastening
Ir as on the night previous.