Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-08-02
PUBLISHED EVERY DAVIS

IL
ollect right, of Kentucky, much res
pected by all who knew him.
Finding that provisions were be-
coming scarce and that at the regular
rations Of three pounds of beef per
day it would soon be entirely consul
n ed, the supply was cut down to one
pound and half each day to a man
and this, too, at time when the beef
had become extremely poor and des-
titute of nutnment, and double the for
mer rations were really required TO
support men exhausted by long and
iatlgulng marches and weakened by
the effects of bad water and no water
a. all. There was no other course,
however. Where we were was prob
Iematical-our distance from the set
Elements no one knew. No buffalo
were found, and although deer and
antelope were far from being scarce,
nothing like a suniciency Of the latter
could be killed by the hunting parties
detliIed for that purpose.
Much to our Joy guide returned
on the evening oithe goth, and repor-
ted that passage had been found
through the mountains. Many of MS
we're sick and extremely weak; but
the news that we were again TO be on
the move was OF the most welcome
kind, and every preparation was made
Tor an carly stert the next morning.
Djai TO q Commonwealth of Prairie
Dogs Manners and customs ofthe
HhaJitants--an attack upon The
Community-Sgomaers among them
IN The shape Of Orls and Rattle
snakes, 1riM other matters.
Learning from the guide who had
returned that there was large city or
commonwealth Of prairie dogs directly
on the route the command would take,
withtwo companions | started on ahead
to visit these neighbors. We were in
duced by a double object-Grstly by a
desire to examine one ofthe republics
about which prairie travellers have
said so much; and secondly to obtain
something 10 eat, for the flesh Of these
animals was said to be excellent.
Our road wound up the sides Of a
gently ascending mountain for some
six or seven miles. On arriving at
the summit we found beautiful table
land spread out before US, reaching for
( miles in every direction. The soil
appeared 10 be uncommonly rich, and
was covered with a luxurious growth
of musGuect trees. The grass was OF
the curly musqueet species, the sweet
est and most nutritious of all the diff
fercnt kinds Of that grass, and the dogs
never locate their towns or cities eX-
ser-. ---l--.- :. :----I-,,r dance.
We had proceeded but short dis
lance after reaching this beautiful prai-
rie before we came upon the outskirts
ofthe commonwealth. A few scatter
ing dogs were seen scampering in, and
by their short and sharp yelps giving
a general alarm to the whole communi-
| y.
Upon the first cry Of danger from
the outskirts it was soon taken up in
the centre Of the city, and now nothing
was to be seen in any direction but q
dashing and scamperiug oftne mercu-
rial and excitable denizens ofthe place
each to his lodge or burrow. Far a;
the eye could reach the city extended
and all over it the scene was tie same
We rode leisurcly along until W.
had reached the more thickly settled
potion Of the place when we halted
and after taking the brides from GU
horses to allow them to Craze we pre-
pared for a regular attack upon the in
y habitants. The burrows were nc
A more than fifty yards apart, with well
| trUddcn paths leading in different di
/ rcctioHs, and ! even thought coul
4 discover something like regularity l
d the laying out Of the streets.
IS We sat down upon a bank unde
the shade OF musqucet and leisurel
It surveyed the scene before US. Ou
c approach had driven every one TO hi
h home in our immediate vicinity, Sr
k some hundred yards off the sma
n mound Of earth il front Of each burro'
1t was occupied by dog, sitting straigl
2. up on his hinder legs and coolly look
o ing about him to ascertain the caus
g ofthe recent commotion. Every no
Is and then some citizen more veuturor
k than his neighbor would leave his lodg
q on flying visit to a companion, al
l. pareniy exchange a few words, an
n then scamper back as fast as his let
would carry him.
d BY and by, as we kept perfectly still
IS some Of our nearer neighbors wei
- seen cautiously poking their heat
Is from out their holes, and looking cul
D ningly and at the same time inquisitiv
Of y about them. Gradually a cilizt
10 would emerge from the entrance OH
Is domicil, come out upon his lookin
J. ont place, PEEK his head and cor
II menco yelping.
VI w $500 .zaz.J - III. . L.,