, 1843-08-26

wolves, and one bear. Our folks
have shot buflaloes. but | have not
done so, simply because they are
worthless through poverty, and when
killed only display a mass of bones
and skin, with a very thin portion of
flesh.
The winter has been so very severe
that bufialoes have been 800 or 400
miles lower down the river than they
had been for twenty years. The
calves have been nearly all DESTROY
ed. In the way of plants we have
seen some cactuses unknown TO US
previously, and intend to take plenty
of specimens home with us. We
have also found a beautiful dwarf
sweet-scented pea, that perfumes the
whole atmosphere. 1t grows over all
the sandy and gravellv dreary plains
and hills of which ! have spoken
There exists a root called here the
white apple. which is farinaceous, and
makes a good mush when dried and
pounded fine. Of these, also, we
shall take specimens. We have col
lected every thing that was in bloom,
and shall continue TO do so. when in
seed and ripe, for all our frirnls far
and near. In Zoology we have done
pretty fair; in OrnithoIogy better, as
we have already four new birds, and
will no doubt find MORE. We have
felt all the transitions of weather that
we have al the eastward. the Their
mometer ranging from A to 90 de.
grees in the same day. We are sad
ly annoyed by heavy and almost con-
slant winds. that rctard our progress
more or less almost daily. We have
caught only a few catfish, and these
do not much relish.
No offers, beavers. muskrats. or
even minks, are found in or about the
turbid waters of this all mighty stream,
the water of which looks more like
that of hog puddle than any thing
else | can compare it 10. About one
tenth of its bulk forms n deposite in
half an hour. Springs Of magnesia
abound in many of the ravines.--
Sulphur and oxide ofiron show them
selves frequently. Immense bluffs of
white. blue, and yellow sandstone
are also found, as well as banks of
granite. even on the tops Of the high,
est hills. But not a single specimen
of fossil remains, as yet, although we
were assured that they aboundpd a.
long these bluffs. We were equally
assured we should see no splall birds,
and we have seen millions OF them.
including almost every species we
find in the Eastern States.
MAY GIVE are now at Fort
George, not more than twenty miles
from Fort st. Pierre, but may have to
put ashore one half of our cargo. as
the water is as low now as it was
high when we left st. Louis. This
is a great disappointment to us all, as
Fort st. Pierre is the place where
one-half our cargo has to be delivered.
No one can form an idea of the guam
tity of bufialoes we have seen since
writing the above. The prairies,
the hills, and the ravines are all dotted
with these heavy looking animals
We had a pleasant excursion across
the Great Bend, where the river runs
twenty-six miles, and our walk ex-
ceeded not three and u half. We en-
camped one night. and fed entirely
upon the best venison lever eat; it
was of that species of deer called the
black-tailed or mule deer. We saw,
the next day, upwards Of 5000 bufla-
loes feeding in the prairies around us,
but they are too poor at present 10
cat. and for this reason, none or few.
were killed. | have met with an OPP
portunity for forwarding this to St.
Louis quite Unexpectedly, and will
take it; therefore excuse further de-
tails az present. Remember me to
all, and believe me yours. ever and
JHON ]. AUDUBON
HONE AFFEcrIoNs.-The heart has
memories that cannot die. The rough
rubs Of the world cannot obIiterate
them. They are memories of home,
home. There is magic in the
very sound. There is the old tree
under which the lighthearted boys
swung in many a summer day, yon-
der the river in which he learned 10
swim, there the house in which he
knew a parents love, and found a pa
love, and found a parents pro-
tection-now there is the room in
which he romped with brother or
III -,- 49, - 1Szt LII -