Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1846-02-28

IsOunuJs uO mdttCT III WUOSc possession.
10 spill it on the ground. The ground
may drink il without injury, but you can
not. | wish you, Sioux, 10 remember
what have now said to you, and that GU
who have heard me will tell those who
are not present. " great father is the
friend Of his red children, and az long as
they behave themselves properly, will
continue TO be so. | have not come
among you TO bring you presents; bu.
your great father has, sent you a few
things. that You may remember wha, l
have said 10 you.' 4, a.ag tsss -..i he's
. Bull Tail. the principal chief. m atle a
few remarks in reply TO the following
purport: 2 ~ aa as
IF my people will be good 10 the
whites, they will find tina. The presents
they are about 10 receive will often come.
Father. this does very we'll, and pIeases
me. What yon have told me I am glad
Of from my very heart. All you have
told me is very good have found "a.
Their. We will no longer think Of dying.
but will live. | remember the words you
have this day spoken TO Us. My people
shail GO as say
One Of the braces then spoke as fol-
lows: sm T.
You make me remember old times,
my father. My own father wen. down 10
see Gov. Clarke, and died there. I am
the son of Blackboon; (produced papers
which had been given TO his fa,her.)-
Different bands of Sioux are around US
in the country; am one of them, and
live on the other side Of the river.
dom consider myself chief. but am here
with my band, and was glad to hear wha,
you have said to US. The country is now
smoother, and the cloud higher. tell
my people 10 spread wha. you have said,
all about the country. You are from
long distance, and have this day found
out that We shall live"
The presents. consisting Of scarlet and
blue cloth, with red and green blankets,
tobacco. knives. looking glasses. beads,
&C., &C.. were now distributed, during
which several old men expressed their de-
light by incessant singing. The council
was then broken W. Before leaving the
ground three hollow shot were fred from
one Of the howiizers, which had been
brought down from our camp for the pur-
pose. This was something entirely new
to the Indians, and seemed 10 fill them
with establishment.
June l7!h, the expedition left Fort Lar.
annie for tie South Pass, distant abou,
$50 miles, and arrived there on the 3Uth
Of June. Here the command was mus.
tered, and the next day commenced their
eastward route. arriving at Fort Laramie
again on the 18th of July.
The county between Fort Laramie and
the Pass is the most interesting region for
The geologist visited by the command
From Laramie, some distance west, the
road runs over Hills Of coarse gravel, usu-
ally known as drift. The Platte river is
locked by high banks Of the red sandstone
formation, underlaid in many places by
.ilicions limestone This continues for
abou. 30 miles up the Platte. where the
road runs over sandy barren tract Of
country. The only grass is along the
borders Of the streams. with very lille
timber any where, except on some Of the
high banks before mentioned, which are
perfectly inaccessible to wagons.
One hundred and twenty i've miles
from Laramie the road leaves the Platte
and crosses the Sweet Water river, which
i. follows until it strikes across the divid-
ing ridge. Between these two rivers
there was an indistinct appearance of coal.
The red sandstone formation abounds,
however, and i. is probable that coal
would be found after proper examination
by any competent person.
The Sweet Wafer is bordered, on both
sides. by mountains Of granite, frequently
ln.ersecleG by bikes of trap. 1t is not tim.
bered, but has very good growth Of grass
upon its banks. The distance between
these two ranges Of mountains is about 20
miles; bu. this dis,ric. Of country is very
barren, producing nothing bu. wild sage,
excep, on the edge of the stream.
In the Pass there is no timber, and none
| in its vicinity, except on the Wind river
| mountains, which would be inaccessible
TO wagons.
On the l4sh Of July, the command set
out for Benis fort. distant from Fort lar
annie about 400 miles. nearly due south.
On the Chugwater, a branch of the
Laramie, village f,he Cheyennes, con-
tanning about 80 lodges, was visited, and
a council held with them. at which pres.
ents were made to the Indians. This, and
the council at Laramie, were The only
talks held with the Indians during the ex
petition.
The command struck The south fork oil
the Platte on the 20th Of July, and after
| travelling along il for a daY or TWO il was