Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-01-28

- ''O le"Su u animated lie; but While
we were sitting on the rock, solitary bee
S6rOmns, the humble tee.) came wluging
his tiIgh! from The eastern valley, and liz
on the knee OF one OF the men.
ltwas strange place, the lev rock and
the highest peak OF the Rocky mountains,
Tor lover of warm sunshine and flowers;
and wepleased ourselves with the thought
that he was the frs, OF his species TO cross
the mountain barrier-a solitary pioneer
TO toreteI the advance of civilization.
believe that a moments thought would
have made us lei him continue his way
unframed; but we carried out the law of
this country, where all animated nature
seems at war and Selling him Immediate
ly, put him in at least a fit place--in the
leaves of large book, among the flowers
we had collected on our way. The bare
meter stood at 1928, the attached Their
mumeer 44o-givlng for the elevation of
this summit, 13, $40 feet above the Gulf of
Mexico, which may be called the highest
flight of the bee. From the description
given by Mackenzie of the mountains
where he crossed them, with that of
French officer still farther to the porth, and
Col. Longs measurements to the south,
Joined to the opinions of the oldest settlers,
il is presumed that this is the highest peak
OF the Rocky mountains. The day was
sunny and bright, but a slight shining
mist hung over the lower plains, which in
terfered with our view of the surrounding
country. On one side we overlooked in.
Vulnerable lakes and streams, the spring of
the Colorado of the Gulf OF California
and on the other was the Wind river VAL
ley, where were the head waters of the
Yellowstone branch of The Missouri far
10 the north, we. could Just discover the
snowy heads OF the ITois Tetoas, where
were the sources OF the Missouri and Co.
lumhia rivers; and at the southern extre.
nifty, the peaks were plainly visible among
which were some OF the springs of the Ne
braska. Around US, the whole scene had
one main striking feature, which was that
OF terrible CONFUSION: Parallel TO its
length, the ridge was split into chasms
and assures; between which rose the thin
lofty walls. terminated with slender min
arets and columns. | had remarked that
the noise produced by the explosion of our
pistols had the usual degree of loudness,
but was not in the least degree prolonged,
expiring almost simultaneously. Having
now made what observations our means
afforded, we proceeded to descend. We
had accomplished an object of laudable
ambition, and beyond the strict order of
our Instructions. We had climbed the
loftiest peak Of the Rocky mountains, and
looked down upon the snow a thousand
feet below, and standing where never hu-
man foot stood before, felt the exultation
of first explorers.
We reached our depot OF provisions at
nighIfall. Here was not The inn which
meets the traveller on his return from
Mont Blanc, OF the orange groves ofSouih
America with their refreshing juices and
soft fragrant air; bat we found our little
cache of dried meat undisturbed. Though
The moon was bright, the road was full of
precipices, and the fatigue OF the day had
been great. We therefore abandoned the
idea OF rejoining our friends, and lay down
on the rock, and, in spite of the cold, slept
sOundly.
August 16.--We saw on the way large
fiocks of the mountain goat, looking down
on us from the cliffs. At the crack of the
rifle, they would bound off among the
rocks, and in few minutes make their
appearance on some lofty peak some hum
dred or thousand feet above. 1t is need
less to attempt any further description of
this country; the portion over which we
travelled this morning was rough as imagi-
nation could picture it, and to US seemed
equally beautiful. A concourse of lakes
and rushing waters, mountains of rocks
naked and destitute of vegetable earth,
dells and ravines OF the most exquisite
beauty, all kept green by the great mois-
ture Of the air, and sown with brilliant
flowers. and every where thrown around
all the glory of most magnificent scenes:
these constitute the features of the place,
and impress themselves wildly on the
mind of the traveller. 1t was not until |
o'clack that we reached The place where
our animals had been left, when we first
attempted the mountains on foot. Near
one of the still burning fires we found a
piece Of meat, which our friends had thrown
away, and which furnished US monthlul
IA very scanty breakfast. We continu-
ed directly on, and reached our camp on
the mountain lake at dusk We found alt
weII--nothng had occurred to interrupt
the quiet since our departure, and the fine
grass and good cool water had done much
to reestabish our animals. All heard with
great delight the order to turn our faces
homeward; and towards shutdown of the
18th we camped again at the Two Buttes.
sz..-sssss=e@-zss.=--s-s-....s.--
PRoGREss.- convention for amend
;nr the Constitution of Missouri. have