New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-25
NEW-MEXICO.


corre-pocdeuee Of The n Y. Tribune
NAVAJO Co. Nkw MEXICO. Sept l9 1859.
My narrative, il it may 90 be dignifed. car
red us, in my last letter, to Council Grove, ON
the NeOshO river. / now commence something
of a description of the country between that
point and Pawnee Fork, with such incidents oil
my journey as may seem to be Of interest TO
you.
From the NeOshO onward, the character Of
the soil has somewhat changed, but the streams
are fewer and farther between, with few ex-
ceptions are of less volume OF water, and are
less skirted with timber of any kind but tho
Turkey creeks, heavily undulating. Elm Creek
was our first camp-ground beyond the Neosho.
Here is excellent grazing; indeed, ought To
have remarked long before this, that my charge
of insufficient grazing upon this American des-
ert does not apply to the country generally east
ward Of Pawnee Fork. Upto, and even beyond
this point, our animals never once suffered tor
want of grass. For the first time, on leaving
Diamond Spring, which was our second camping
place beyond the NeOshO, We we're compelled
to take wood in the wagons. This was to an
swer for cooking purposes at Lost Spring, our
next camp onward where there was not even .
shrub to be seen, and not very abundant sup
ply of good water. At our camps In this SEQ
ton Of country we were greatly annoyed BY
great swarmsof the Bombns Tsantris, commonly
called the June-bug, which, in the dark Of tho
evening seemed to be attracted by our camp
fires in myriads, flying about with such rapidity
and force as greatly to endanger our eyesieht
At Diamond Spring camp-ground We found for
the first time some Of the far-famed buffalo
grass, which il Is said formerly grew in great
protlsiOn eastward 20 the Missouri River, but
baya kaan and AaSfp ovaA
since the recession of the buffalo to the central
prairies by coarser and more hardy grasses.
Diamond Spring is pretty t0lerably strong
running spring Of cool and delightful water;
this and other smaller springs near by are sum.
cient to form quite creek, from which amused
myself for an hour or two in taking some small
fish. 1t was distressing to see with what frantic
eagerness the men gathered around this spring,
and what quantities Of water they drank while
perspiring at every pore, without any apparent
injury. Cottonwood Creek, fifty miles from
Council Grove, is the most considerable stream
thus far beyond that point. 1t prettily skirted
with cottonwood trees, whence its namo, and
its banks In many places beautifully enameled ct
the time we crossed it MAY 29) with q pr0fu-
sion of crimson-colored flowers Of the MalvacB,
and resembling very much the "Nsttelia."
which have seen In more southern attitudes.
Here we were met by the caravan OF o Mexican
gentleman citizen Of New.Mexice, en- yosss TO
Independence for stock Of goods. He was
kind enough to convey from all who desired To
send, letters to our friends In the States. These
chance opportunities are by no means rare, and
afford the satisfaction, while travelling further
and further from home and frieDds, that some
account of our progress Ii going rapidly 70 them.
While encamped on the Cottonwood We for tho
first time were fortunate enough TO have tast~
of antelope venisOn, certainly the most tender
and deljpbtful meat of the kind have ever
eaten. But Of all delicacies, commend me to
antelOpe's liver. Our friend Dr. H was
the successful hunter In this instance, hsv1ng
killed the first antelope brought into our camp.
With this satisfaction, however, TO bis feelings
as sportsman, was joined the vexstion Of hay.
inc Lost a well-stored hsrtarixm, filed with al
the flowers which were then blooming upon the
prairies; his success In finding antelope being
partly due to bis efforts to recover the keSte.
mum, which had been insecurity placed beneath
the Zap of bis saddle.
From Cottonwood Greek to the two creeks
termed Big and Little Turkey, the distance "
Is4 and "a miles respectively. These streams
we found barely running, although large pools
of water In their beds afforded all that was suf-
fcient for our wants. Not tree or even q
shrub to my recollection, grows On the banks
of either of these streams. Leeches were found
in the water Of Big Turkey Creek The prai-
mes in this vicinity are now more nearly level
or rather consist Of long-extepded, shallow b.
sins, separated from each other BY very sngns
elevations or ridges. In consequence, the roed
over this description of ground was found 70 Do
In many places heavy and miry. am nIormeo
that the advanced Cherokee and Choctaw In
dian settlements, still being extended Up the
valley Of the Arksnsas River from Fort Gibson.
are distant only about 60 miles from the road .t
Little Turkey Creek. After crossing this last.
named creek We for the first time CANE upon
marie dogs. One ofthese curious en,maIs "a
CAPTURED By teamster, and finally fell INTO tne
hands Of d.. H-y,who soon msdes s1se,mss
West of the Cottonwood Creek, l forgot q
meptien, the road is double, the two parallel
tracks being about 50 yards apart. TN, Is U
divide train Of wagons into two hne or columns
for the purpose of speedily forming corral .
! resist Indian attacks. II u non, however coo