Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-16

river Accordingly with small detachment for escort
made excursion the intervening country, and
found the road had made in lSl9 with the river in the
relative position indicated by astronomical observa-
tons at the head Of Red river This me matter
of much qualification and interest it developed and
confirmed the accuracy Of calculations regarding the
geographical positions Of both points
After having completed the examination Of the north
branch Of Red river, turned south elevated
waving prairie country and travelled thirty miles, when
reached the middle salt fork of the river which we
assembled to source and again resumed the south
and marching fifty miles in this direction it brought US
10 the valley Of the south principal branch OF the river
We arrived at this stream which the Camanohes call ke-
cheahque homo, Prairie river so named
for the presume, that vast number OF dogs are
found along its valley Indeed, in place, the
head of the rv passed for twenty five miles through
continuous community of these quadrupeds. Suppos
ing its extent have been the in other directions
the town would occupy of 625 square miles, or
1885, 900 with the burrows at the usual distances OF
about twenty yards apart and each containing family
of five six dogs, the aggregate population would
fancy, exceed that of any city in the world This nte-
resting little specimen OF the mammalia OF our country
has often been described by Travellers but some facts
connected with their history which have never seen
mentioned in published account not be CONSIDER
ed out of place here
In selecting position or site for their towns they APP
pear have regard to the distance from water which
has induced believe that they do not require that
element which other animals frequently have occasion
for and without which they inevitably perish. have
occasionally them upon the elevated table lands OF
New Mexico where there water the surface OF
the ground for twenty miles, and where 1t did not seem
probable that it could be found by excavation AS there
seldom any rains dews upon these plains during
the months and the animals never wander far
from their burrows, think warranted in the con-
cuson that they require other aqueous sustenance
than what they receive from their food which is
The rattesnake is often found with the dogs and has by
been considered welcome guest of the proprietor
of the establishment but this is as he preys
upon the dog and is undoubtedly regarded by him as
intruder.
| We found this branch of the stream thou
sand yards wide, and flowing sandy bed through
exceedingly rough and broken country, wholly mpas-
sable for wagons was therefore under the necessity
of leaving my wagon train and proceeding from this point
with small escort of mounted directly along the
bed of the stream; and after three days hard riding
with the thermometer ranging from l02 to ITO degrees in
the shade and nothing but the nauseang and bitter
water to drink during the time at length arrived at
the of the main branch of Red river in latitude u
degrees II minutes, and longitude l02 degrees 50 min
utes about hundred and twenty-five miles in south
| east direction from Santa Fe.
Three miles from the head of the river we found that
its bed which, from its confluence with the Mississippi
this point, with exception had been sand suddenly
changed to rock with the water (which below here had
been turbd and bitter flowing clearly and rapidly
it and much to delight, it cool, and entirely
free from salts This was unookedfor luxury, as we
had everywhere before this found exceedingly unpaa
table The effect of this upon had been TO pro-
duce sickness at the stomach attended with loss Of appe
tte, and raging and feversh thirst which constantly
4 u
effect from what desired, increasing thirst rather
than alayng it, After intense suffering from drinking
this nauseang water we INDUCED freely IN the pure and
delicious element, assembled along the narrow dell
through which the stream found its way and, following
up for two miles the tortuous of the gorge
reached point where became much INSTRUCTED with
huge piles of rocks that obliged leave hor
and Chamber the remainder of the distance on
/ foot.
The gigantic walls Of sandstone rising the
height OF eight hundred feet each side gradually clos
ed in, until they only few yards apart, and at last
united above u.s. leaving long corridor beneath
at the base Of which the head spring of the principal
branch of Red river takes its This spring bursts
from its reservoir and leaping down the
huge masses of rock below its long journey
to unite with other tributaries in the nobes river in the
universe On behoding this little rvulet as it winds its
oruous down the steep descent of the
difficult realize that il forms the nucleus the larg
and most important river in America, floating steam
upon its bosom for nearly two thousand miles and
posting auviu along its borders which renders its
valley perhaps the most fertile in the world.
We drank copous draughts Of the cool and refreshing
water in the spring and thereby considered ourselves
with the pleasure derived the beautiful and majestic
scenery around remunerated for all fatigue and
prvaons The magnfcence of the views that presented
themselves to eyes approached the head of the
river exceeded any thing had ever beheld 1t is i'm
possible for to describe the sensations of intense plea
experienced as gazed these grand and novel
displays of nature
The stupendous escarpments Of the solid rock rising
to such height to exclude the rays of the for
great portion of the day. away by the lapse of
time and the action of water and the weather into the
most fantastic FORMS which il required but little effort
the Imagination 10 convert into works of art all united
forming of the sublime and picturesque
that be imagined and ALL with one accord stopped
and gazed with wonder and admiration upon panorama
which for the first time exhibited the eyes Of
i civilized man.
All here the aspect Of nature it sprang into
stence nature in its unreclaimed submy and wdness
and 1t inspired me with that generation which one is apt
to feel in contemplating the beauty and grandeur of the
undsturbed creations of the Sovereign Architect stamped
apparently as with his own eternity
From the head Of this branch Of the river returned to
the main body Of my command and from the point they
had occupied travelled down between the two south
branches reaching Fort Arbucke in the Chckasaw Ma
ton, on the Both day Of July. Here for the first time
we heard the report that so generally circulated in
relation to our by the Camanches This report
evidently originated with these Indians who manifested
friendly disposition toward us and always avoided u.s.
Although we considered ourselves fully prepared to
any force Of Indians that could be brought against us
the country through which passed yet cannot orego
this opportunity Of acknowledging the deep gratitude
feel to my counrymen for the kind sympathy they mani
| tested in the fate Of myself and companions
In hasty glance at the face of the country which
passed, Of the most striking and anomalous fea
lures that presents itself is narrow strip of woodland
from five to thirty miles wde called the Cross Tmber
extending from the Arkansas river, in southwesterly
direction to the Brasos, Eve hundred miles This
belt divides the arabic lands from the great prafies
which, for the part arid and sterile Upon the
east side there spring brooks flowing
very productive champaign country, with abundance
of timber and exuberant vegetation teeming with the
delightful perfume Of flowers Of the most brilliant hues
here and there nerspersed with yerant gades and small
prairies aording inexhaustibe grazing and the most
al0rr 4katoa ha n,