The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-14

oeVeiai erroneous opinions have for many years been
entertained IN regard TO the country upon the head
waters OF Red river for instance, has generally been
supposed, from the circumstance OF heavy rise occur
rlng IN the rlyer during the month OF June. time
when there rs generally in the settlements and
during The dry season upon the plains thar the
OF the river would be found in lofty mountain ranges
wnee he melting OF SHOWS would account for The greal
amount OF water passing through the channel the
| son mentioned 0i t@ ,t.te
But such is not the fact as all the principal tributaries
have their origin the eastern borders OF the table lands
| OF New Mexico, where there are no mountains. We.
however passed through chain OF mountains, about
two hundred miles below the head of the river where
we observed frequent and copious during the
son of the June food and am of opinou that here
me source OF much OF the water in the lower portion Of
the stream. st -
As the water has very bitter and dsagreeable taste
II mas been conjeced that passed in its through
extensive salt plains. Bat this also found be an
error, as there is no deposit OF chloride OF sodium upon
the rver Inc peculiar taste being communicated by
ingredient which 1t receives in its flowing for hundred
miles over gypsum formation which extends from the
arkansas rver, in southeastery direction the Rio
Grande. As1f .@ ETA t.E N
This great belt Of gypsum which have myself passed
through at four different points, embracing range OF
three hundred miles, Ia considered by Dr. Hitchcock TO
be the most extensive In the known world. have every
where found it characterized by the pecuari,ies,
with the water issuing from itnvariably bitter and
| seating.
The Arkansas, Canadian, Brazos Colorado, and Pecos
rivers also pass through this formation, and similar
taste is impaired to the waters of all These rivers also
have their in the borders OF The elevated
table lands, and where they make their exit from this
plateau their beds confined to vast sluces canons
the sides OF which rise very abruptly enormous
height above the surface of the water.
This dehle on Red river is seventy miles in length
the escapments from five 10 eight hundred feet high
waters edge that there is room for man to pass
and occasionally il is necessary travel for miles in the
bed Of the river before spot is found where horse
Chamber up the precpitous sides of the chasn could
not determine n my mind whether this remark able
dehe had been formed after long lapse OF time by the
action OF the current or had been produced by some great
convusion of Nature
The barren mes1 in which these rivers take their rise
extends from the Canadian river, in souherly course,
for about four hundred miles, between the parallels of
north latitude 80 deg 80 min and SO deg. 20 min II is
in some places nearly 200 miles in width, and s embraced
within the meridans of l01 and l04 deg longitude
The approximate elevation of this plain above the
as determined with the barometer is three thousand
hundred and fifty feet it is also much elevated above
the surrounding country, very level and extends OF
tree. shrub any other vegetation intercept the
vision. The traveller. ia passing it, sees nothing
but one vast barren. and moootonous waste and dreary
solitude II s an ocean OF painless. trackless, desert
prairie, where the voice of is seldom heard and
where no living being permanently resides II may with
proWety be termed the Great ZahaIa of North Amer
lea The almost total absence OF water causes all
mails to shun even the Indians do not
II, except at two points. where they find few small
ponds Many years since the Mexicans marked out q
route across the plain with stakes and hence the
by which il is known throughout Mexico Of a Lano
taeIdo, or the Staked Plain"
The geological features OF the country along the valley
oil the upper Red river are generally characterized by
rocks OF the secondary formation, The Wichita noun
,ains. however, composed of granite rocks with veins
OF quarts running through them similar the gold bear
ing rocks Of California Ores of copper, OF very rich
quality, are found in many places throughout the valley,
and we also discovered few small particles Of gold in
the detritus from the mountains
The country embraced within the basin OF the upper
Red river much irequented by several tribes OF Indians,
all having similar habits, but speak different lang uages
The most numerous and waIlke of these the Gu
manches, who separated into three distinct local
grand divisions, namely the northern middle and south
ern Each OF these is subdivided into several bands,
commanded BY separate chiefs. The northern and mid
die Cumanches subsst almost entirely the flesh OF the
buffalo and generally found their heels migrating
with them from place 10 place. on those vast and inhos
ptable plans, which cannot, the nature OF things, be
made available for agrcuue; and they 10 be des
tined in future they have been in former ages, to be
The empire of the erratic savage
And 1t is tact worthy OF remark, that man. in what
ever situation he may be placed, influenced in his
modes OF existence his physical aud moral condition. by
the natural resources of climate, SOIL and other circun
stances around him. the operations OF which be has
no control. Fortunately such is the fexibly OF his
ure that he soon adaps himself TO the hardest and most
un,oward circumstances, and indeed ultimately becomes
not only econciled TO his lot but fanes his condition far
preferable TO that OF most others.
The example OF border settlers is illustrative OF
this fact, since they continue further and fur
ther the settle encoach upon them prefer
ring life OF dangerous adventure and solitude 10 per.
sona security and the comforts and enoymens OF socie
ty aM what was at first necessity 10 them, becomes in
ime source OF excitement and pleasure The nomadc
Indian OF the prairie demonstrates the position still more
forcbly. Free as the boundless plains which he
roams, he knows nor wants any Injuries beyond wsat
he finds in the buffalo the deer a, his door These
him for food, cohing and covering for his lodge
and he signs not for the distinctions which occupy the
thoughts and engage the energies Of civilized His
only ambition is that he may cope successfully with his
enemy in war, and manage his steed with unfailing
adroiiness He is IN the saddle from boyhood to old age
and his favorte horse s his constant companion II is
when mounted that the Cumanche exhibits himself 10 |
the best advantage he is then at home, and his skill in
the various mau9ugres which he makes available in bat
lie surh mself ON al
his horse and discharging his arrows with great rapdy
in the opposite direction from beneath the animals neck
while he is at full speed, Is truly astonishing Every
warrior has bis warhorse which is the Heetest that
be obtained. lie prizes him more highly than anything
else in his possession and II is seldom that he be
induced TO part with him al aoy price. lie never
mounts him except when going into battle, Tor The bnia
10 chase, or upon State occasions On hs return from
an excursion he the door OF bis lodge by one OF
his wives. who takes his seed and attends to it's wants
with the utmsst The prairie warrior performs nu
menial labor his who are but little dearer to
him than his horse, perform all the drudsery. He ol-
lows the chase he smokes his pipe, he eats and sleeps
and thus passing bis time, in his own estimation, he "
the most lordly and independent OF soveregns. II
Such OF the characteristics OF the prairie In
dians and cannot dismiss the subject without remark
ing that, in addition the physical snlll,ude between
the deserts of Arabia and the sieppes OF Central Asia 10
the elevated prairie reso' of our own county, striking
also between their respective nbablt
ants The Arabs OF the desert the Tartar tribes and the
aboriginal occupants of the praires alike wanderers
having no permanent abiding places. still living in their
travelling lodges and where these pitched making
their homes.
and no other alliance bat that OF fraternity and they
IN nd mi of ciy