Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-26

rain pouring down without cessation. The Arkan-
sas is rising fast.-35 miles; 800 miles
My 27-The rain continued all night raised camp at
g. 80 A. NJ and until nine O'Clock route up the
left bank of the Arkansas. The country offered yare
ty The river bottom in which travelled very
sloppy from the late rains grass found in
abundance 1t is not nourishing the drier gras of
the prairie which the mules much partia! to.
We passed during the morning several large parties Of
emigrants for California with cattle. Their stock in
good condition. and travelled steadily the rate OF ff
teen miles day. We encamped emigrant train
Mt noon TO dry packs and clean arms. We had
killed some ducks, which, with milk and butter from the
emigrants, enabled US to make excellent dinner-20
miles 4l6 miles.
NJ and travelled up the left bank OF the Arkansas nine
miles rolling country. The constant emigra
ton this has destroyed nearly all the timber
the left bank of the Arkansas The emigrants burn
much more than they use and frequently by their
essuess destroy much valuable wood well set fire to
the praries There many cottonwood trees the
islands of the Arkansas and on its right bank We en-
camped island formed by the rise of the Arkansas
The Delaware brought in fine antelope and ducks
We twelve miles further in the afternoon, and en-
camped an island, (Choueau's island We found the
river every where fordabe On the main Shore opposite
to us was large emigrant train, whose cattle in
splendid condition. They supplied abundantly with
milk The country which we travelled this day was
broken, with low hills andy rayines running towards the
river. They have cottonwood trees in them also
much drift WOOD showing that they discharge much wa
during rains, and from comparatively wooded
country.-36 miles; All miles
Nay 29-We recrossed the river to the left bank at
sunrise At last nights camp the grass was coarse
and rank The of the Arkansas is very sIar to
that of the Mssour As ccasted up the left bank
grass became and scantier We passed ingu-
lar slay mound the right Of the road resembling
pyramid gone to ruin. We encampcd at near q
slough of the river There wood near enough for
but the general in such cases on the plains
was scattered IN abundance around us. Inc sun was
very hot, times tempered by light breeze from
the northwestward wagon and cattle train OF emf
grants encamped In the afternoon we assembled
the river eight miles, and encanped near the stream IN
coarse wry grass in fact has been for several days
past The country few miles from the river has scanty
grass and dry arid SOIL This evening we have large
company of emigrants each side oil us36 miles 4o5
miles.
Nay 3O-Rased camp soon after SUNRISE and after
travelling tw enty miles, encamped in the BIG TIMBERs,"
the Arkansas. The grass on the plains was coarse
and very abundant the river This place is IA
yorite of the Indians in winter They here ind
good shelter from the bitterly cold winds which then
sweep these pans and their horses always pick
up living along the river This grove of cottonwoods
extends for several miles They large and close
together The weather cloudy in the morning, but
clear at wind southwest We passed this morning
large WAGONS and cattle trains for California via Great
Salt Lake Washington Trainor, of California, with a
large number cattle and about fifty fine horses and
mules, camped near He is taking to California
splendid blood stallion for which he paid thousand dol
lars We travelled twelve miles in the afternoon and en-
camped at p, NJ The country has become more lnte-
resting; it is rolling, and we had occasionally beautiful
views of the Arkansas. The grass has improved very
much and we have now abundance of timber, particu-
lary where encamped for the night We passed in the
afternoon the old trading post established by Hatcher for
the convenience of trading in winter with the Indians at
the " Big Timbers." This place abandoned when
Bents Fort given up, and is now in ruins We
many deer but killed nothing but few duekS.32 miles;
515 miles.
Nay Give started this morning at sunrise. The
sky was clear and weather COOL with bracing wind from
the northwest in few hours veered to the southwest
Of l,a be
distant about seventy miles. 1t Numbered and ghtened
north and south Of US all night We had swarms of mos
quitoes.
We travelled up the left bank of the Arkansas and OBJ
tanned times several picturesque views Of the river
which is occasionally hemmed in by rocky cliffs. The
country is more rolling stony and dry Saw many deer
md antelope. At ten O'Clock passed the mouth of
Purgatoire river, flowing into the Arkansas from the
souhwestward Beds of excellent coal have been disco
vered on this stream which will be of incstmable value
hereafter. At twelve eucamped on g Lower Dry
Creek" where found scanty dry grass and water in
pools We made twenty five miles The Delaware brought
fine anelopes We made ten miles in the afternoon,
and encamped three miles above Bent's Fort We rode
all through these ruins which present strange appear
in these soltudes Afew years ago this post
frequented by trappers md Indians, and at
times exhibited of wild confusion IL is roof
less for when the United States refused to purchase il
the proprietors set it fire to prevent its becoming
harbor for Indians. The adobe walls still standing
and are in many places of great thickness They
vered with written messages from parties who have al
ready passed here their friends in the They all
stated that their herds in good condition and pro-
crossing fnely.-35 miles; $50 miles.
FRO BE CONTINUED.