Kansas weekly herald., 1854-09-29

nesste the severe drought. The Stranger
manages to keep up run, just enough to
preserve right of way. At the place
where our trail intersected it, is an excel
lent mil privilege. These are rare fea-
lures in the streams of Kansas, as is well
known. The country along its banks, pre-
sents unsurpassed attractions for settle
ments.. Many spots might be selected for
residences, well suited to the admirer of
romantic scenery. An abundance of lime
stone is found in the vicinity, and it would
appear from the mineral substances which
protruded from the surface of the soil near
the water, that coal could be discovered
with but little trouble.
In travelling over so fertile and lovely a
section, it is matter of astonishrnent that
the, Indian population is so sparse. During
the whole day, in which we went thirty-five
miles and upwards, only four Indian hous-
.es were to- be seen. At one of these, the
half way house, not far beyond the Stran-
ger we stopped to dine ,and bait the horses.
1t was Ton Ige-noxeys. A large cornfield
well fenced in would have showed a stran-
ger that the proprietor was a person OF more
than ordina ny enterprise and industry for
red man. But as some of the party had
before been entertained at the hotel we did
not need to.rely on such extrinsic evidence.
Madame Ton-genoxey In the absence other
Spouse readily made arrangements to ac--
commodate JUS, although we could not speak
her language, or she ours. Our horses re-
galed themselves on unthreshed oats. One
of the little Ton-ge-noxey's and a ogmade
chase after two tolerable-sized sehickens
which were soon overcome and slaughtered
for our bentft. These, a little pork, some
plain four1 bread, with tea and coffee
made our repast. 1t was very well cooked
and though we had no milk nor butter (for
they had no COWS, notwithstanding the ia
cilities for keeping stock, the dinner was
as agreeable as the circumstances under
which it was taken We're novel. We paid
'sfour bits" each-which made no very tri-
fling sum total and bade our intelligent and
fair hostess kind adieu.
With yoru permission Issswill now jump
from the little Stranger to within five miles
of the Kansas. Here is q remarkable pic
ture. Just as we enter the noble forest
stretching along the northern bed of the
ri.-o,.s +I,o,otic or, oxoo,otio,, al bo,+ y.-idx,
as the Kansas, and as deep as its usual
banks, which is said to have once been the
channel of the river. 1 can easily believe
the report. The appearance of the cham
ranlness Of vegetation on the bot
tom, its winding course-all contributed to
raise the conviction that in years gone by,
the rapid waters Of the Kansas had plowed
there.
l have been eager to notice the. timber
in this valley. Cotton wood is most abun-
dant. There Is besides a great amount of
black walnut, oak, elm, and ash. The
trees are of enormous growth. But l must
confess that as / rode across that valuable
bottom so opulent in its giant trees, and
thought how it extended along to the riv-
er's mouth, l felt little regret that it should
be embraced in the Indian reservation, and
could not for adequate compensation, even,
be converted into materials to aid the set
ler in building. When the Delawares OBJ
ain their patents individually-if they ap-
ply for them-this timber till then use
ess-can be purchased. Emerging from
he forest near the New-England settle
nent we had no difficulty in fording the
liver, the bottom of which was found to be-
1ard.
In my next shall give an account of the
,foresaid settlement south of the Kansas.
@ FIATOR