Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-14
DISCOVERY OF THE HEAD-WATERS OF THE BIG
WICHITA AND THE BRAZOS.

The Fort Smith (Ark.) Herald publishes an interest
ing letter from Dr. SHuMARp Surgeon and Geoogist Of
Capt Marcy's expedition, dated In Camp, near the
River Brazos, forty miles above Fort Belknap, Texas
August 10TH"
We learn from it that the expedition, consisting of
Capt MARCY, Major NEIGHBoRs, Mr. PARKER, and Dr.
SHUMARD, together with four soldiers and FIVE Delaware
Indians after suffering from heat and thirst
succeeded in reaching the head Of the Big Wichita and
subsequently the head of the Brazos. Dr. SHumARp
says
The Wichita river takes its origin in system Of high
bluffs (the borders of the Llano Estacado) which at
the head of river, form regular micrce horse.
shoe, and from which sent out number of small
streams conyergDg at the distance of two three miles
from the main river which from its its mouth
through high bluff banks composed mostly of CLAW
and red gypsum The water of this stream, as well as
that of the Brazos and Red river their bitter taste
to the gypsum through extensive beds of which all of
them flow According to analysis it yields Gauber and
EPSON Salts as well as other substances"
Having reached the head of the Wichita, the party
struck off in search of the of the Brazos They
proceeded due SOUTH and reached the Brazos after travel
ling about twenty miles. The Doctor says:
"The river where we first struck it. rams like the Wi
cha through high bluff banks composed of red clay and
gypsum. The water, which was about four feetdeep
was as clear as crystal but intensely bitter that
our horses would hardly drink it, After travelling about
thirty miles in northern direction we came to high
hill the prairie, from which obtained an extensive
view of the surrounding country In due north drec
ton at the distance of about thirty miles, appeared two
mountains each shaped like truncated cone and at
least fifteen hundred feet above the level of the surround
ing plain These marked the head Of the stream From
them the stream could be distinctly seen like cord Of
silver meandering through the prairie to the spot on
which Stood Beyond the mountains appeared line
Of high bluffs 1.-THE Llano Estacado which in the dis
lance looked like clouds floating upon the horizon Hav-
ing satisfactorily ascertaned the source of the river
we decided unanimously to return
The party, after absence of nine days. during which
they travelled three hundred miles, returned to camp
DR.. Shumard says they obtained not only correct geo
graphical well geological knowledge of this hereto
fore unexpored region, but made several highly mpor-
tant discoveries which may hereafter be Of considerable
Importance to Government, well to the public gen
orally He adds
Gin this connection it may be well to state that gum
arabic has been discovered in inexhausble quantities.
and Of the very best quality while have been enabled
than when Red river trip Near the head of the
Wichita river presents the thickness Of seven
hundred feet and is Of the very purest quality With
regard to the character Of the country explored on
the Wichita river, have only say that is complete
barren waste totally unfit for agricultural purposes and
can only be valuable on account of its gypsum beds
During our journey to its met with nothing
but succession of bluffs ravnes and hills all of an in
tense red color and almost totally devoid of
Neither can it be employed for railway purposes
No in his would think Of attempting
railroad any other kind Of road through it after
once seeing it."