The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-15
No. 676.

NN'aIiy 40" WIN great VOiumeS OF muddy
water. Dip up a quart Of water from any of
these rivers, and allow it to settle and ON drain
ing oil the water, you will find nearly quarter
OF an inch of muddy sediment at the bottom
of the vessel.
1t may be that the land upon which the city
OF New Orleans is built, as well as all that in
the vicinity OF the Balize, has been formed
since the clay and soil which originally Law be.
tween these buttes first became mingled with
fluid, and started on its mission down the great
rivers.
The general scenery of the country along our
route is beautiful, owing to the many woodland
ridges seen in the distance, while the dim out
lines of the Wichita mountains loom up against
the blue horizon far south ward.
Today we marched full twenty miles. and
pitched our camp on the margin of a small
creek-a spring creek, resembling deepcut
often, from whose sides sprang innumerable
tiny streams of clear, cold water. There being
no wood near this camp, wagons were sent
about FIVE miles after it. The first fifteen miles
OF our road was quite even and level the last
hive slightly undulating. The light, sandy soil
would soon become exhausted by an indis.
crmlnate system of thlage, but by a proper and
careful system could be made to produce any
OF the small grains and grasses. Vines and
fruit trees might also be cultivated with profit.
As rode along counted twenty-seven varie-
ties of plants or weeds, and eleven of grasses.
Leaving this camp, we again made march
OF twenty miles. The soil is far superior to
that marched over the day previous. The first
ten miles we found gently unduating, as the
day before. We then raised to more rolling
land, passed through spur of oak timber, and
proceeded to pass over a succession of slight
ridges and across very rich and fertile little
valleys, composed of deep aluval SOIL until we
came to Cyote creek, very fine mill stream.
running sufficient water to support several good
mills and factories. Its facilities for manufac.
tories are the best L have seen OH the expedi-
ton. The stream is well belted with a grand
forest of oak, ash, walnut, elm, birch, hackber-
ry, mulberry, white hickory, pecan, persimmon,
bowdock, &c. Wild game abound in the woods,
hne fish III the stream, and the singing and
chirping birds are we'll represented.
IL Is seldom Oneasees "a more beautiful and
rich locality, so well adapted by every natural
advantage for agricultural and pastoral pur-
Doses. Here is the place where congenial
spirits may build themselves a rural paradise.
The most picturesque sites for villages, mills,
and extensive farms, are to be found all up and
down the CyOte. Near our camp is pretty
little valley comprising several thousand acres,
and starting from an elbow bend in the creek
The rich black soil Of this valley is composed
OF aluvlai deposits, and lies so as 10 be easily
irrigated from the creek at pleasure. A wood
cd ridge reaches an arm out into this valley at
the base OF which is a cool little spring. Here
some man OF rural tastes can build his nest and
retire with his family to lie Of quiet felicity.
About an hour before sunset, / took my
| fowhng-piece and went after game for supper
and breakfast. i did not walk more than q
half mile before ! killed two fat turkeys, three
prairie chickens, pheasant, duck, and rab-
bat, all OF which returned to camp with before
/ dark. Dock, our mess-cUok, had a portion OF
| them roasted and baked in a most tempting
style. And having ate nothing since early
| dawn, we ate our meal with a great relish
Eating is one OF the pleasures Of life, especially
when one is hungry; and life on the plains
is calculated TO give one Just appreciation of
that pleasure No diDer-out ever enioyed his
dinner with greater epicurean gusto than the
denIzen OF the prairies, when, after days gal
lop, he SITS down on the grass to partake of his
wild game, hot buns and strong, steaming cot.
fee.
At night fall, the wolves and cyotes from all
the region round about treated US to one of
. their peculiar concerts. BY the time we wished
to retire, night had become hideous with the
din OF frightful howlings and discordant notes.
A party OF us, armed with our guns and pistols,
sailed out to attempt dispersion of our noisy
neighbors, who had oongregated in considera-
bic groups not far beyond the line of sentinels
Securing the most advantageous positions, we
commenced rapid firing, which we kept up
until twenty-three were either killed or SO badly
wounded that they could not leave the ground
This attack rather took the bowling providers by
surprise, and the whole host took to their heels
and left IN haste After this, we had peace
and quiet IN camp, but a mournful howl could
be heard IN the distance all through the night
The buffalo have not yet come through this
country, on their return to their winter grazing
grounds in the south, aud the wolves often
suffer for something to eat. The smaller ami
mails are too smart for them, and scarcely ever
TALL prey to the ravenous appetites of savage
animals, Consequently, they are now very
dangerous. A pack of them would not hesitate
long to attack either man or horse. Quite
likely, if we had not driven them away, some of
our outside horses would have been torn to
pieces before morning.
Atthis camp we lay over one day, in order
to give the Quartermaster an opportunity for
making his arrangements to send his train in to
Fort Arbuckle. spent the day in reading and
hshing, and caught about a hundred pounds of
as pretty perch as l ever saw.
1t is said to be only fifteen miles to the In
dian camp. We will arrive there about twelve
o'clock tomorrow, providing we do not have too
much trouble in crossing the Washita and
making road. Probably we shall camp with
these Indians for several days. If so, may be
able to give you some interesting items in re-
lation to their manners, customs, &c. Dock
has just announced that the fish are fried to the
proper degree Of BROWNIES, and insists that
must come to supper while they are warm. So
mote it be. Your faithful servant,
GUY OAKLEAF.
SOUTHERN COMMENTS on GOVERNOR Wis.,