The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-03-02
eight or ten years.

1t should bo observed that only -four
months--Noyember, December, January
and February-are the hides used foi
robes; that not more than one-third the
hides are taken from the animals killed
even when they are in good season, by
reason Of the labor required in dressing
that the hidos of bulls are never used toi
robes; that the great season for making
their yearly supply of dried meat, by the
hibes, 10 July, August and Soptember-
when they slaughter four times the buffalo
they kill during the winter; that the
ComaAches and othdr tribes South. anc
many tribes horth--constitutin half the
Indian tribes-ncver manufacture robes
Then we have, taking 90, 900 as the basis
] of ! of | Of 2=1-4Sx90, ,000-4, 800,
900 killed yearly during the seven months
Add to this the countless numbers des
troyed BY the mountain wolves aud tho
elements (during q severe storm Of SNOW
and sleet, it is said, they sometimes be
come | llinled by heavy snow cakes freez
ing IN the long hair over their eyes, wher
they become frantic, are driven over pre-
cipiees by the wolves or into the rivers
which hunters have told me they have
seen almost damned up by their floating
bodies), and to this again the great mum
bers killed by the whites, and no wonder
the buffalo have been disappearing.
On the Goth VIC came to the upper
crossing of the Platte-S00 feet wide
and too deep for fording, so a boat had tt
be constructed. This was done by the Cana
dian poygeurs, by first constructing 1
frame of willow poles and small sticks in
the shape of boat, strongly wove and
tied together, and then covering the whole
with six large buffalo hides, hair out, sew
ed together with buck skin whang and 1
round awl, TO prevent breakage Crossed
next morning in good order, tho boat car
rying some ! 100 pounds.
In coming thFough these Black Hills
the guide one day lost his landmarks
missed the point agreed upon in the
morning, between him aud the hunters
for the night camp consequently, when
the hunters came TO the place designated
they found 20 camp. The next morning
they had to throw away their loads o.
meat, dash into the hills and spend the
day in finding the trail aud overtakins
the train. Consequently we were withou
food two days found that the Indian
concubines we're ON the lookout for sucl
chances, and always had some meat OF
/ hand.
On the 2sth We camped on the Sweet
Water-50 feet wide-a western brancl
Of the Platte and near Rock Indepcnd
ence-not much noted in those days nov
said to be covered with names from til,
grass to the top. Fremont says this gran
iie rock is $50 yards long aud 40 high
From high stand point two miles TO ths
South of this rock, the beholdcr is pre-
sented with wild aud grand scenery
At his back on the south, 20 miles distant
aud l35 from Laramie, rise the Res
Buttes, 2 900 feet high, u noted landmark
for all that country. At his feet stands
Mr.. Rock independence, alone aud fairly
out from his companions aud apparently
on his way to the 'fsetting SUM-" but JUS
now contemplating one Of two passages be
fore him-either the Devils Gate, si1
miles above and only 40 feet wide, with
perpendicular walls rising feet high
through which his own "Sweei Water
forces its way with difficulty, to onliyer
the little patches OF grass and shrubberJ
and beautiful flowers at his feet; or thu
:" Hot Spring Gate some % miles TO the
southwest, 10 yards wide, with walls o.
white sand-rock rising $50 feet high
through which the Platte escapes from
the mountains. In the distant east, ant
stretching away from the foot of the BlacI
Hills, the sublime, the vast plains of tn,
Nebraska carry the Imagination of the
observer back to the borders Of civiliza
tioa. And to his right and left the Blacl
Hills stretch away for hundreds of mile
like the troubled waters of the ocean
and still before him reach up the Rock,
Mountains, which are seen at this poin
rising III their awful grandeur and whit
with eternal snows-prcsentiag, to all ap
pearances, an insurmountable barrier /,
both man and beast Then great silenc'
rested upon this vast interior of Nortl
America, and the moral darkness of age
unknown brooded over the wild inhabi
tants, who were devouring each other b,
wars and leaving their fertile lands un
cultivated because God, many ages be
fore, had "given them over to a reprobat
mind" and to ''all uncleanliness through
the lusts of their own hearts," they no
''liking to retain God In their knowl
edge"