The New York herald., 1875-07-01

OF the strata, composed OF hight sandstone and In
elining toward tue valley, Is very acute, and IS
equal 10 the inclination OF the mountains side,
OF which the tOpmost stratum orms smooth
pavement sage brusl haunts the vision OF the
traveller Tor miles, Ike drearY blight
destroying the beauty OF natures more verdant
attire. Yet few plants growing on the plans
and elevated table lands are OF greater benent TO
the pioneer or hunter. Few of hese men escape
the terrible mountain fever whicn ls peculiar TO
nigh attitudes. sage. IN The form OF a decoctlon
Is the one remedy employed, ana win great sue
cess.
Northward heavily wooded mountains closed
our view Tor about two hours, and on the left was
large butte, whose eastern side had slid away
partially. leaving perpendicular bank OF scarlet
earth 300 feet high rne color Is 30 garlng tnat lt
can be seen from alar OH We rode over succeed
Ing table lands, each one higher tnan the last.
dozen Tlvulets trIckled down from single noun
tam, rising in as many hldaen springs. whose
waters are pure ana cold. AS we still mounted
TO higher planes OF altitude by gradual ascent,
other ranges OF dAountains rose 20 the view be-
yond those which had hltnerto bounded the
vision. The deposits OF gypsum became very
marked. lt exists in immense quantities, and
whole hills are composed or II almost entirely.
Thick strata run through the bases OF the
mountains. Tne grass as we advanced nortnward,
became richer. At TWO O'CLOCK on the nrst day
after leaving camp No. III we entered a lovely
park, about haf a mile square. Beyond this the
stream Is no longer visible above the ground, BUT
runs through subterranean course from he out
let or an icy sprlng-neAf whlcn we ehcdmped at
nlgnt-soutn OF which the earth for some distance
resouuded 10 the tramp OF the horses hoois with
startling dlstlnctness as II we were riding over
caverns of great depth Before leaving the park
/ could not resist inclination 10 recllne on the
SOFT turf and note the loyeliness OF the scene A
thin belt OF trees seemed u l0rm an encosure, in
the middle of wmch lay level meadow, covered
with a more luNurlant carpeting Than art could
weave for the salons OF palace. The turf was OF
Two shades OF color, distinct species growing IN
patches on the tops o. knobs, and blending lts
golden tlnts OF green with the darker
beautiful Az the loot OF the mountains small
nils, covered with pine groves, enclose lovely
dels, which seemed TO drink contentment from
tue air and warmth alike IN shadow or IN light.
High above the level OF the valley, on the noun
nesting IN tne dense forest, broke the mo
notony OF It's Elouminess. Beyond tins park,
across rolling pateauX, through narrow gorges
and over low ricges covered with groves and
glades, We at length turned around a red point or
earth and rock and emerged upon
A HIGH, SLANTING TABLE LAND.
In depressed spot or basin, on the western edge
OF the mesa, we found beautiful spring. the
original source OF the Beaver, buDbnng up from
the ealth perfectly pure. the water was de-
liclous: It's tempeiatnIe being about forty-two de-
grees Farnenneit. Tne scenery was very pie
turesque. On the east the table land extended to
the verge ol deep CANYON cut down 800 leet be-
tween The mountains and the upland prairie. for
Two tall Duties evidently terminated the range ON
the west Side OF the camp and southward the nils
seemed lnteriocked so that the little pass through
which We entered the table land was not discern
ibe. On the neXr day The trall lay along the
canyon for some distance, and We drank from
tine spring nall way down ITS side. Ine water
was wonderfully cold ana very sweet. We passed
over severa table lands, rising higher and higher,
their surface alternately adorned by groves and
natural meadows. We reached at length a nat
prairie, 1880 ieet above the sea. None OF the
nei nboring mountains are more than 100 feet
hgner From the centre of TINS PLAIN the north
ern horizon seems lost. The eye can see nothing
beyond the margin OF the table land, as the hills
beyond are less altitude. the canyon on the
right IS 100 feet deep, and presents na2nihcent
scenes OF natural grandeur and picturesque WIG.
ness. Tne hills nOrthward over which the tran
passes, forming the reat DIVISION between tue
watersheds of the south and north forks or the
Big Cheyenne River, have all been scourged by Il
great fire. kIndled either by the Indians. accord
10y TO their custom, or by LIGHTNING from the
heavens. AS far as the eye could reach toward
the northeast there Is nothing but forest OF bare
and dead TRUNKS DlacEened pf the names,
snd snd tne grouIq fraoments feTH ef pInes' low
growth OF bitter cottonwood succeeds the pine,
when only quarter of century can replace I'm ia
woods TO dive the game INTO the valleys, where
he may slaughter il unmerciully, making des.
ert out Of natures paradise. Sucn scene or
ruthless devastation strikes sharply upon the
mind of the traveller over one desoate ridge
after anotner finally reached the summit.
thousand yards northwest oI IL the head waters
OF the Bear Lodge Greek come from small gorge
and flow westward. On the southeast are ra-
vines sloping down toward the ped OF the Beaver.
From tne summit, 5000 feet above the sea, the
grandest scene In this part OF tae hills lay before
US. The day was not propltious, as the SKY was
heavily clouded and rain was evidently already de-
scendlng snort distance from US III the northwest.
Ii In this direction that the eye was irresist-
IDLY attracted as II by fascination. Purple clouds
dipping down, their lower edge lringed with mist,
enVeloped the heads OF lesser PEAKS with caps OF
gloom but, rearing its crest lar above them, dis
tinct from all Its fellows we easily recognize o
tremendous
northwest, as tile Bear Lodge. It's grandeur in-
spires the Indian with veneraton. Tue DakotahS
are wont TO assemble 1t us loot In council wnen
war Is meditated. From our position the valleys
sweeping toward the north northwest and north,
could be traced with dlstinctness through the
smaller Mills until they converged under tue great
shadow OF the Bear Lodge, whence tner waters
now through Bear Lodge River INTO the Belle
Fourche ine northern branch Of the Cheyenne.
whose course is more dimly marked aiar OF. Crow
Peak loomed up Ia the north and Bear Butte IN
the northeast. Both were partially yelled by
CLOUDS.
Descending from The ridge and dlverging upon
a less distinct hut better trail tnan the one over
which we had come, we crossed mesa and
plunged into a ravlne, through wnlcn we wound
our way, among dwarf hills, tinoered with cot
Ionwood ana pine Until ,onG suddenly Sner IN
small valley, in winch there was the dry ped OF
stream. Along It's markln was Custers tran, dls-
tinctly marked by neavy tram of wagons. Sew
era springs were discovered few rods down
the oed OF the stream, which thereafter Is occu-
pied by u sparkling current, nowing westward,
being undoubtedly Floral Creek The tempera.
ture OF the springs was Alto. Ine camp
was placed In a small glade on the north side or
valley. AMID a cold and drencning rain Floral
Valley, Of which this IS the head dll not present
to our gaze wonderful profuson of mowers
but the Is still early this Is not strange
Many varieties which / nave seen elsewhere in
she Hills have, however nearly hnisned blooming,
and on some The seed Is rpening.
THE CHILLY RAIN
poured upon our TENS all night, It's dull and
melancholy batter accompanied by the s0ughlng
OF the pines, through which the wind sullenly
rushed, as the Furies were lashing IT on In PHI
less wrath. On rising tnls morning bedolng,
clothes and canvas were damp, ana the y orm
was still progressing. Before nine O'Clock how
ever, the clouds dissolved slowly tnto mist.
through winch the blue OF tne SKY soon appeared.
and the sun came out fiercely from his Involuntary
retire ment made the ar sultry or the rest OF
the day. The longitude OF our camp (No. 13J was
ascertained 70 be 104 deg. Is min. west OF Green
wich-and the latitude 43 deg. 0S MIN. o5 sec.
Owing TO an error In captain futtle's 0bserVa-
tiobs at Camp No. IL, It's longitude mad been an
nounced as east OF tne l04th parallel Such Is not
the lact anu the boundary between Wyoming and
Dakota may not vary much from the position IN
wnicn II Is placed on the map
starting at noon. We nave gone to-day through
delightful scenes. AT the head Of THIS valley the
water begins to shed In an opposite direction, ana,
passing over tae summit, we found ourselves GU
the heAdwaters OF Castle Creek. several clear
ana Icy springs bubble up from green meadow
between the nlls. short distance above them
were the remains Of an Indian village, which had
apparently been deseried very hurriedly. There
was nothing TO Indicate "a recent occupancy. TWO
miles lurther down ls the site OF a large Medicine
lodge. Castle Creek, near al Immense beaver
dam, was crossed on bridge OF bit
ter cottonwood poles constructed by Gus
teris DlOueers last summer. Toe stream