The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-22
A Fat land.


WHICH ARE DgsOLATI0N BY DAY AND
NIGHT-IBE WONDERFUL FAUNA AND FLORA
or THIS HITHERTO UNEMPLOYED REGION
EXPLORATIONS BETWEEN THE CiMAkRoS
AND TIE CANADIAN RIVERS.
Especial correspondence Of the Chicago Times
In THE ARKANSAS WILDERNESS, April A.
There Is something wonderfully rich in The
bottOm lands which / have encountered
everywhere. They vary in width from
twenty wards to mile or more, and have a
dense growth OF timber OF an almost infinite
variety. Among these the prcaD-trees are the
most numerous, and as a rule the most valu-
able. They may be found in some cases IN
groups in which there are hundreds OF these
trees, each Of which produces every other
wear an amount Of fruit which would be
small fortupe IL il were gathered. AS rule,
however, the peCans are eaten by the razor
backed swire which stalk grimly through
the timber, and do not, a. they should, t0d
their way into market. The pecan product
alone OF those portions OF the territory
which | have thus far traversed would II
harvested and sold yield more than do all
The earnings OF the full-blOods in the terri
tory.
THE SOIL. OF THESE BOTTOMS
is as rich rs q compost heap. IL Is made up
from the deposits OF the streams and from
the LAYERS Of vegetation which have been
growing and rottlng down for centuries.
There IS no land anywhere in the world
which would yield more than would these
bottoms If they were cleared and titled by
IN intelligent management. This, however
will never be done, 80 long as Indian terri
tory is controlled by such mon as are now
il the ascendency. and whose sole 'fiort
seems to be to oppose anything In the ma
ture OF Improvement.
EyeryN here in these bottoms the trees
are full Of hooking birds, which, in con-
junction with other songsterS, furnish an
orchestra OF rare value, and capable OF most
melcdious ps well as harmonic results. To
every direction may now be seen rich white
blossoms Of he wild plum. whose product
is said to equal in size and favor the best re-
suits of cultivated growth. lnterspersed with
these, so as to afford agreeable and harmo-
Nous commipgllng OF colors, is the "red
bud.v n dwarf plant, with thick branches.
and which at this season Ct the year are cb-
seured BY their wealth OF dark red BIOS
y oms.
Gigantic grape.vines, In infinite pIoiu-
sion, climb the sycamores and cottonw0ods,
and bear. / am assured. grapes whose Glmen-
sions and quality have no superior. And
then there are endless thckeis OF black
berry bushes which have no limit to their
productiyeness on either side on the prai-
-ric: strawberry Vines extend in infinite
wealth, and have no limit to their supply VI
their delicious fruit.
Meanwhile, always the rolling, endless,
TIMBER DOTTED PRAIRIE.
The everlasting extent OF this ocean; the
absence OF human life, the Loneliness, the
silence became an oppressive desoiaiion. IN
trayersing the interminabe stretches, the
desire 10 see some human babi,atiou, some
evidence Of human existence, grew into q
monstrous, an lDlense, longing. As in the
Case OF people searching FOR water ID de-
sert, the Imagination began to Play all sorts
Of fantastic tricks. Approaching line OF
timber, could see dimly through the toys
OF the trees, on the prairie beyond, all the
evidences OF house and It's surroundings.
There were lines Of trees which walled the
road which led 10 the house; there was h
group Of leafs naples, beneath whose shade
the house it,elf was Nesting. and there
were orchards, and the fenced Enclosures in
which could see the green OF the spring
Ing wheat, the fresh earth OF newly
ploughed fields, aud the dull-gray mating
Of last years corp-feGs. All these were az
real as / have described them; and my
heart would hound pleasurably with the
hops that the supreme solitude was about
to be broken.
When we issued from the timber, and the
further prairie became revealed The mirage
would vanish. The shade-trees would re-
solve into clump OF skeleton black-iacks
the pIougbed Geld would be space black
ened by The action OF fire; the springiDs
wheat would be sheltered dip in which
the grass was thrusting out It's fresh plum
uies, and the lines would disappear. having
grown from the foreground OF the timber
through which the view was seen.
II IL were oppressive, supreme dissolution
by day, when night with its shadows came
il was veriiable hell. Everywhere, then
the fires which had smOldered and shI uni
under the glare Of day came into promi
nence, until we seemed In the very centre
OF the internal pit. Here serpen.ine line:
OF fame crawIed from swell to depressiol
and up the adjacent height like monstroui
serpents. There, they were lakes; anC
again they advanced IN yellow, serrieC
lines like regiments moving by the front.
THE SCENE WAS GRAND,
depressing, horrible, and I believe would
drive one Insane who should be compelled
for any great length OF time, TO endure lis
pftsencfs
There was an abundance OF animal lie,
especially during the day. The sonofous,
hollow song Of the prairie cock as be chanted
to bis mate was heard everywhere, and
seemed IN harmony with the buds on tree
and shrub bursting into existence under
the amorous light Of the sun. There were
teid-larks 10 every direction, hopping, pi'
rouetting on their swift wings, and iilling
the air with their shrill yet melodious cries.
Gay young sprigs are these He'd-laiks.
they have u dark gray coat, cut away In
front so as 10 expose most gorgeous ey.
panse OF yellow vest. This latter garment
opens ut the top to show q shirt.bosom oil
most exquisite black There Is a tiny lie
OF gray around the throst, giving the bird
most wonderful resemblance to Young
dandy, with bis thin legs inclosed IN tight.
nttiD& pantaloons Of some dark-fibbed ma
terisI.
Quail we're before, behind,