Year: 1859

May 81, evening.


We have made 55 miles since we star.


ted about this morning, and or present


encampmeDt is on creek running to the


Republican, SO that we have bid final


adie 20 Soomon's Fork and all other af.


fuents of the Smoky Hill branch of the


Kansas. We travelled on the divide be-
sween this and the northern branch of
the Kansas for some miles to-day, and
finally came over to the waters of the Re
publican, W bich river we are to strike some
80 miles further on. We are now just
half way from Leavenworth to Denver,
and our coach has been a week making


this distance, SO that with equal good for
tune We may expect to reach the Land
of Gold in another week. The coaches
We met here to night have been just
week on the way, having (ike ~ lost
day, bat not, like us, BY high water; their
bother was with wild Indisns-Arapa-
hoes mainly-whom they report to be in
great numbers on our route-not hostile
to US, but intent on begging or stealing,
and stopping the wagons peremptorily till
their demands are complied with. They
are at war with the Pawnees, and most
of their men are now on the war-path
their women and children are largely en-
camped around the Express Company's
Stations, living as thoy best may. The
Pawnees, | believe, are mainly or entire
ly south of our road. The Arapaboes
boast of triumpbs and slaughters which,
it is to be hoped, have been or will be re-
cipcocated. Indian wars with each other
are in our day cruel and cowardly plum
dering forays, fitted to excite only dis
gust.


As We left station IA this morning and
rose from the creek bottom to the high
prairie, a great heard Of Buffalo were
seen in and around our road, who begun
to run first north, then south, ID any stan
ding as if confused and undecided which
course to take, and when at last they all
started southwark, we were so near them
that our driver stopped his mules to let
the Buffalo pass without doing US any
harm. Our sportsman's Sharp was not
iohueu dG tuo timcj 10 dltcINdf ~ was, dnN
fred into herd at fair distance, but |
did not see anything drop. After this
they were seen 10 greater or less numbers
on the ridges and high prairie, mainly
south of US, but they either kept respect
full distance or soon took one. We have
not seen one for the last twenty five miles;
but they are now several miles further
this way than they were a few days since,
aud as every foot of the way thus far. and
U hear) further is carpcted with Buff
ao grass, not here eaten down, and as
Buffalo paths and other evidences that
this is their favorite feeding ground are
everywhere present, presume they will
be here in the course of week. But e.
nough of them. And let me here proffrr
my acknowledgements to sundry other
quadrupeds with whom | have recently
formed passing acquaintance.


The Prairie Wolf was the first OF these
gentry to pay bis respects to us He a
sneaking, cowardly little wretch, ofa dullor
dirty white color, much resembling small
short, bodied dog set up on pretty long
legs. believe his only feat emitting
him to rank as beast of prey consists
in sometimes, when hard pressed by hun
ger, digging out prairic-dog and ma
king a meal of him. His usual proven
den is the carcass-no MI after how putrid
.of any dead buffalo, mule or OK that
be may find exposed on the prairies. He
Is paltry creature.


But the Gray Wolf-wbo is also den
zen Of the prairies-Q think we have
seen at least dozen Of the species to- day.
lis a scoundrel of much more impo-
sing caliber. He delights to lurk around
,he outskirts of herd OF Buffalo, keep
ng out of sight and uninspected in the