abundance of the most excellent meat, and no scarcity of bread or tobacco,
they were enjoying the oasis of a voyageur's life. Three cows were killed
to-day. Kit Carson had shot one, and was continuing the chase in the midst
of another herd, when his horse fell headlong, but sprang up and joined
the flying band. Though considerably hurt, he had the good fortune to
break no bones; and Maxwell, who was mounted on a fleet hunter, captured
the runaway after a hard chase. He was on the point of shooting him, to
avoid the loss of his bridle, (a handsomely mounted Spanish one,) when he
found that his horse was able to come up with him. Animals are frequently
lost in this way; and it is necessary to keep close watch over them, in
the vicinity of the buffalo, in the midst of which they scour off to the
plains, and are rarely retaken. One of our mules took a sudden freak into
his head, and joined a neighboring band to-day. As we were not in a
condition to lose horses, I sent several men in pursuit, and remained in
camp, in the hope of recovering him; but lost the afternoon to no purpose,
as we did not see him again. Astronomical observations placed us in
longitude 100 deg. 05' 47", latitude 40 deg. 49' 55"



JULY.


1st.--Along our road to-day the prairie bottom was more elevated and dry,
and the river hills which border the right side of the river higher, and
more broken and picturesque in the outline. The country, too, was better
timbered. As we were riding quietly along the bank, a grand herd of
buffalo, some seven or eight hundred in number, came crowding up from the
river, where they had been to drink, and commenced crossing the plain
slowly, eating as they went. The wind was favorable; the coolness of the