Long's peak. It is on the right bank, on the verge of the upland prairie,
about forty feet above the river, of which the immediate valley is about
six hundred yards wide. The stream is divided into various branches by
small islands, among which it runs with a swift current. The bed of the
river is sand and gravel, the water very clear, and here may be called a
mountain-stream. This region appears to be entirely free from the
limestones and marls which give to the Lower Platte its yellow and dirty
color. The Black hills lie between the stream and the mountains, whose
snowy peaks glitter a few miles beyond. At the fort we found Mr. St.
Vrain, who received us with much kindness and hospitality. Maxwell had
spent the last two or three years between this post and the village of
Taos; and here he was at home, and among his friends. Spaniards frequently
came over in search of employment; and several came in shortly after our
arrival. They usually obtain about six dollars a month, generally paid to
them in goods. They are very useful in a camp, in taking care of horses
and mules; and I engaged one, who proved to be an active, laborious man,
and was of very considerable service to me. The elevation of the Platte
here is five thousand four hundred feet above the sea. The neighboring
mountains did not appear to enter far the region of perpetual snow, which
was generally confined to the northern side of the peaks. On the southern,
I remarked very little. Here it appeared, so far as I could judge in the
distance, to descend but a few hundred feet below the summits.

I regretted that time did not permit me to visit them; but the proper
object of my survey lay among the mountains farther north; and I looked
forward to an exploration of their snowy recesses with great pleasure. The
piney region of the mountains to the south was enveloped in smoke, and I
was informed had been on fire for several months. Pike's peak is said to
be visible from this place, about one hundred miles to the southward; but
the smoky state of the atmosphere prevented my seeing it. The weather