Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/399

 DIARY OF ASAHEL MONGER AND WIFE. 391 the necessity of wading the river and leading our boat. The current was swift, and the bottom quick sand, it was very hard work. The river here was quite wide, moved on about 12 miles and camped. 5 Wednes. moved onward up the South fork, camped at the tree, as it is called, where there is but one tree in sight, that can be seen at 6 a great distance. Thursday Started across the prairies for the North fork of the Platt, camped within 3 or 4 miles of it near the head of Ash creek had a heavy storm. Seven or 8 of our horses ran away, all found before night, nothing lost, found wood by going a mile and car- 7 ried it on our backs glad of it at that. Frid. moved on toward the river but for want of a good place to descend the hill, or bluff, as it is called, we traveled most of the forenoon on the high lands descended 8 found wood and grass in abundance on the Platt river. Sat. our movements today were slow 2 Indians came across the river into camp two others remained on the other side of the river, soon the 2 returned, and the 4 came over and remained through the night. 9 Sab. Before noon we came in sight of the chimney, as it is called. This is a gloomy Sabbath only for the presence of Jesus. 10 Mon. My prayer is this morning. Oh Lord honor thyself in me and our little company may all have the spirit of meekness that is in thyself, and be willing to follow Thee. We are now on the south r. side of the north branch of the Platt an immense prairy on both sides of it but little wood, and that principally flood wood we have been under the necessity of using Buffalo dung for fuel. Yesterday we passed a gang of Buffalo, they were on the opposite side of the river, one went across to kill. But our camp came up, and gave the band our wind (as it is called) they all started and ran off. The[y] smell the scent of man for miles when they do, they are sure to run. though a man can get the other side of the band from the wind stoop like an animal, and get very near them. It is just if we should suffer for want of Buffalo meat enough have been slaughtered to last us to the mountains, & hardly a week's provision for the camp saved Traveled all day in sight of the Chimney Stop|~p]ed about noon nearly opposite to it. Above this spar of hard earth or rock there appeared one of the grandest scenes I ever beheld. About 7 or 8 miles from us is what is called Scotch [Scott's] bluff, it looks like an old castle with a rounding top, back from this from the river there are several others similar in line like a number of very large buildings. From them there was a towering bluff with here and there a cluster of black cedar shrubs, here and there a plat of grass interspersed with spots of naked earth which resembled rocks towering high. Then on our left the chimney and its rounding base, and towering hills back of it Then to look upon the beautiful green of 6 or 7 miles long and nearly as wide which was rolling presented a scenery which