improving. Wood, water, and grass at
camp.

22. Turkey Creek.--The road is good, and at 18 miles passes
Little Turkey Creek. No wood, and the water poor at camp;
grass good.

23. Little Arkansas River.--The road runs over a level prairie,
and at 3-1/2 miles passes "Big Turkey Creek," with the
Arkansas River Valley in sight all day. After rains there
are frequent pools of water along the road. Good camp.

20. "Big Cow" Creek.--The road passes for ten miles over a level
prairie, to Charez Creek, which is a bushy gully; thence six
miles to Little Cow Creek, which is a brushy stream, with
here and there a tree. Good camp here to the left of the
road, near a clump of trees. "Prairie-dog towns" commence
to be seen. Road very level. Buffalo-grass here.

20. Big Bend of the Arkansas.--The road at 12 miles strikes the
sand-hills of the Arkansas River. They are soon passed,
however, and the level river bottom is reached. The river
has a rapid current flowing over a quicksand bed. The road
is generally good from the last camp. Wood, water, and grass
at camp.

7. Walnut Creek.--The road is good. Cool springs at this camp;
good grass and wood.

21. Head of Coon Creek.--At five miles the road forks, one
following the river, the other a "short cut" "dry route"
to Fort Atkinson, where they unite on the river. The country
rises for ten miles on the dry route, then descends to the
river, and is covered with the short buffalo-grass. No wood
at camp.

18. Arkansas River.--The road passes over an undulating and
uninteresting prairie, with but little vegetation. The water
in dry weather is in pools.

19. Arkansas River, at Fort Atkinson.--The road runs over a
similar country to that of yesterday, with no wood near;
plenty of buffalo-chips for cooking, and good grass.

18-3/4. Arkansas River.--At 4-1/2 miles the road ascends a bluff
covered with thick buffalo-grass. On the river is heavy
bottom-grass. At 17 miles pass a ford. Grass good at camp.

19-1/4. Arkansas River.--The road is sandy for 14 miles, but not
deep except in places; thence to camp it is good. Good camp.

22. Arkansas River.--Country prairie, covered with shor