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There is an Eternal wind in this country, so strong we had to pack away our Hats and wear our cape, if a Hat Blown off it unclear to go after it unless you are on a fleet horse

They looked filthy, and on Blankets, that were fastened tight round their throat an come down to their ankles, and moccasines The most Beautiful Country I ever saw, is up the little Blue River it is nearly level, dry and the soil good, the stream is about 60 ft wide and 6 deep runs swift, and has a small strip of timber, cottonwood willow and occasionally a small cluster of White Oak, I saw no place where it overflows, and it is full of catfish, we crossed the wright fork of it, we got to the Platt River Friday noon, and to where we now are yesterday noon, and shall not leave, til tomorrow (Monday) we struck the Platt 20 miles below the head of Grand Island, and 12 below the Fort the Island is 52 miles long and about 2 wide and the most of it is turbulent? with Cottonwood and Elm. The Fort is about 1 mile from our camp in plain sight, I have not been to it, but am told there is unclear Houses Stone unclear Shop & C. the mail is carried from here to the States every month, we are in the Pawnee Country but most of them have gone south a Hunting, as it is two early for the buffalo to come north we occasionally see an Antelope and am told when we get a week further ahead we will find Buffalo. There is no Timber this side the Platt for 90 miles above, we are looking around to last we, and shall take along enough, to boil our coffee with by driving a little from the road we have found wood enough for purposes, It is 280 miles from here to unclear, and we have not passed through 5 roads of timber in all since we left the timber and the Missouri River, last 2 weeks have been so cold, we have worn over coats