Drift On Second Branch mostly of Rocky Mt rocks but some Laurentian.

The fertile belt may be said to extend to the St Mary R. E. of that R. to the 2nd Branch the Country is only moderately good & the swamps with good hay few. On leaving the 2nd branch ascend onto a flat-topped plateau which extends to within about 6. m. of the first Branch. It is dry & gravelly & covered with a short scanty growth of grass only.

Camp at small lake 6 A.M.
B. 25.10 W.S.W. clear
T. 54"
2nd Branch 11 A.M. B. 25.075 W. strong.clear.
T. 62"
Water of stream 59"
Watershed between 1st & 2nd Branches 24.62

1st Branch 6.m. W. of Crossing of trail 8 P.M.
B. 25.54 N.W. clear
T. 48"

Sept.1. Start 6 A.M. Cross 1st branch on trail. Much diminished in size. Travel till noon & then 4 hours in the afternoon Making over 30 miles. Camped at Creek 24. m.W. of the Buttes, which look beautiful in the evening light.
Country dry rolling hills with short grass & not many good swamps. See first buffalo today. Two bulls a cow & a calf.
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Census of Drift. from 6.m. W. of Crossing of Trail & first branch Milk R.
(Laur)
Granite & gneiss, pinkish & blackish 45
Quartz 2
Ironstone (local) 3
Soft Sandstone & claystone (local) 9
Ostrea fragments (local) 2
Diorite 5
Limestone (some from Mts but majority
Resembling that of Red R) 13
Quartzite pebble:
Quartzite & hard altered sandstones, greyish, &
brownish. Coarse grained or
cherty looking & compact 86
Gradually cut
Hard altered slates & clay rocks, greyish & greenish 37

The altered slates &c are more common here than in any sample yet examined from farther E.

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