Camp on creek 13 m. W.

8 P.M.

B. 26.77

T. 66

7 AM Wind light E.N.E. Fine. 1.30 PM Wind S. Strong. Fine.

8 PM Wind which has been veering round all day now N.N.E. Strong.Fine

10 PM Calm clear & fine.

A very hot day.

July 3. Left camp by 7 A.M. & followed Ashe's trail toward the West. Country very rough. Cut up by great vallies. Hills barren & stony. Valleys clayey often scarcely supporting vegetation & what is found mostly Artemisia [Sage]. Trail in consequence very toruous. Capt. FH, King & some of men engaged running the line.

Came across 4 "wild cattle" about half a mile N. of the road. Irnmedi[ate] chase & would no doubt have got one or more, but the scout, who alone was mounted. headed them off as he should have done. As it was [we] managed to surround them on the S. & E. When nearest people to them within 300 to 400 yards the[y] began to walk off quickly. Firing commenced but most of men being very bad shots they got away, quickening their pace to a lumbering gallop. One appeared to be slightly wounded & ran rather lame.

Found Ashes old camping place on the Eastern bank of White Mud River. Camped. Had lunch. Started with Dr. Millman & Nilson at 1.30 to ride across the valley to some good sections seen at a distance. The valley very deceptive though looking steep sided & very broad from the bank gives no idea of its real character. Constantly encounter clay banks so steep that almost impossible to ride down down [sic] & often encumbered by masses of boulders from drift. Lateral gorges & ravines running in all directions & ditch-like through the shales & clays rendering great circuits necessary. The banks of the stream itself, which is exceedingly tortuous, are difficult, often being sheer cliffs of shale. The stream is a large one & the water though with the prevailing muddy tinge, good.

The rough character of the banks of the valley increased by numerous land-slips which have brought the upper beds down varying distances & left conical hills, & ridges innumerable.

Though a strong wind blowing on the heights many of the hollows almost perfectly calm, & hiding away clay banks & cliffs almost or