10th. — We  parted  with  our  hospitable  host  after  breakfast
the  next  morning,  and  reached  St.  Vrain's  fort,  about  forty-five
miles  from  St.  Helena,  late  in  the  evening.  This  post  is  situ-
ated on  the  South  fork  of  the  Platte,  immediately  under  the
mountains,  about  seventeen  miles  east  of  Long's  peak.  It  is
on  the  right  bank,  on  the  verge  of  the  upland  prairie,  about
forty  feet  above  the  river,  of  which  the  immediate  valley  is
about  six  hundred  yards  wide.  The  stream  is  divided  into
various  branches  by  small  islands,  among  which  it  runs  with
a  swift  current.  The  bed  of  the  river  is  sand  and  gravel,  the
water  very  clear,  and  here  may  be  called  a  mountain-stream.
This  region  appears  to  be  entirely  free  from  the  limestones  and
marls  which  give  to  the  Ljower  Platte  its  yellow  and  dirty  color.
108  COL.  Fremont's  nabbatite  op

The  Black  bills  lie  Ijetween  the  stream  and  the  mjuntains,
whose  snowy  peaks  glitter  a  few  miles  beyond.  At  the  fort
we  found  Mr.  St.  Vrain,  who  received  us  with  much  kindness
and  hospitality.  Maxwell, had  spent  the  last  two  or  three  years
between  this  post  and  the  villaf "  of  Taos ;  and  here  he  was  at
home,  and  among  his  friends.  Spaniards  frequMitly  came
over  in  search  of  employmen*. ;  and  several  came  in  shortly
after  our  arrival.  They  usually  obtain  about  six  dollars  a
month,  generally  paid  to  them  in  goods.  They  are  very  use
ful  in  a  camp,  in  taking  care  of  horses  and  mules ;  and  I  en
gaged  one,  who  proved  to  be  an' active,  laborious  man,  and  was
of  very  considerable' service  to  me.  The  elevation  of  the
Platte  here  is  five  thousand  four  hundred  feet  above  the  sea.
