At the forks, he sent a small detachment up the south river with instructions to meet the main party on the Seeds-keedee, or prairie-hen river, which had been called the Spanish river for some time, and soon after it was changed to Green river. With about thirty men he crossed the south fork of the Platte at the point where the city of North Platte now lies, and the north fork at or near the mouth of the Birdwood.

Closely crowding the river on the north side were the sand hills, of which it was said: "This remarkable region is composed of rounded hillrocks of sand, and blowouts, so similar that one better be lost in the trackless forest than to become confused in his bearings."

When opposite "the Needle," no doubt Chimney Rock, they were halted three hours to allow the buffalo to pass. Thousands of them were coming out of the mountains, crossing the river, and disappearing into the hills of the north.

General Ashley's party camped that night at "an island of considerable proportions which, seemed to be a rendezvous for wild fowl." The description given tallies with Long Island, occasionally designated as Hughes Island, where wild geese nested in earlier days.

There was an old saying among the Indians thai " Vbove the forks of the Platte, the grass does not burn." In the shadowy first years then- was very little grass in this country, and the little that did spring up in the early season, and much of the prairie was absolutely ban- by the middle of July. Thus it occurred that when General Ashley reached "the meadows," he rested for a few day. to let his horses recup