The law of the early forties, that gave to each emigrant, who found his way to Oregon, a section of land, might have been legally applicable to the sand hills of Nebraska, sixty years before the achievement of Wm. Neville and M. P. Kinkaid was upon the statutes. The territory of Nebraska was unorganized for many years after the passage of the Oregon homestead act, and in Idaho the Oregon statute was made to apply after Idaho became a state, because the act had not been repealed.

Parker speaks of the large quantities of game, and says the prairies abound with "badgers," probably prairie dogs. It was on the 21st of July that they arrived "opposite Court House Rock," which he describes thus :

"It has at the distance the appearance of an old enormous building, somewhat dilapidated ; but still you see the standing walls, the roof, turrets and embrasures, the dome and almost the very windows -- and a large guard house standing some distance in front of the main building. You unconsciously look around for the enclosures -- but they are all swept away by the lapse of time -- for the inhabitants they have all disappeared. All is silent and solitary. You are excited to know who has built this fabric -- what has become of the bygone generations ?"

The following day they camped "opposite"

another of nature's wonders, called "The Chimney, but I should say it ought to be called Beacon Hill from its resemblance to that famous land mark of Boston." "I crossed the river to get a nearer view with one assistant. When some distance from the river, we heard and then saw the stampeding of buffalo. We rode for the river to get out of their line of progress. They probably would have failed had not some horseman rounded their left flank and slightly altered their course."