13th. Reached the Upper Platte ferry about noon. We found four boats,
two belonging to the Mormons, and two to a St. Louis company. The
charge for crossing is four dollars per wagon, and 50 cents for a horse
or mule. The celebrated Kit Carson is here with a drove of horses and
mules for sale. I did not see him, he being out on the hills with
stock.--The country is very barren here, the Black Hills reaching down
within a few miles of the river, and covered with snow. Crossed the
river and camped on a barren hill-side without grass, which was the
best spot that we could find.