There was the distant, encircling outline of the Rocky mountains, many of the snow-capped peaks piercing the clouds.

Scattered through the groves, which were free from underbrush, and whose surface was carpeted with the tufted grass, were seen the huts of the mountaineers in every variety of the picturesque, and even of the grotesque.

Some were formed of the well tanned robes of the buffalo; some of boughs, twigs and bark; some of massive logs.

Before all these huts, fires were burning at all times of the day, and food was being cooked and devoured by these ever-hungry men.
Haunches of venison, prairie chickens, and trout from the stream, were emitting their savory odors, as they were turned on their spits before the glowing embers.
The cattle, not even tethered, were grazing over the fertile plain.

It was indeed a wild, weird-like, semi-barbaric Fair which was thus held in the very heart of the wilderness.