ISG EXPEDITION TO THE 



our travelling equipage as had become necessary. Oui- 

 horses' backs had been chafed by the saddle, notwithstand- 

 ing all the care taken to keep them in a sound state, which 

 was dictated not only by humanity, but also by a provi- 

 dent attention to our own interest ; for very little experi- 

 ence is required to satisfy a traveller that much of his com- 

 fort and expedition, on such a journey as ours, depends up- 

 on the circumstance of his horse's back not being galled, 

 as it otherwise worries and tires the animal before he has 

 performed much work. For the information of other tra- 

 vellers, we may mention, that after having tried many ap- 

 plications, we have found none that succeeded so well as 

 white lead moistened with milk, as long as this could be 

 procured ; after we had left the settlements, sweet oil was 

 used as a substitute for milk ; whenever the application 

 was made in the early stage of the wound we have found 

 it to be very effectual. It is likewise a convenient one 

 to carry on an expedition, as a couple of ounces of white 

 lead sufficed for the whole of our party during more 

 than a month. 



The succeeding morning the weather was very fair, and 

 the party continued its course over fine undulating prairies, 

 expanded in every direction so as to appear in some cases 

 unbounded by woods. The only defect which we ob- 

 served in the country between Chicago and the Missis- 

 sippi is the scarcity of wood, which is more seriously felt 

 on the west side of Rock river, than to the east of it. This 

 will perhaps be the principal difficulty in settling the coun- 

 try ; otherwise the land is good, not hilly, sufficiently water- 

 ed, and would we doubt not prove productive if well worked. 

 Limestone is frequently to be met with, even west of Rock 

 river; in other places the soil is underlaid with pebbles 

 of white hornstone ; the boulders are not sufficiently abun- 



