260 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



fraternise with the Mormons on their approaching their 

 country ; but the Pawnees quickly undeceived them 

 by running off with their stock on every opportunity. 

 Besides these losses, at every camp, horses, sheep, and 

 oxen strayed away and were not recovered, and num- 

 bers died from fatigue and want of provender ; so that, 

 before they had been many weeks on their journey, 

 nearly all their cattle, which they had brought to stock 

 their new country, were dead or missing, and those 

 that were left were in most miserable condition. 



They had started so late in the season, that the greater 

 part were compelled to winter on the Platte, on Grand 

 Island, and in the vicinity, where they endured the 

 greatest privations and suffering from cold and hunger. 

 Many who had lost their stock lived upon roots and pig- 

 nuts ; and scurvy, in a most malignant form, and other 

 disorders, carried off numbers of the wretched fanatics. 



Amongst them were many substantial farmers from 

 all parts of the United States, who had given up their 

 valuable farms, sold off all their property, and were 

 dragging their irresponsible and unfortunate families 

 into the wilderness carried away by their blind and 

 fanatic zeal in this absurd and incredible faith. There 

 were also many poor wretches from different parts of 

 England, mostly of the farm-labouring class, with wives 

 and families, crawling along with helpless and almost 

 idiotic despair, but urged forward by the fanatic leaders 

 of the movement, who promised them a land flowing 

 with milk and honey to reward them for all their hard- 

 ships and privations. 



