270 PASSENGERS DETAILS OF THE VOYAGE. 



and milk, two of the most desirable of liquids, and which might 

 at all times have been obtained on shore, were awanting, ap 

 peared a strong indication of coarseness. The passengers 

 drank in the greatest moderation in my sight, only taking a 

 tumbler of spirits and water occasionally when playing at 

 cards, and never tasting wine or any kind of spirits at table 

 at other times. I did not observe a person of any description 

 on board, during the voyage, that appeared in the least 

 degree intoxicated. The water for washing was always fresh 

 drawn from the river, and I thought the Mississippi more 

 likely to stain than clean any face. Many of the gentlemen 

 attempted to clean their teeth and mouths with such mud, 

 which I did not pass within my lips. My dressing-case did not 

 contain soap, which I thought an article likely to be had 

 everywhere, but on application to the steward, I was told 

 there was none on board. An application to the captain, or 

 some of the passengers, would have procured me this commo 

 dity, at least for shaving with, but there was something so 

 ungracious in the steward s refusal, that I was unwilling to 

 hazard another denial. From necessity I had learned to shave 

 without a mirror, while in the northern parts of Illinois, and 

 now attempted the operation without soap, which I found so 

 easy, that I continued the practice until reaching New York. 



The cabin being in the stern of the vessel, I spent much 

 of my time in the forecastle, for the purpose of seeing the 

 scenery, which brought me in contact with the crew, and 

 many of the deck passengers. In this class of people I found 

 a considerable change of manner from any I had formerly 

 come in contact with. Many of them swore disgustingly, and 

 possessed a general levity and coarseness of manner, but in no 

 instance did I experience incivility. 



I had witnessed a great many cases of fever in course of 

 my journey, and the accounts received in Michigan, Illinois, 

 and Missouri, represented the season as unhealthy, and the 

 population suffering considerably from its effects. On reach 

 ing the Mississippi I learned cholera had scourged the inhabi 

 tants in a dreadful manner, in the course of summer, and had 

 now subsided. Several cases of fever occurred amongst the deck 

 passengers during the voyage, and a poor child sunk under its 



