IN THE OLD WEST 219 



The trappers looked at the speaker, who was 

 talking Greek (to them). They thought the 

 bourgeois were making fun, and did not half like 

 it, so answered simply, " Wagh ! h — *s full of hosh- 

 posh and porter." 



Two large wagons presently came up, escorted 

 by some eight or ten stout Missourians. Sub- 

 lette was amongst the number, well known as a 

 mountain trader, and under whose guidance the 

 present party, which formed a pleasure expedition 

 at the expense of a Scotch sportsman, was lei- 

 surely making its way across the mountains to the 

 Columbia. As several mountaineers were in com- 

 pany, Killbuck and La Bonte recognized more than 

 one friend, and the former and Sublette were old 

 campaneros. As soon as the animals were un- 

 hitched, and camp formed on the banks of the 

 creek, a black cook set about preparing a meal. 

 Our two trapping friends looked on with astonish- 

 ment as the sable functionary drew from the 

 wagon the different articles he required to furnish 

 forth a feed. Hams, tongues, tins of preserved 

 meats, bottles of pickles, of porter, brandy, coffee, 

 sugar, flour, were tumbled promiscuously on the 

 prairie ; whilst pots and pans, knives, forks, 

 spoons, plates, &c. &c., displayed their unfamiliar 

 faces to the mountaineers. " Hosh-posh and por- 

 ter " did not now appear such Utopian articles as 

 they had first imagined ; but no one but those who 

 have lived for years on simple meat and water, 



