58 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



regions of the mountains, where they do not anticipate retalia- 

 tion. 



Trapping with tolerable success in this vicinity, the hunters 

 crossed over, as soon as the premonitory storms of approaching 

 winter warned them to leave the mountains, to the waters of 

 Green River, one of the affluents of the Colorado, intending to 

 winter at a rendezvous to be held in " Brown's Hole" — an in- 

 closed valley so called — which, abounding in game, and sheltered 

 on every side by lofty mountains, is a favorite wintering-ground of 

 the mountaineers. Here they found several trapping bands already 

 arrived ; and a trader from the Uintah country, with store of 

 powder, lead, and tobacco, prepared to ease them of their hardly- 

 earned peltries. 



Singly, and in bands numbering from two to ten, the trappers 

 dropped into the rendezvous ; some with many pack-loads of 

 beaver, others with greater or less quantity, and more than one on 

 foot, having lost his animals and peltry by Indian thieving. Here 

 were soon congregated many mountaineers, whose names are 

 famous in the history of the Far West. Fitzpatrick and Hatcher, 

 and old Bill Williams, well known leaders of trapping parties, 

 soon arrived with their bands. Sublette came in with his men 

 from Yellow Stone, and many of Wyeth's New Englanders were 

 there. Chabonard with his half breeds, Wah-keitchas all, brought 

 his peltries from the lower country ; and half-a-dozen Shawnee 

 and Delaware Indians, with a Mexican from Taos, one Marcelline, 

 a fine strapping fellow, the best trapper and hunter in the mount- 

 ains, and ever first in the fight. Here, too, arrived the " Bour- 

 geois" traders of the " North West" * Company, with their supe- 

 rior equipments, ready to meet their trappers, and purchase the 

 beaver at an equitable value ; and soon the trade opened, and the 

 encampment assumed a busy appearance. 



A curious assemblage did the rendezvous present, and represent- 

 * The Hudson's Bay CJompany is so called by the American trappers. 



