LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. . 213 



the vicinity, where they endured the greatest privations and suffer- 

 ing from cold and hunger. Many vv^ho 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. 



Among 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-laboring class, with wives and families, crawl- 

 ing along with helpless and almost idiotic despair, but urged for- 

 ward by the fanatic leaders of the movement, who promised them 

 a land flowing with milk and honey to reward them for all their 

 liardships and privations. 



Their numbers were soon reduced by want and disease. When 

 too late, they often wished themselves back in the old country, 

 and sighed many a time for the beer and bacon of former days, 

 now preferable to the dry buffalo meat, (but seldom obtainable) of 

 the Far West. 



Evil fortune pursued the Mormons, and dogged their steps. 

 The year following, some struggled on toward the promised land, 

 and of these a few reached Oregon and California. Many were 

 killed by hostile Indians ; many perished of hunger, cold, and 

 thirst, in passing the great wilderness ; and many returned to the 

 States, penniless, and crestfallen, and heartily cursing the moment 

 in which they had listened to the counsels of the Mormon prophet. 

 The numbers who reached their destination of Oregon, California, 

 and the Great Salt Lake, are computed at 20,000, of whom the 

 United States had an unregretted riddance. 



One party had followed the troops of the American government 

 intended for the conquest of New Mexico and the Californias. Of 

 these a battalion was formed, and part of it proceeded to Upper 



