238 ELDORADO 



the mountains in the spring of 1824, and with a small 

 party made his way, the succeeding spring, into Cali- 

 fornia. He camped on the American river, and in 

 July, 1825, built a post a few miles above the point 

 stibsequently selected by General Sutter for his fort, 

 and not far distant from the post, established a few 

 years later by the Waldoes, near the present site of 

 the town of Folsom. Here he followed his pursuit 

 of hunting and trapping vigorously, for several 

 months. In October, of the same year. Smith left 

 his men at this post and, undeterred by the imminent 

 perils of his journey, started East to inform his part- 

 ners — then on Green river — of his new location. He 

 made many narrow escapes on this journey; had his 

 horse stolen by seven Indians, and marched boldly 

 into their camp and retook it before their faces, they 

 not daring to attack him, so great was their fear of 

 the celebrated trapper. Before crossing the mount- 

 ains, Smith had been a prime favorite of Blackbird, 

 the great Omaha chief. This was one of the shrewd- 

 est Indians that ever lived, and with a wisdom greater 

 than that of Tecumseh, or Pontiac. he realized at 

 once the futility of a struggle against the whites, and 

 bv a peaceful policy, determined to reap the greatest 

 benefit possible from this knowledge. By his arts of 

 statecraft, backed by a fearless courage and an in- 

 domitable will. Blackbird obtained such a supremiicy 

 among his people, as has seldom fallen to the lot of 

 a self-appointed ruler. His power was absolute. 

 From some of the traders he had learned the use of 

 arsenic, in destroying life, and with a full sup]5ly of 

 this deadly poison, he obtained a great reputation as 



