^ 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 



Objects of a proposed excursion. Primary plans and movements. A Digression, 

 Rendezvous for Oregon emigrants and Santa Fe traders. Sensations on a 

 first visit to the border Prairies. Frontier Indians. 13 



CHAPTER II. 



Preparations for leaving. Scenes at Camp. Things as they appeared. Simpli- 

 city of mountaineers. Sleep in the open air. Character, habits, and costume 

 of mountaineers. Heterogeneous ingredients of Company. The command- 

 ant. En route. Comical exhibition and adventure with a Spanish compa- 

 ny. Grouse. Elm Grove. A storm. Santa Fe traders. Indian battle. 16 



CHAPTER III. 



The Pottowatomies. Crossing the Wakarousha. Adventure at the Springs. 

 The Caw chief. Kansas river and Indians. Pleading for wliiskey. Hick- 

 ory timber. Prairie tea. Scenes at the N. Fork of Blue. Wild honey. 

 Return party. Mountaineers in California. Ad ventiure with a buffalo. In- 

 dian atrocities. Liquor and the Fur Trade. Strict guard. High prices. 23 



CHAPTER IV. 



Country from the frontiers to Big Blue ; its geological character, &c. Novel cure 

 for fever and ague. Indian trails. Game. Large rabbits. Antelope, and 

 their peculiarities. Beaver cuttings. Big Blue and its vicirdty. Dangerous 

 country. Pawnee bravery. Night-alarm, (Prairies on fire.) Platte river. 

 Predominant characteristics of the Grand Prairies, and theory explanative of 

 of their phenomenon. Something to laugh at. " Big Jim " and the ante- 

 lope. 30 



CHAPTER V. 



Deserted camp. Big Jim's third attempt as a hunter. Buffalo and other particu- 

 lars. Big Jim lying guard. Butchering. Strange selections. Extraordi- 

 nary eating, and excellence cf buffalo meat. Brady's Island. The mur- 

 derer's fate. Substitute for wood. A storm. Game in camp. Strange 

 infatuation. Tenacity of buffalo to life, and how to hunt them. Cross S. 

 Fork of Platte. Big Jim's fourth adventure. 39 



