ROCKY MOUJ^TAII\^ LIFE 



CHAPTER I 



Objects of a proposeH excursion. — Primary plans and movements.— A digression — 

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

 visit to the border Prairies.— Frontier Indians. 



My puipose in visiting the Rocky Mountains, and countries adjacent, 

 having hitherto proved a fruitful source of inquiry to the many persons I meet, 

 v/hen aware of my having devoted three years to travel in those remote 

 regions, and I am so plied with almost numberless other questions, I know 

 of no better way to dispose of them satisfactorily, tlian by doino- what I 

 had thought of at the outset, to wit : writing a book. 



But, says one, more books have been already written upon subjects of a 

 kindred nature, than will ever find readers. True, indeed; 3'et I must 

 venture one more; and this much I promise at the start: it sliall be different, 

 in most respects, from all that have preceded it ; and if 1 fail to produce an 

 agreeable variety of adventures, interwoven v.-ith a large fund of valuable 

 information, then I shall not have accomplished my purpose. 



Yet, ' why did I go ?--wliat was my object ?' Let me explain : Dame 

 Nature bestowed upon me lavislily that innate curiosity, and fondness fo? 

 things strange and new, of which every one is more or less possessed. 

 Phrenologists would declare my organ of Inquisitiveness to be largely 

 developed ; and, certain it is, 1 have a great liking to tread upon unfre- 

 quented ground, and mingle among scenes at once novel and romantic. 

 Love of adventure, tlien, was the great prompter, while an enfeebled state 

 of health sensibly admonished me to seek in other parts that invigorating 

 air and climate denied by the diseased atmosphere of a populous countiy. 

 I also wished to acquaint myself with the geograpl y of those comparatively 

 unexplored regions,— their geological cliaracter, curiosities, resources, and 

 natural advantages, together with their real condition, present inhabitants, 

 jiducements to emigrants, and most favorable localities for settlements, to 

 enable me to speak from personal knowledge upon subjects so interesting 

 to ^^ J..-. .,. . . \ at the present time, as are the above. Here, then, w*'-* 

 -> * (29^ 



