SALT-WATER COFFEE. 421 



through Missouri, and in the other, up the Missouri 

 River. On the first occasion, he had suffered 

 numberless indignities at the hands of border ruf- 

 fians, and would have been killed, had there been 

 any thing in the least degree stronger than suspicion 

 for them to act upon. On the other trip, the steam- 

 boat was stopped at Lexington, and a pro-slavery 

 mob boarded the vessel, and searched for arms. The 

 whole fabric of Kansas material which Gripe wove 

 for us that evening was figured all over with battles, 

 and murders, and tar-and-feather diversions. Had 

 we been writing a history of the State, we might 

 have accumulated a fair share of the material then 

 and there. 



Another subject this evening discussed around our 

 camp-fire was the future of the vast plains which we 

 had been traversing. Two or three of the settlers 

 were ranchemen, who had lived in this region for 

 many years. They were very enthusiastic about the 

 section of their adoption, and affirmed stoutly that 

 within fifteen years the whole tract would be under 

 cultivation. 



I can answer for our whole party that, beyond a 

 doubt, the climate is healthy and the soil rich. For 

 the first one hundred miles, after reaching the 

 eastern boundary of the plains, springs and pure 

 streams abound. Further west, the water supply is 

 not so plentiful. On only one occasion, however, did 

 we sufi^er any inconvenience on this score, and that 

 was upon the very headwaters of the Saline. Going 

 into camp late, cofi*ee was hastily prepared, and the 

 quality of the water not noticed. It proved to be 



