94 A CALIFORNIA TRAMP. 



The valley gradually widened, but the road was still danger- 

 ous. We soon met companies of Mormons, men and boys, who 

 were chopping wood and mending roads, and anon we en- 

 countered an aged Samaritan with a wagon load of onions and 

 cabbages for our special use, which he sold to those who had 

 any money, or its equivalent in the shape of transferable 

 goods belonging to our employers. As the most of us were as 

 poor as the turkey allegedly Job's (although his book fails to 

 mention the fact that he ever owned such a bird, either poor 

 or fat) when we hired at Leavenworth, it will be seen that the 

 Mormon hucksters got more bacon and ox-chains than coin of 

 the realm. Those few who had conscience instead of money 

 were obliged to see luxuries, like milk, eggs and vegetables, 

 pass by them like the Priest and the Levite of old, giving 

 them no assistance. 



Near the mouth of the widening gorge we came to that 

 evidence of civilization — a toll-gate. Here a saintly keeper 

 slate in hand, kept tally of our wagons as they lumbered past, 

 the toll being one dollar per ton, or §1,250 for our train. The 

 road belonged to the Mormon Church — otherwise Brigham 

 Young. Paying an enemy toll to enter his conquered territory 

 was the height of absurdity. Just below the gate we crossed 

 the river on an excellent bridge, and still following down the 

 canon we left it by an immense natural gateway, where tower- 

 ing rocks arose perpendicularly from each side of the river. 



