ROCKY MOUNTAO LIFE. 



CHAPTER I 



Objects of a proposed excursion. — Primary plans and movements. — .4. digression — 

 Rendezvous for Oregon emigrants and Santa Fe tradere. — Sensations on a firs« 

 visit to the border Prairies. — Frontier Indiana. 



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

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

 when aware of my having devoted tliree 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, than by doing 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 ; yet I must 

 venture one more; and this ranch I promise at the start: it shall be diflerent^ 

 in most respects, from all that have preceded it ; and if I 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? — what was my object?' Let me explain: Dame 

 Nature bestowed upon me lavishly that innate curiosity, and fondness for 

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

 Phrenologists would declare my organ of Inquisitivcnoss to be largely 

 developed ; and, certain it is, 1 have a great Uking to tread upon unhe- 

 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 otlier parts that invigorating 

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

 I also wislied to acquaint myself with the geograpl y of tliose comparatively 

 unexplored regions, — their geological character, 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 



U: -.. , :- , at the present time, as are tlie above. Here, then, w""- 



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