CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Objects of a proposed excursion. Primary plans and movemsnts. A Digression. 

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

 first visit to the border Prairies. Frontier Indians. 29 



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 witli a Spanish compa- 

 ny. Grouse. Elm Grove. A storm. Santa Fe traders. Indian battle. 34 



CHAPTER III. 



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

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

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

 Return party. Mountaineers in California. Adventure with a buffalo. In- 

 dian atrocities. Liqtior and the Fur Trade. Strict guard. Hif(h prices. 45 



CHAPTER IV. 



Coontry 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 vicinity. Dangerous 

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

 Predominant characteristics of tlie Grand Prairies, and theory eiplanative of 

 of thi^ir phenomenon. SomelWng to laugh at. "Big Jim" and the ant«- 

 lope. 64 



Vj CHAPTER V. 



2 2» Dewrted camp. Big Jim's third attempt n a hunter. 'Bufffilo and other partica 



2 O lara. Big Jim lying guard. Butc> ;ring. Strange selections. Extraordi- 



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



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



Q ^ Infatuation. Tenacity of buffalo to life, and hovr to hunt them. Cross S. 



tt O Fork of Platto. Big Jim's fourtli adventiirfc M 



£^ (7) 



U) < 



m 7^ 



