ANIMAL FOOD CONDUCIVE TO GENERAL HEALTH. 237 



Two or three severe snow-storms occurred shortly after our arrival ; but 

 having constructed commodious shantees in regular mountain style, with 

 large fires in front, we were both dry and comfortable. 



These occasions, too, afforded their own amusement. Snugly stowed 

 away in bed, with our rifles at hand, whenever a straggling wolf ventured 

 within gun-shot, in fond hopes of a deserted camp, he was almost sure to 

 fall a victim to his own temerity. 



Bands of five or ten would frequently approach almost to the camp-fire, 

 totally unsuspic'ous of danger till the sharp crack of a rifle told the fall of 

 some one of their number. 



A swarm of ravens, allured by the carcases of these animals, peopled 

 the grove near by. Having devoured the timely feast, still the poor birds 

 rerpained, making the day dismal with their tireless croakings, as if in im- 

 portunate supplication for a further boon. 



Three of tliem soon became quite domesticated, and would approach fear- 

 lessly to the very verge of the camp-fire in quest of the offals of our culi- 

 nary department. 



One, however, by far exceeded his two companions in boldness, and 

 would venture within a few feet of us at any time. 



So audacious was his conduct, and so insatiate his appetite, his comrades 

 took occasion to bestow upon him frequent chastisements ; but all to no 

 purpose. At length, abandoning all hope of effecting the desired reforma- 

 tion, they set upon the offending bird, nor relinquished their purpose till 

 the life of the luckless gormandizer had expiated the crime of his unraven- 

 like conduct, and his executioners were left to enjoy their daily repasts with- 

 out the annoyance of his presence. 



Jan. I6th, 1843. Having received an accession of three men to our 

 number, from Fort Lancaster, we removed some six or eight miles further 

 «lown the Platte, and camped in a large grove of cottonwood upon the 

 light bank. 



At this place it was our daily practice to fell two or three small trees for 

 ( ur horses, as we now considered ourselves fully established in winter 

 quarters. Game was plenty, and wood abundant ; nothing, therefore, re- 

 mained for us to do but to recruit our horses, eat of the best the prairie af- 

 lorded, drink of the crystal waters that rolled by our side, and enjoy life in 

 true mountain style; nor did we neglect the opportunity of so doing. In 

 fiict, had the world been searched over, it would have been hard to find a 

 jollier set of fellows than we. 



The effort of a few hours was sufficient to procure a month's supply of 

 the choicest delicacies, nor is it marvellous that, to use a cant phrase of 

 t'le country, we soon became "/a^, ragged, and saucy.^^ 



Perhaps nothing is more conducive to good health than animal food. In 

 proof of this I need only to refer to the uniform good health of those sub- 

 sisting entirely upon it. 



Sickness of any kind is rarely known to the various Indian tribes con- 

 fined exclusively to its use. These people almost invariably live to an ex- 



