CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Objects of a proposed excursion. Primary plans and movements. A Digression, 

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

 firet visit to the border Prairies. Frontier Indians. 29 



CHAPTER II. 



Preparations for leaving. Scenes at Ca.n^.p. Things as they appeared. Simpli- 

 city of mountaineers. Sleep in the open air. Character, habits, and costume 

 of mountaineers. Heterogeneous ingredients of Compaiiy. The command- 

 ant. En route. Comical exhibition and adventure with a Spanish compa- 

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



CHAPTER III. 



The Pottowatomies. Crossing the Wakarouslia. Adventure at t!ie Springs. 

 The Caw chief. Kansas river and Indians. Pleading for wlii^key. Hick- 

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

 Return party. iMountaineers in i'aiifornia. y^d venture with a biuFah). In- 

 dian atrocities. [.i:iUor and the Fur Trade. Strict guard. Hi^h prices. 45 



CHAPTER iV. 



Country 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 

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

 Predominant characteristics of the Grand Pi-airies, and theory expUmative of 

 of their phenomenon. Sometliing to laugli at. " Big Jim " and the ante- 

 lope. '54 



CHAPTER V. 



Deserted camp. Big .Tim's third attempt as a hunter. Buffilo and other particu- 

 lars. Big Jim lying guard. Bnlchering. StraniTe selections. F.xtraordi- 

 nary eating, and excellence cf butralo meat. Braly's I.dand. The mur- 

 derer's fate. Substitute for wood. A storm, (ianie in camp. Strange 

 infatuation. Tenacity o{ bulTalo to life, and haw to hunt them. Cross S. 



Fork of Platte. Big Jim's fourth adventure. 63 



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