22 _ NOTES TAKEN. 
profuse; the soil was quite sandy. At dawn of day we 
were again “en route.” It was a beautiful sight in the dim 
light and bracing air of morning, to see the long line of 
white covered wagons rolling quietly over the slopes of the ~ 
“prairie ; the lowing of the oxen, the snorting of the horses, 
the shouts and cracking ‘of whips by the drivers, with all the 
- bustle of breaking up camp made up an enlivening scene, 
which must be experienced to be enjoyed. One thing however 
marred its enjoyment to me, and that was the awful profanity 
of the drivers. I have often since had occasion to comment 
upon and reproye this among this class of men, but never has 
~ it struck me as so ill-timed and unnatural as when indulged in, 
in the midst of natural beauties, which might fire a dying 
hermit; under such circumstances—blasphemy (a practice 
senseless, sinful and unnecessary) is like a volcano, devas- 
tating the fair fields, and sunny vineyards, of Italian climes, 
harrowing to the soul, revolting to nature. 
‘Being quite unwell—the result of the severe exposure of 
the last few days, I stopped in the course of the morning at 
an Indian hut to get some coffee, and had an opportunity to 
make some observations upon the indolence, carelessness, want 
- of calculation and slovenly habits of this semibarbarous 
people. The man had built his hut, which was new, about 
half as large as was necessary to ‘neeenimnbdate his family, 
consisting of five adults and four children, and even this he 
was too indolent to-finish. Tt had but one room, built of logs, 
taafed with a rude clap board, split from sapling oak, The 
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