CHAP. I.] PKEPAEATIONS. 3 



consented to accompany me ; and to Ms perseverance 

 and energy I have since been in the highest degree 

 indebted. I collected together all the things I could 

 tliink of, or that my friends were kind enough to suggest 

 to me, as advisable to take. 



I knew that at least the fh-st part of my journey 

 would have to be undei-taken in waggons, in each of 

 which I was assured four thousand pounds' weight 

 could be carried without risk across the country, so far 

 as it had been penetrated, and therefore I was not 

 necessarily stinted in the quantity of comforts I could 

 carry from Europe ; but as to the latter pai't of my 

 expedition I was aware that the probability was that 

 I should have to leave my waggons, and to travel 

 either by boat or on the backs of some beasts of 

 burden, or possibly even to walk, in which case I 

 should have to content myseK with far less luggage. 

 I tlierefore collected my thmgs together, on the prin- 

 ciple of having them as light as possible, and in 

 duplicate, the half of which I could leave en cache, 

 when I had to quit my waggons, as a store to fall 

 back upon should I happen to meet with robbery or 

 accident. 



In my perfect ignorance of what would be the most 

 acceptable presents, and what were the best articles of 

 exchange among the people I should meet with, I 

 made a great collection of all sorts of ornaments, so 

 that I had a store like a pedlar's shop; for besides 

 the more staple articles of guns, beads, knives, and 

 gaudily printed calico, I bought or collected looking- 

 glasses, accordions, hunting-coats, my friends' old 



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