Chap. II. FRONTIER PLACES OF MISSOURI. 217 
the prairies at that season is always dangerous and fatiguing. 
Formerly Independence had the exclusive benefit of this 
communication " over the plains/' as this far western 
region is designated; but at the time of my visit West- 
port, lying twelve miles higher up the Missouri, disputed 
the monopoly. Still higher up succeed Fort Leavenworth, 
Weston, St. Joseph, and Council Bluffs — all starting-points 
for emigrants to California, Utah, and Oregon. Beside 
these, the Mormons have Kanesville, opposite St. Joseph, 
whence their caravans usually depart for the New Jeru- 
salem on the Salt Lake. I cannot say what changes may 
have taken place since. From the extensive region west 
of Missouri, which, at that time, was still belonging to 
the Indians, the two territories of Kansas and Nebrasca 
have since been formed, and many a new town has since 
risen into existence in the last few years. The whole 
first part of my journey passed through what is now 
called Kansas, a region become famous in the history 
of the struggles between the enemies and advocates of 
slavery. 
Then we here were in one of those towns which, situated 
on the limits of a desert, may be compared to a harbour ; 
and perhaps, in spite of the new settlements of Kansas, 
Independence may have maintained this character. The 
camel has been called the ship of the desert ; but until the 
camels introduced of late into Texas by the Government of 
the United States shall have increased sufficiently to play 
a similar part in the New World, the trader's waggon must 
be called the ship of the prairie : and indeed the waggon 
drawn by mules stands in the same relation to that drawn 
by oxen as the steamboat to the sailing-vessel. Formerly 
oxen were here used in preference as draught-cattle for the 
journeys across the prairies; but mules have gradually 
