444 FBAGMENT OF Book III. 
comforts of civilized and refined life, may he realize the 
contrast of his situation with mine at that time, and con- 
vince himself that, in Europe, the knowledge of man's 
physical, and, in many respects, his moral powers also, is 
attained in exceptional cases only. It is true the soldier 
during a campaign has to suffer similar hardships, some- 
times still more severe : but he does not undergo these of 
his free will, not even when he has entered the army 
as a volunteer ; and consequently he has seldom to give, 
for any length of time, the whole strength of his will. Not 
one of our party was bound ; for the laws of the United 
States would have afforded us no coercive remedy if sud- 
denly all our people had left us in the midst of our diffi- 
culties. Some of our people — Europeans by birth — 
actually did this. The following is the extract from my 
Diary : — 
December Mtli. — -Men and beasts were obliged to fast 
from early yesterday until this morning. All worked 
without ceasing. I have been crippled this morning by 
rheumatism. In spite of every exertion we have not 
advanced more than a thousand paces during the day. In 
the evening half the waggons remained scattered in the 
road. Two drivers, disheartened by the toils at the outset, 
have left their horses and waggons in the road, and dis- 
appeared. 
12th. — The caravan has been with difficulty put, and 
kept, in motion. It begins to rain. Half the waggons 
proceed about five English miles from the town, and there 
encamp ; the others remain scattered on the road. 
13th. — The waggons which remained behind are fetched, 
and in the evening all are formed into a camp. Torrents 
of rain. It is out of the question to think of proceeding. 
