Chap. IT. THE AUTHOR'S DIART. 445 
The camp is quickly under water. It is impossible to make 
a fire, and our people yesterday ate for breakfast our last 
cooked food. All business in the camp is transacted upon 
the knees in water and mud. 
14£/i. — Two of the axletrees, which snapped two days 
ago, could not be repaired till to-day. From time to time 
torrents of rain. The water rises in the camp. 
15th. — Impossible to get out of this hole full of water 
and mud. We live on raw ham and ships' biscuits, and 
drink the muddy water in which we and our animals wade 
about. We have ordered a hunded yoke of oxen to help 
in extricating our waggons, but the promised aid does not 
come. 
16th. — The rain continues. We must get away at all 
hazards, and a desperate effort must be made. Doubling 
the teams, we get half the waggons as far as Prairie Cottage, 
— a small isolated dwelling in the prairie. I mount guard 
during the night, with two Mexican lads, beside the 
waggons. 
17 th. — The rest of the waggons are brought up, and 
this labour continues till two o'clock p.m. No advance 
to-day. 
ISth. — This morning the ground covered with hoar- 
frost. By dint of great effort, the caravan proceeds to- 
day three miles. 
19th. — The mules are in danger of perishing for want 
of provender. The grass of the prairies, ordinarily dead 
and without nourishment, begins to rot. I ride on to Vic- 
toria to purchase a few waggon-loads of maize for the ani- 
mals, and to hire some hundred yoke of draught- oxen. 
20th. — The road to Victoria almost impassable. I 
make some acquaintances in the hotel, to find out how 
and where I can obtain what I want ; and at table I fall 
