15th. Remained at the same camp to-day to recruit our horses, and make
some repairs on the wagons, shoe horses, &c. A part of the men have
been hunting--some of them have just returned, it being noon, and
report having seen a great many antelopes, wild turkies, wolves, &c.;
but have brought in nothing, with the exception of Fuller, who has just
come in with a back load of clams or muscles tied up in his shirt, he
not having any other means of bringing his prize, having stripped
himself of that very necessary garment and constructed it into a bag
for that purpose. Perhaps by night they may succeed in getting some
kind of game for a change. I have been busy repairing the hub of my
wagon, while others are equally busy, shoeing horses, washing clothes,
and attending to other necessary evils of a camp life. This evening I
went out and took tea, (as the old ladies would have it at home, in the
settlements,) that is, I went to the tent of friends Litwiler, Porter,
and Drake, and helped eat the turkey which Litwiler shot last night,
and we had quite a sociable time of it, none the less so from the
novelty of taking tea out in this great wilderness, where perhaps the
foot of civilized man never trod before--and one thing I can say with
candor, that unlike many tea parties in more civilized regions, we had
no scandal to talk over to give zest to the enjoyment of our tea
drinking, although we did dwell somewhat on our homes, wives, children,
fathers, brothers, sisters and friends. One wagon left us this morning,
being anxious to get on.
16th. Traveled 25 miles this day over a barren, volcanic country. The
face of the country is prairie diversified with sandy and rocky knobs,
with no water fit for man to drink, although there is some in muddy
pools that the horses may drink as a last resort. The country is
destitute of timber, and has every appearance of having been acted upon
by volcanoes, and taking it altogether, it has been the most dreary
day's drive that we have had yet. We have had an exceedingly hot day,
and the dust has been suffocating. The ground is so dry that grass
cannot grow.
We camped this night on a dry branch of the Little Blue river, where we
could get some water of very poor quality. Found less grass here than
at any place back, which is very discouraging, for there has not been
enough yet at any place but one, to give our horses what they required.
We found a company camped here who intend to stop here three days, and
if no rain falls in that time to turn back to the States, but that is
what we will never do, for we will go on until we get through, or
perish in the attempt; let what will come, our company are determined
to go through.