Chapter XXVI: Wilderness and Frontier Travel (1)

The rapid extension of the railway across the American Continent, and the construction of lateral lines, have greatly diminished the volume of travel with wagons, and other primitive modes, but have by no means made an end of them. There is yet a large area without settlements, and unprovided with the iron road, and for many years to come the wagon of the emigrant and explorer will wend its way through the wilderness. For those who contemplate pushing beyond the borders of civilization, the writer presents this chapter.

The means of transportation available in frontier or wilderness regions are wagons and pack-animals; the former are adapted to most open and prairie countries, but in mountain regions it often happens that the wagon cannot be used. The pack-animals in general use are horses and mules; the latter are the surest of foot, especially the Mexican variety, which is smaller than the American mule, and can live where the latter would starve. Where snow is to be encountered horses are to be preferred, as the horse will plod on through the drifts long after the mule has given up in despair. The writer of "How to Travel" has an unhappy recollection of crossing the divide between the Arkansas and Platte rivers in the winter of 1860, when paths had to be trodden in the snow for the mules before they would consent to go ahead. Our horses kept on through snow that was nearly thirty inches deep, but even when they had made a very good path it was difficult to urge the mules forward.

The best pack-saddles for either horses or mules are of the "Grimsley" pattern; they are open at the top, and covered with rawhide that shrinks while drying, and is thus drawn straight. The Grimsley fits well on the animal's back, and saves it from soreness longer than any other form of saddle in use. The Indians have pack-saddles in the form of "saw-horses," and the Mexicans use a leather sack like a mattress, which is stuffed with hay, and has no projections for fastening the load in place. In putting it on a mule they draw the belt so tight that it seems to threaten to cut the poor brute in two, and certainly must give him great pain. All the forms of pack-saddles, as well as the best riding-saddles for frontier use, have broad girths of braided horse-hair, that are far less likely to slip than any girth of leather.

The proper adjustment of a load on a pack-saddle is a work of art that can only be accomplished after long experience. In the first place, the load must be accurately balanced, so that it will not have a tendency to turn over, and, secondly, it must be lashed to prevent its working 'loose, and scattering' itself along the trail. It is not agreeable to find soon after leaving camp that your lashings have loosened, and the load, which was your pride at starting, is being distributed by the wayside. To add to the perplexity, the mule invariably helps the business along by executing a waltz, and kicking at imaginary dogs above the tree-tops. Men have been known to use profane language on such occasions, but a mule never does.

At night the packs should be placed in a row and covered with the saddles and saddle-blankets, to protect them from possible dew or rain, and have them convenient for loading up in the morning. Great care should be exercised to prevent the backs of the animals from getting sore; the best preventive is a well-fitting saddle, but in any case the backs of the beasts should be closely watched. If a horse or mule is found to be sweating when unsaddled, it is well to allow the saddle-blanket to remain until the skin is dry. Grease can be applied to a spot that shows a tendency to soreness, and a piece of bacon-rind may be tied on and left over night. It is not a good plan to wash an animal's back immediately after unsaddling, and while he is hot and sweating; the back should be allowed to cool completely before water is applied.

A very important member of a pack-train, especially when it is composed of mules, is the _madrina_, or bell-mare. She must be chosen for her dignity and docility, and be ornamented with a bell like the ordinary cow-bell of the eastern States. Its tinkle is a great attraction to the mules, and wherever she goes they are sure to follow. When the train is on the march she should be kept in front, and when rivers are to be crossed she must be sent over first. The affection shown by mules for the bell-mare is often very touching; they will crowd around her and struggle for the privilege of rubbing their noses against her sides, and, if she is accompanied by a colt, they show as much fondness for it as girls do for a baby. Many are the stories told by old plainsmen about the bell-mare, and the devotion of the rest of the animals to her; she saves a vast deal of trouble, both in camp and on the march, as she keeps the herd together when all other means would fail.

For wagon travel on long and rough roads, where grain cannot be obtained, oxen are preferable to mules or horses, as they have more endurance, though they move more slowly. They keep in good condition where horses and mules would give out, and in cases of emergency, where the animals must be slaughtered for food, they make orthodox and more attractive beef. Fifteen to twenty miles is a good day's journey for an ox-team, while horses and mules can make from twenty to thirty, if the roads are fairly good. Oxen are less liable to be stampeded by Indians, and are easier to keep from straying; with a few days' training they can be made to work under the pack-saddle if necessary, and in South Africa pack-oxen are in general use. Anderson, who traveled in South Africa, said he had an ox named 'Spring' that he rode for two thousand miles, and found him an excellent beast under the saddle. It is well for a long journey to have some cows along, as they find their own food, and give milk, and, in emergencies, they may be worked in the teams like oxen.

Wagons should be as light as possible, consistent with strength, and the wood should be perfectly seasoned, in order to resist the effects of the changes of the atmosphere. The wagon-body should be water-tight, so that it will preserve its contents when fording streams, and it can also be used as a boat where a river is too deep to be forded. There should be a joint in the pole where it enters the hounds, and the coupling pole should be movable; the joint will often prevent the breaking of the hounds, and the movable perch enables a part of the wagon to be converted into a cart, when a broken wheel or axle prevents the further use of the entire vehicle. Every wagon should have strong bows and a double cover of thick osnaburg to protect the contents from the rain and dew. The bolts that connect the running-gear should be riveted at the ends to prevent the nuts from falling off, as the loss of a nut in the wilderness often leads to the loss of the entire wagon.

The load of the wagon should be closely and securely packed, and everything arranged to prevent chafing in the many jolts of the road. Provisions for the journey should be in the most compact form, and not a superfluous ounce of stuff should be taken along. Bacon and flour are best carried in strong sacks, and all boxes and barrels must be rejected, except one or two light flour barrels for getting water. Sugar and salt must be in canvas bags with an outer covering of India-rubber or oil-cloth, to prevent the moisture reaching the contents, and tea and coffee require air-tight cans for their preservation. Desiccated and canned vegetables are excellent; the former deserve the preference on account of their more condensed form. Citric acid and the essence of lemons should be taken on long journeys where fresh vegetables cannot be obtained, as they are an efficient anti-scorbutic, and it is well to have a few simple medicines in a small box that ought to be kept in a corner of one of the wagons, where it can be easily reached.

The personal outfit of a campaigner in the wilderness is not very elaborate. White shirts should be discarded, and blue or red flannel worn instead. The coat should be short and of some strong woolen material, and the overcoat heavy without being stiff. The trowsers should be thick and soft, and if the wearer intends to do any saddle-riding he should have his nether garments "half-soled," or reënforced with buckskin where they touch the saddle, and thus preserve them from wear. An outfit for a campaign of a hundred days might be about as follows:--

Overcoat, coat, and soft hat, one each, two flannel over-shirts, two woolen undershirts, two pairs thick cotton drawers, four pairs woolen socks, two pairs cotton socks, three pairs shoes, one pair strong and high boots, one India-rubber poncho, and six colored silk handkerchiefs. Then add castile soap for toilet purposes, and three pounds bar soap for clothes, comb and brush, and tooth-brushes, and a quantity of needles, thread, pins, buttons, beeswax, etc., in a small bag of buckskin. By the way, don't forget a good quantity of buckskin and an awl; they come handy in many ways for repairing harness, clothing, saddles, shoes, and the like, and you will greatly miss them if you forget them till too late.

For bed and bedding you want two blankets, a quilt, and a pillow, the whole wrapped in a cover of India-rubber or painted canvas, which can be spread on the ground at night to keep out the moisture. For dining-room and kitchen you want for every six persons a camp-kettle, a coffee-pot, a mess, a frying, and a bake-pan, all of wrought-iron. Have an extra camp-kettle for accidents, and a bucket of galvanized-iron for bringing water; don't trust to wood, as it is liable to many accidents from which iron is secure. Your judgment will tell you about knives, forks, and spoons; cups and plates should be of strong tin, and the handles of the former riveted on, never soldered. Pepper and matches should be in glass bottles, with close corks, and kept in the safest place. Every horse and mule should have at least two lariats, or picket-ropes, and every wagon needs an axe, and a spade, and some S's, and extra chain-links for repairs.

So much for the outfit, to which you will add the firearms that suit your fancy and the requirements of the region you are about to visit. Those that use fixed ammunition are undoubtedly to be preferred, if you can be sure of a sufficient supply of cartridges at all times, but where this is not the case, it is best to adhere to the old-fashioned Colt's revolver, loading with loose powder and ball. A Remington, Winchester, or other cartridge rifle may be carried for rapid work in fighting Indians, or killing large game, and a Colt's revolver, with loose ammunition, will be a convenient thing for every day use and ornament.

Now we are off, and must look out for ourselves. Provisions for our sustenance are in the wagons, and we must think of food and water for our riding and team animals. Make short and easy drives for the first few days, till the teams get accustomed to their work, and then we will increase the distance; we will not make more than half a dozen miles the first day, and even if we only go a mile or two, and camp just outside the town, we shall have gained so much. We will make our marches in the early part of the day, have a long rest at noon, especially if we are using oxen, and then go on again till sunset. We must always camp near grass and water, and it is better to make a very long drive than not to do so; if possible, we should have grass and water at the noon halt, but, in case of necessity, we can do without water, and then lengthen the afternoon march so as to reach it.

An old traveler will find water where the novice declares it does not exist; none of the rules are absolutely infallible, and the shrewdest will sometimes be disappointed. Observe the fresh tracks of animals, and the flight of birds, and they will frequently lead to water, especially the tracks of deer and mustangs. Examine the dry beds of streams, and if they are sandy push a long stick or cane as far into the sand as it will go; if you find it moist when you withdraw it, you can be certain of water. Then dig a hole with your spade, and use an empty flour-barrel for a curb, and if the hole is deep you can place one barrel above another. In a little while the water will enter the barrel, and you may draw from this improvised well all you need for your party and your stock.

In countries where streams and springs are scarce, water may be caught during showers by means of tents, awnings, wagon-covers, and even by rubber overcoats. Drinking-water may be obtained where there are heavy dews by dragging a blanket over the grass, and then wringing it out; it is hardly necessary to add that the blanket should be a clean one. Water from stagnant pools may be purified by thorough boiling, and then mixing with powdered charcoal; in a muddy pond, it may be partially cleansed by boring small holes in the lower half of a barrel, filling it two-thirds full with layers of moss or grass, with alternate layers of clean sand, if the latter can be had. Then place the barrel in the pond till the top is nearly level with the surface; as the water enters the barrel it will pass through the improvised filter; and be found far purer than in its original state.

Always form your camp by the side of a river or stream of some kind, if it is possible to do so, as you thereby make sure of plenty of water for your stock; if in a hostile country, where attacks from Indians are possible, have an eye to the defences of the position. A peninsula in a river is the best place, as the water forms a natural fortification, and you have only the neck of the peninsula to look after; if you cannot find such a spot, take the place that most nearly resembles it, and if you cannot do better, have the river or stream on one side of you. If you camp away from water, select a spot so as to have the crest of a hill on one side of you, where a lookout can be stationed.

It is the custom for large parties traveling on the western plains of the United States to arrange their wagons in a circle, or an oval, with an opening at each end, at every halt. A yard is thus formed, into which the stock may be driven to be harnessed or yoked. It may be enclosed at night, or when hostile attacks are made, and, finally, the yard, or corral, is an excellent redoubt from which to make a defense against Indians. Many a train has been captured by neglecting this precaution, and many another saved by observing it. No good captain of a train will ever allow it to go into camp even for an hour without forming the wagons into a corral. When the stock is driven in, the openings at the ends of the corral may be closed by the simple operation of stretching a chain across.

Where there is a scarcity of water, you will find you can get along without it for many purposes for which at home it is considered absolutely necessary. All your cooking and dining utensils can be cleansed thoroughly without it; knives and forks by thrusting them several times into the ground till every vestige of their recent use is removed, and plates and pans by means of wisps of grass and dry earth, joined to what is known in the Eastern States as "elbow-grease." Great care should be exercised in regions where water contains alkaline matter, as it induces diseases that require a long time for curing.

Fuel is the great need of a traveler next to water. In a wooded country he has no trouble in finding it, but he should never waste it, no matter how plentiful. Never build a fire in a hollow log, or one that is partially decayed, but clear a space of ground, and roll or carry your fuel to it. When you move on in the morning put out the fire, or encircle it, so that it cannot by any possibility spread and cause damage. The danger of a hollow log is that the fire may smolder there for days, or even weeks, and then break out; if the season is dry, and the forests extensive, many acres and miles of country may be burned over, and perhaps human lives may fall victims to your carelessness.

In the open and treeless country the wilderness-traveler is often hard pressed for the material for a fire. The most commonly used article is the dry dung of buffaloes, known to the Canadian voyageurs as _bois de vache_. It makes a hot fire, with very little smoke, and as the animals haunt the valleys of the streams in search of the best grass, they leave this material in the region of the camping grounds where it is most needed. It is excellent for tinder, and with a burning-glass and a piece of buffalo-chip you can get a fire in a few moments, provided the sun is shining. In many parts of the world the dried excrement of grass-feeding animals forms the only fuel of the inhabitants or of travelers.

If you sleep near a fire at night, and the weather is so cold as to render the heat desirable, always lie with your feet towards it; as long as the feet are kept warm the rest of the body is likely to be so, and with cold feet no one can be comfortable. Unless the surrounding circumstances compel you to sleep with your boots or shoes on be sure to remove them before you go to bed, as their absence makes your sleep far more refreshing than it is with them.

When you arrive at a stream, on whose banks you intend to camp, but which you must cross before proceeding on your journey, make the crossing before you halt for the night. Streams rise suddenly, and it often happens that what was a tiny rivulet at sunset is a roaring torrent on the following morning, and it may be a day, or several days, before it subsides. The rule here given is followed by all experienced travelers on the plains of the great west.

When you break camp in the morning one of the party should remain behind, after the wagons have moved away, and carefully examine the ground to see that nothing has been forgotten. The members of the party may take turns in this duty, or it may be assigned to one person who should be held responsible for whatever may be lost by forgetfulness. It will often happen that some article of camp equipage has been left behind, and its absence is unknown until camp is formed, at the end of the day's march. A thought B had put it in the wagon, and B was certain that A had attended to it, or at least he should have done so. Many a quarrel has been saved by this simple precaution, and also many a deprivation, as the loss of a camp-kettle or frying-pan, when it cannot be replaced, is a very serious matter. Since the writer gave up the wilderness for civilized travel it has always been his custom, after his trunks have been packed and locked at a hotel, to renew his practice of olden times and go through his room with the utmost care, examining every drawer of bureau or washstand, and looking into every closet. Candor compels him to say that once in a while he finds articles of greater or less value that but for this rule he would have left behind.

One of the perplexities of travel in wild countries is the passage of rivers. Shallow streams can be forded, and if the current is not strong a depth of five feet may be passed without serious difficulty. Many streams are full of quicksand, and in such case the rule is to keep your team in constant motion after it enters the water. As long as a man keeps moving on quicksand there is no danger, but whenever he stops his feet begin to sink, and if he remains stationary he will speedily find himself beyond his depth. The same conditions are true of saddle or draught animals, and of the wheels of wagons. Where there are quicksands horses should be led across, and to insure their going steadily forward they should be allowed to drink all they wish before entering the stream. Horses and oxen are more certain to go ahead without halting than mules; the latter are apt to lie down and refuse to move, exactly as they do in deep snow.

In a difficult ford the teams had better be doubled. The driver should stand on the front of the wagon with a reliable whip in his hand, and be assisted by one or more mounted men on each side of the team. It is well also to have a mounted man ride ahead with a long lariat on picket rope attached to the forward leaders of the team, so as to direct their course. In a swift current the ford should be made obliquely downwards if possible, so that the current can assist the progress of the wagons.

In crossing a stream too deep for fording, boats or rafts may be improvised from wagon beds, or they may be built on the spot. If the current is swift a ferry must be made, and for this purpose (after the spot for crossing has been selected) an expert swimmer goes over with a fish-line or other slender cord in his mouth. By means of this cord a strong lariat can be drawn over; it should be twice as long as the width of the river, and fastened on each shore to a tree, or a wagon tongue set in the ground if there are no trees. To make a ferry-boat from a wagon-bed put it in the center of a wagon-cover or other strong canvas, and then bring the edges up over the sides to the top; the leakage will then be so slight that a man with a cup can easily keep it free from water. The contents of the wagons can be passed in this boat by means of the ferry rope, the animals can swim over, and the empty wagons may be passed by fastening them down to the axles, and attaching ropes to the tongue and also to the rear. They are then drawn over by the men on the farther bank, and kept from drifting by means of the rear rope.

If you are about to swim a stream with a horse it is not a good plan to remain in the saddle, as your weight presses heavily on the animal and restricts his movements. It is better to dismount, tie a cord eight or ten feet long to his bridle, drive him into the stream, and then grasp his tail and be towed over. If he tries to turn back you can direct him with the cord or by splashing water towards his head. If you do remain in the saddle give him a free rein, and do not pull in the least, except when it is necessary to guide him. Horses and oxen are better swimmers than mules; the latter are easily frightened and may suddenly turn down stream, refusing all attempts to bring them to land. They are also more liable to be drowned, and great care should be taken that they do not get water in their ears; as soon as you see a mule droop his ears you may know that he is in danger, and the water should be removed immediately on reaching land, if you are so fortunate as to get him there. For this reason never splash water towards a mule's head, and do not make him jump into the water if possible to avoid doing so.

An excellent ferry-boat may be made from a green or soaked hide of ox or buffalo, or better still, from two or more hides. You will generally find willows growing on the banks of the streams; gather some of the smaller ones, sharpen the butts and drive them into the ground, so as to form an oval figure of the size of your intended boat. Then bring the tops together, weave slender willow rods among the larger ones till the structure resembles a basket with a round bottom, and have a specially strong willow running around all of them near the ground, and firmly fastened, to make the gunwale of your boat. If your boat is made of one hide stretch it over the basket and sew it to the large rod around the top, and let the whole thing stand a few hours in the sun to get dry; then cut off the rods where they enter the ground and you have a boat that will carry four or five hundred pounds with ease. For a larger boat, with two or more hides, you want a more pretentious frame, a stout pole for a keel, and two smaller poles for gunwales. This water vehicle is known on the plains as a _bull-boat_, and can be easily constructed, provided the traveler has a supply of willows, some green or soaked hides, and a fair amount of common sense. Where a traveler expects to encounter streams that cannot be forded he would do well to carry two or three dried hides, and then he will have the material for covering a bull-boat always at hand.

While we are speaking of hides, another use of them may be mentioned. It often happens that emigrants, or settlers in a new country, wish to salt a quantity of beef or other meat but have no cask or other receptacle in which to place it. In this emergency dig a hole in the ground, of such dimensions that the hide of the slaughtered animal will just line it; then place the hide in the hole, with the flesh side up, fasten the edges to the ground with wooden pegs, and you have a salting cask that you may use, _sans peur et sans reproache_. An animal's hide is also useful to bake him in, and in this way: Skin and dress your game and then sew what you intend to bake into the hide. Build a good fire in a hole in the ground with a sort of rude oven of stones around it, and keep it going till the ground and stones are hot. Now sweep out the ashes, throw in your roasting piece, cover it with dry or green leaves, put back the hot embers as quickly as possible, and then continue the fire long enough to cook the meat beneath it. The writer has practiced this form of cookery on several occasions and found the result very satisfactory.

If your supply of fuel is limited, and you have much cooking to do, dig a narrow trench for the fire and place your kettles and pots above it; make the trench with one end towards the wind, and build a small chimney of stones or earth at the other end. Another way is to dig a round hole a foot deep, and place the kettles in a circle on its border, half of each kettle being on the ground and half over the fire. If you lose all your kettles and frying-pans it is well to know that you can improvise a frying-pan by taking two large flat stones and laying one above another, with a few pebbles between to keep them apart. Build a fire around them, and when they are well heated sweep away all the ashes and put your slices of meat between the stones; you will be well satisfied with the frying process that ensues.

But space is limited and we must pause. The writer could go on for many more pages, giving advice to travelers in the wilderness, of varying degrees of usefulness, and mainly drawn from his own experience as a frontier campaigner years and years ago. But the demands of the printer, and the interests of the non-migrating reader, forbid an extension of the chapter. If more on the same subject is desired it will be found in an eminently practical little volume entitled "The Prairie Traveler," by Captain (since General) R. B. Marcy; the author is thoroughly familiar with the subject, as any old officer of the army can testify.

HANOVER FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY,

No. 181 Broadway, New York.

CASH CAPITAL, $1,000,000.00
RESERVE FOR RE-INSURANCE, 475,262.37
RESERVE FOR ALL OTHER LIABILITIES, 94,193.32
NET SURPLUS, 830,626.59
------------
TOTAL ASSETS, January, 1881, $2,400,082.28

BENJAMIN S. WALCOTT, PRESIDENT.
I. REMSEN LANE, Vice-President and Secretary.
CHARLES L. ROE, Assistant Secretary.

Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.

LAID WITH STEEL RAIL.

_The only route between the East and West via White Sulphur_ and various other Springs and _Pleasure Resorts_ in the beautiful and picturesque mountains of _Virginia_ and _West Virginia_.

_Regular and Excursion Tickets_ on sale at all principal Ticket Offices throughout the United States at _lowest rates_. _Sleeping Cars and all modern improvements._

[Pointing finger] See Circulars of the Grand Centennial Celebration at Yorktown, Va., in October, 1881.

H. W. CARR, _Gen'l Eastern Agent_,
229 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

CONWAY R. HOWARD, _Gen'l Pass. and Ticket Agent_,
RICHMOND, VA.

FISK & HATCH,

BANKERS

AND

DEALERS IN GOVERNMENT BONDS

And other desirable Investment Securities,

NO. 5 NASSAU ST., N.Y.

Buy and sell all issues of Government Bonds, in large or small amounts, at current market prices, and will be pleased to furnish information in reference to all matters connected with investments in Government Bonds.

We are prepared to give information in regard to first-class Railway Securities and to execute orders for the same.

Buy and sell all marketable Stocks and Bonds on commission at the Stock Exchange or in the open market.

Receive accounts of Banks, Bankers, Merchants, and others, and allow interest on daily balances; and for those keeping accounts with us we collect U.S. coupons and registered interest, and other coupons, dividends, etc., and credit without charge.

[Pointing finger] We give special attention to orders from Banks, Bankers, Institutions, and Investors out of the city, by Mail or Telegraph, to buy or sell Government Bonds, State and Railroad Bonds, Bank Stocks, Railroad Stocks, and other securities.

FISK & HATCH.

NATIONAL LINE.

PASSENGER STEAMSHIPS.

FLEET.

SPAIN, EGYPT, ENGLAND, ERIN, HELVETIA, THE QUEEN, ITALY, FRANCE, HOLLAND, DENMARK, CANADA, GREECE.

THE STEAMSHIPS of this line are amongst the largest in the Atlantic service leaving the Port of New York. They have been constructed by the most celebrated builders in Great Britain, and are of great strength and power, and of beautiful model, enabling them to make regular passage in all kinds of weather. They are built entirely of Iron and Steel, except the merely decorative parts, and divided into watertight and fireproof compartments, with steam pumping, hoisting, and steering gear, and provided with fire-extinguishers, improved sounding apparatus, and generally found throughout in everything calculated to add to their Safety, and to the comfort and convenience of Passengers heretofore unattained at sea.

One of the Steamers will sail from New York every Saturday for Queenstown and Liverpool, and weekly from London direct, from Pier 39, North River.

RATES OF PASSAGE, in currency:--To Queenstown and Liverpool, $50 to $70. To London direct (Victoria Docks), $50 to $60; Excursion Tickets, $100 currency. Steerage passage, outward, $26 currency. Prepaid Tickets, $28, being $2 lower than most other lines.

For passage, Bank Drafts, Sovereigns, etc., apply to

F. W. J. HURST, MANAGER, Company's Offices,
Nos. 69, 71, and 73 Broadway, New York.

ANCHOR LINE.

United States Mail Steamers

SAIL WEEKLY TO AND FROM

New York and Glasgow,

AND

New York and London.

THE ANCHOR LINE STEAMERS are first-class in every respect, built especially for Passenger Traffic; are safe, comfortable, reliable, splendidly equipped, and in their appointments and accommodations are not excelled by any other Line.

RATES OF PASSAGE FROM NEW YORK

To Glasgow, Liverpool, Londonderry, or Belfast.

Aft Outside Berth, $80 { FIRST } Excursion $140
Aft Inside Berth, $75 { CABIN.} Tickets, available 130
Forward Berth, $60 { } for One Year, 110

TO LONDON DIRECT.--First Cabin, $55 and $65; Excursion, $100 and $120, according to location of Stateroom.

For Books of Information for Passengers, Rates of Passage, Cabin Plans, etc., apply to

COMPANY'S OFFICES.

7 BOWLING GREEN, NEW YORK.
96 WASHINGTON STREET, CHICAGO.
7 AND 9 STATE STREET, BOSTON.

HENDERSON BROTHERS, AGENTS.

AMERICAN EXCHANGE IN EUROPE,

(LIMITED.)

CAPITAL, ONE MILLION DOLLARS,

(_In One Hundred Thousand Shares of Ten Dollars each, with power to increase._)

Fully Paid-up Shares, $500,000.00.

PRESIDENT,
JOSEPH R. HAWLEY.

GEN'L MANAGER,
HENRY F. GILLIG.

_Financial Offices and Reading Rooms,_ }
_Passenger and Railroad Offices,_ } _449 STRAND, W.C._
_Exchange and News Department,_ }

_Commission and Shipping Departments,_ } _3 ADELAIDE ST.,_
_Emigration and Land Branches,_ } _CHARING CROSS,_
_Express and Storage Divisions,_ }

LONDON, ENGLAND.

NEW YORK BRANCH OFFICE, 102 Broadway.

General Agent, W. C. BOONE.

Fiscal Agents, DONNELL, LAWSON & SIMPSON.

_Branch Office of Commission and Shipping Departments_,
50 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

THE GENERAL OBJECT OF THIS COMPANY IS TO ADVANCE AND PROTECT AMERICAN INTERESTS IN EUROPE:

1st.--By establishing direct Business and Financial Relations between every important business centre of the United States and the great commercial and money centres of Europe.

2d.--By opening up and extending new markets in Europe for American Manufactures and other Products, and Railroad, Mining, Landed, and other Properties.

3d.--By promoting Emigration from England and other European countries to the United States.

4th.--By aiding and protecting American Travel in Europe through the extension of Financial Facilities to Travelers, and rendering other necessary services.

5th.--By promoting European Travel to the United States, and through the United States to Japan, China, Australia, etc.

TRAVELERS' CIRCULAR NOTES, available throughout the world, issued without charge, for actual value in cash.

N.B. The Circular Notes issued by this corporation are secured by deposit of United States Government Bonds.

LETTERS OF CREDIT issued either against deposit of cash, or satisfactory guarantee of payment.

MONEY TRANSMITTED BY TELEGRAPH to all points.

DRAFTS issued at current rates on all principal cities of the world.

HENRY F. GILLIG, _General Manager._

PARTIES GOING ABROAD SHOULD LEAVE THEIR PROPERTY SAFELY INSURED.

CONDITION JANUARY 1, 1881, OF
CONTINENTAL INSURANCE COMPANY,
100 Broadway, New York.

Reserve for re-insurance of outstanding risks, $1,346,195.69
Reserve ample for all other claims, 286,387.95
Capital paid in cash, 1,000,000.00
Unallotted Surplus [reserved for contingencies], 306,135.77
Net Surplus, 1,000,000.00
------------
$3,938,719.41

Deduct for future decline [if any,] in market
values, 50,000.00
------------
Total cash assets, January 1, 1881 $3,888,719.41

This Company conducts its business under the restrictions of the New York Safety Fund Law. The two Safety Funds together equal $1,000,000.

H. H. LAMPORT,
Vice-President.

GEORGE T. HOPE,
President.

B. C. TOWNSEND, Sec'y Agency Dep't.
C. H. DUTCHER. Sec'y Brooklyn Dep't.
J. K. OAKLEY, Gen'l Agent.
CYRUS PECK, Sec'y.
A. M. KIRBY, Sec'y Local Dep't.
F. C. MOORE, Agency Manager.

MALLORY LINES.

BRAZIL, TEXAS, FLORIDA,

NASSAU, N.P., AND MATANZAS, CUBA.

The ONLY Direct Lines of Passenger Steamships from New York to TEXAS and FLORIDA, and the only Steamship Lines to BRAZIL, NASSAU, N.P., and MATANZAS, CUBA.

Brazil Steamers Sail 5th of Every Month

For St Thomas, Para, Pernambuco, Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro, connecting at St. Thomas with Steamers for Porto Rico, Jamaica, and the Spanish Main. Through rates and Bills of Lading given to Paranagua, Santa Catherina, Rio Grande do Sul, Pelotas, and Porto Alegre.

THROUGH TICKETS ISSUED TO ALL POINTS

reached by the Royal Mail Packet Company's Intercolonial Steamers, and to Monte Video, and Buenos Ayres.

Texas Steamers Sail Every Saturday

For GALVESTON, giving through Freight and Passage Rates to all points in Texas.

Florida Steamers Sail Every Friday

For JACKSONVILLE and FERNANDINA, FLA.

Pamphlets and Schedules mailed, and all information given upon application to

C. H. MALLORY & CO., Agents,

Pier 20 East River, near Fulton Ferry, New York.

BEFORE LEAVING HOME

PROVIDE YOURSELF WITH A SUPPLY OF

PARKER'S GINGER TONIC.

The occasional use of this delicious medicine will prevent any dangerous consequences from changing diet or water, and travelers will find it an unequalled appetizer and an invigorant to the highest degree, without intoxicating properties. It strengthens the Stomach, Bowels, and Digestive Organs, builds up the system, is a sure remedy for Sea Sickness, Dyspepsia, Dysentery, etc., and is the

BEST MEDICINE YOU CAN USE FOR

RESTORING HEALTH AND STRENGTH.

A bottle of this Tonic by keeping you in good health and spirits will greatly increase the pleasure of any journey.

~Sold by all Druggists at 50 Cents, and $1.00.~

LARGE SAVING IN BUYING THE DOLLAR SIZE.

HISCOX & CO., PROPRIETORS,

~163 WILLIAM STREET, N.Y.~

FLORESTON COLOGNE,

Is the most lasting, delicate, and fragrant of perfumes. As it relieves Headache, Prostration, and Nervousness, often induced by the fatigue of travel, it will be found an exceedingly refreshing and delightful toilet companion.

~Price, 25 Cents; Large Bottles, 75 Cents.~

Manufactured only by HISCOX & CO., Chemists, New York.

PARKER'S HAIR BALSAM,

THE BEST, CLEANEST, AND MOST ECONOMICAL HAIR DRESSING.

Elegantly perfumed and made from materials that are beneficial to the hair and scalp. Parker's Hair Balsam is far more satisfactory than any other hair preparation. It

~Never Fails to Restore Gray Hair~

to the youthful color and beauty and is warranted to prevent baldness, falling of the hair, and dandruff.

~50 Cent and $1.00 Sizes at all Druggists.~

HISCOX & CO., NEW YORK.

ENOCH MORGAN'S SONS

HAND SAPOLIO,

Is far preferable to the best brands of Soap.

It is a perfect emollient, keeping the skin smooth and soft under all climatic changes and exposure.

It is delightfully Scented, and wears away slowly.

Its frequent use will remove tan, stains of all kinds, ink, and other blemishes from the skin.

It will also completely remove grease and stains from garments, and rust from metal.

~EVERY TRAVELER SHOULD CARRY IT.~

_Each cake is wrapped in tinfoil, and a year's supply occupies but small space._

Sold by all Grocers and Fancy Goods Dealers throughout America.

MANUFACTURED ONLY BY

Enoch Morgan's Sons Co.,

22 PARK PLACE, NEW YORK.

FOR TRAVEL,

_Nothing is so Refreshing and Invigorating_

AS

NON ALCOHOLIC
SPARKLING PHOSPHATED IRON BEVERAGE
MANFTRS THE ZOEDONE CO. LTD. WREXHAM.

_Zoedone_

EVERY BOTTLE PREPARED FOR AMERICA HAS OVER
THE CORK SIGNATURE OF

[Signature] Hugh Hamilton.

U.S. REGISTERED TRADE MARK NO. 3055.]

NO NEW UNTRIED BEVERAGE, BUT HAVING AN ESTABLISHED PRESTIGE

CONFERRED BY THE

~ROYAL FAMILY, NOBILITY, GENTRY, AND PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN,~

Consuming Annually Over Ten Million Bottles,

AND THE

INDORSEMENT OF HIGH MEDICAL AUTHORITY.

"The use of Zoedone is followed by all the refreshing and stimulating effects of champagne without fear of intoxication or after injurious reactionary effects. On the contrary the iron and phosphorus in Zoedone combine to convert what would otherwise be an agreeable but ephemeral stimulant into a valuable tonic."

PACKED WITHOUT STRAW.

~$15 per case, Six Dozen Pints; $8 Three Dozen Pints.~

SUPPLIED BY WINE MERCHANTS, GROCERS, DRUGGISTS.

ZOEDONE BUREAU, 27 PARK PLACE

THE MOST RELIABLE

TRUNKS, BAGS, VALISES, &C.,

ARE MADE BY

CROUCH & FITZGERALD,

NEW YORK.

TRUNKS

FOR AMERICAN STEAMER AND EUROPEAN TRAVEL.

EXTRA FINE QUALITY OF TRAVELING BAGS, &C., &C.

Stores:

~1~ CORTLAND STREET.
~556~ BROADWAY.

(New Store,)
~723~ SIXTH AVENUE,
Below Forty-Second Street.

[Pointing finger] SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE.

BOOKS

_FOR TRAVELERS._

AMERICAN PUBLISHING CO.,

HARTFORD, CONN.

PUBLISHERS OF MARK TWAIN'S WORKS:

"INNOCENTS ABROAD," "TRAMP ABROAD,"

AND OTHERS.

JOSIAH ALLEN'S WIFE'S BOOKS:

"BETSEY BOBBETT," "MY WAYWARD PARDNER," ETC.

BOOKS OF TRAVEL IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES,

MAKING VALUABLE GUIDE BOOKS,

By THOS. W. KNOX, BRET HARTE, and other Popular Authors.

[Decoration] Send for Catalogue. [Decoration]

Books sent to any part of the World on receipt of price.

Address,

AMERICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY,

~Agents Wanted.~ HARTFORD, CONN.

~·GET·THE·BEST·~
~·MISS·PARLOA'S~
·NEW·
·COOK·BOOK·
·AND·
~MARKETING·GUIDE·~]

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SAVED

TO THE WASTEFUL PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY

BY THE USE OF THIS SAFE GUIDE.

THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE says: "For comprehensiveness and precision, this book may be said to be unique."

THE BOSTON TRAVELLER says: "In her New Cook-Book, Miss Parloa has rendered a good service to humanity."

THE NEW YORK TIMES says: "It has no nonsense in it, and can be recommended for general use."

THE NEW HAVEN JOURNAL says: "It is in many respects the best book of its kind ever printed."

1 vol., 12mo, cloth, 430 pages, and 89 illustrations, $1.50.

Published by ESTES & LAURIAT, BOSTON.

For sale by all Booksellers. Sent postpaid on receipt of price.

TRAVELING COMPANIONS.

BEFORE STARTING ON A JOURNEY, STOW AWAY SOME PLEASANT NOVEL IN YOUR SATCHEL.

We invite attention to the following choice selection of Novels:

THE NO NAME SERIES.

Mercy Philbrick's Choice; Afterglow; Deirdrè; Hetty's Strange History; Is that All? Will Denbigh, Nobleman; Kismet; The Wolf at the Door; The Great Match; Marmorne; Mirage; A Modern Mephistopheles; Gemini; A Masque of Poets. 16mo, Cloth, Black and Gold, price $1.00 each.

THE NO NAME (SECOND) SERIES.

Signor Monaldini's Niece; The Colonel's Opera Cloak; His Majesty, Myself; Mrs. Beauchamp Brown; Salvage; Don John. Manuela Parédes (in preparation). 16mo, Cloth, Green and Gold, price $1.00 each.

BY THE TIBER; a novel, by the author of "Signor Monaldini's Niece."

THE HEAD OF MEDUSA; a novel, by the author of "Kismet" and "Mirage."

BLESSED SAINT CERTAINTY; by the author of "His Majesty, Myself."

Uniform volumes, 16mo, Cloth, Black and Gold, price $1.50 each.

MY MARRIAGE; a novel, 16mo, cloth, price $1.00.

IRENE THE MISSIONARY; a novel, 16mo, cloth, price $1.25.

MOONDYNE; a story of the Under-World, by John Boyle O'Reilly; 16mo, cloth, price $1.50.

SARAH DE BERENGER; a novel, by Jean Ingelow; uniform with "Off the Skelligs" and "Fated to be Free"; 16mo, cloth, price $1.50.

These books can be procured of any Bookseller, or the Publishers will mail them, post-paid, on receipt of price.

ROBERTS BROTHERS, BOSTON.

Books for European Tourists.

A SATCHEL GUIDE FOR THE VACATION TOURIST IN EUROPE. A compact itinerary of the British Isles, Belgium and Holland, Germany and the Rhine, Switzerland, France, Austria, and Italy. With Maps, Appendix, and Memoranda pages. Revised every year. 16mo, roan, flexible, $2.00.

"The book is indeed a model of perspicacity and brevity; all the
advice it gives will be found of immediate service. The 'Satchel
Guide' tells the reader _how to travel cheaply without a sacrifice
of comfort_, and this feature of the book will recommend it to
many Tourists."--PALL MALL GAZETTE.

SAUNTERINGS. By CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER. $1.25.

"The book contains a little about England and France, more about
Switzerland and Holland, and a great deal concerning South Germany
and Italy. There is not a dull page in it."--SPRINGFIELD
REPUBLICAN.

CASTILIAN DAYS. A very attractive book by JOHN HAY, treating the history, country, cities, people, and politics of Spain. $2.00.

THE LANDS OF SCOTT. By JAMES F. HUNNEWELL. $2.50.

"It is a delightful epitome of the great author's life and works;
the reader being introduced to a detailed acquaintance with these,
while he is led through the localities which the genius of Scott
has celebrated."--BUFFALO COURIER.

OLD ENGLAND: ITS SCENERY, ART, AND PEOPLE. By Prof. JAMES M. HOPPIN, of Yale College. 16mo, $1.75. Includes descriptions of Derbyshire, Devonshire, the Lake Country, Cornwall, the Old Cathedral Towns, and those Historic Scenes which most interest Tourists.

[Asterism] For sale by Booksellers. Sent postpaid on receipt of price by the Publishers,

HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO., BOSTON, MASS.

PEOPLE WHO KNOW "HOW TO TRAVEL,"

GO TO EUROPE BY

THE STATE LINE,

Composed of new and powerful first-class Passenger Steamers sailing weekly between

_NEW YORK, GLASGOW, AND LIVERPOOL_.

EVERY THURSDAY FROM NEW YORK. SAFETY AND SPEED COMBINED.

By taking this route, excursionists will economize in expenditures and yet enjoy all the comforts and luxuries of an ocean voyage, and a trip through Scotland via rail to Liverpool free of cost.

No live stock carried on these steamers.

Passage and State-Rooms can be secured in advance by communicating by letter or telegraph with Agents, or to

AUSTIN, BALDWIN & CO.,

164 Randolph St., CHICAGO.

GEN'L AGENTS,

53 Broadway, NEW YORK.

EXCURSIONISTS WHO MAKE PURCHASES ABROAD CAN SAVE TROUBLE AND EXPENSE BY PLACING THEM IN CHARGE OF

THE AMERICAN-EUROPEAN EXPRESS.

(Established 1848.)

BALDWIN BROS. & CO., PROPRIETORS,
53 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

Parcels, packages, statuary, paintings, and valuables taken charge of and forwarded to America with care and at very moderate charges. Custom-house business attended to and goods delivered to any address in Europe or America.

PRINCIPAL AGENCIES.--H. Starr & Co., 19 Australian Avenue, Jewin Crescent, London; J. & R. McCracken, 38 Queen Street, London; Lherbette, Kane & Co., 19 Rue Scribe, Paris; Staveley & Co., 1 The Temple, Dale Street, Liverpool; Lherbette, Kane & Co., 9 Rue de la Bourse, Havre; Matthias Rohde & Co., Hamburg; J. H. Bachmann, Bremen; A. Warmuth, Berlin; Maquay, Hooker & Co., Rome; Maquay. Hooker & Co., Florence; W. J. Turner & Co., Naples; Guiseppe Scala, Naples; Carlo Ponti, Venice; E. Ramirez, 16 Mercaderes, Havana; John Wallis, Cork; John Wallis, 33 Bachelors' Walk, Dublin.

WHITE STAR LINE

UNITED STATES AND ROYAL

MAIL STEAMERS

BETWEEN

New York, Queenstown, and Liverpool.

BRITANNIC, CELTIC, GERMANIC,
BALTIC, ADRIATIC, REPUBLIC.

Sail from New York every alternate THURSDAY and SATURDAY.

They are all of them, without exception, among the largest and finest of ocean steamers, and were constructed with special reference to the conveyance of passengers.

The saloon and staterooms are located in the midship section, where but little motion is felt.

No Cattle, Sheep, or Pigs carried.

Rates of Passage as low as by any first-class line.

For inspection of plans, rates of passage, etc., apply at the COMPANY'S OFFICES, 37 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

R. J. CORTIS, AGENT.

C. L. BARTLETT & CO., AGENTS FOR BOSTON.

BARRITT & CATTELL, AGENTS FOR PHILADELPHIA.

A. LAGERGREN, General Western Agent, CHICAGO.

Fine Art in Jewelry.

Three centuries ago the Jewelers of Europe were Artists in every sense of the word, and Artists of such taste and skill that their works which have come down to us now command prices as utterly disproportionate to the intrinsic value of the precious substances of which they are made as the prices paid for the best works of the Sculptor in bronze and marble are to the intrinsic value of the materials out of which those works are hewn or moulded. Many such Artists bequeathed legacies, since enormously increased in value, to the Goldsmiths' Company for the purpose of keeping alive their art, and the enlightened public of London are now beginning to insist that these endowments shall be put to their legitimate use. We have no Goldsmiths' Company in New York, but an hour spent in such an establishment as that of Mr. THEODORE B. STARR, 206 Fifth Avenue, in this city, will throw a great deal of light, for those who have eyes to see, on the possible importance, hitherto almost unappreciated among ourselves, of the æsthetic aspects of the beautiful industry by which that great corporation has been built up in the mother country. Mr. Starr has devoted himself steadily and successfully now for nearly twenty years to artistic work in Jewelry, and the display which he now makes of such work really deserves to rank among the most interesting and instructive of our existing art collections. In the choice and conservation of the more brilliant gems--for there is an art in conserving as well as detecting the special perfection of special gems as respects alike their surfaces, their crystallization, and their color--Mr. Starr shows the taste and training of an Artist, not less than in the skill and judgment with which he combines and sets such gems.--NEW YORK WORLD.

COLUMBIA BICYCLE.

The permanence of the Bicycle as a practical road-vehicle is an established fact, and thousands of riders are daily enjoying the delightful and health-giving exercise. The beautiful model and elegant appearance of the "COLUMBIA" excite universal admiration; it is carefully finished in every particular, and is confidently guaranteed as the best value for the money attained in a Bicycle.

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL TELEGRAPH CO., PHILADELPHIA, PA.

"I am familiar with the various methods adopted by enlightened nations for healthful sports, agreeable pastime, and exercise, and I must say that, in my opinion, a consistent use of the wheel far surpasses them all, both for body and mind. The very marked improvements made by yourselves and our English friends, in Bicycles, within the past year or so, convince me that they will soon be no longer a luxury, but a necessity." (Signed,) HENRY BENTLEY.

Send 3-cent stamp for 24-page catalogue, with price-lists and full information.

THE POPE MFG. CO., 597 Washington St., Boston, Mass.

ESTABLISHED 1850.

INMAN LINE

United States and Royal Mail Steamers.

CITY OF ROME, 8,300 Tons.

Tons.
CITY OF BERLIN, 5,491.
CITY OF RICHMOND, 4,607.
CITY OF CHESTER, 4,566.
CITY OF MONTREAL, 4,490.
CITY OF BRUSSELS, 3,775.
CITY OF NEW YORK, 3,500.

NEW YORK TO LIVERPOOL,--THURSDAYS OR SATURDAYS.
LIVERPOOL TO NEW YORK,--TUESDAYS OR THURSDAYS.

RATES OF PASSAGE, $80 and $100, according to accommodation, all having equal saloon privileges. Children between two and twelve years of age, half fare. Servants, $50.

ROUND TRIP TICKETS, $144 and $180.

TICKETS TO LONDON, $7, and to PARIS $15 and $20 additional, according to the route selected.

THE STEAMERS of this Line, built in watertight compartments, are among the strongest, largest, and fastest on the Atlantic.

THE SALOONS are luxuriously furnished, have revolving chairs, are especially well lighted and ventilated, and take up the whole width of the ship.

THE PRINCIPAL STATEROOMS are amidships, forward of the engines, where least noise and motion is felt, and all replete with every comfort, having double berths, electric bells, and all latest improvements.

LADIES' CABINS and bath-rooms, Gentlemen's smoking and bath-rooms, Barbers' shops, pianos, libraries, etc., provided.

MEALS SERVED _a la carte_.

_These Steamers do not carry Horses, Cattle, Sheep, or Pigs._

For further particulars apply to

JOHN G. DALE, Agent, 31 and 33 Broadway, New York.
GEO. A. FAULK, Agent, 105 South Fourth St., Philadelphia.
L. H. PALMER, Agent, 3 Old State House, Boston.
F. C. BROWN, Agent, 32 South Clark Street, Chicago.

WM. KNABE & CO.,

112 FIFTH AVENUE,

NEW YORK.

204 AND 206 W. BALTIMORE STREET,

BALTIMORE, MD.

MANUFACTURERS OF PIANOS.

"GUION LINE."

United States Mail Steamers

SAILING WEEKLY

BETWEEN NEW YORK AND LIVERPOOL.

(CALLING AT QUEENSTOWN.)

THESE STEAMERS are built of Iron, in watertight compartments, and are furnished with every requisite to make the passage across the Atlantic both safe and agreeable, having bath-room, smoking-room, drawing-room, piano, and library; also experienced Surgeon, Stewardess, and Caterer on each Steamer. The staterooms are all upper deck, thus insuring those greatest of all luxuries at sea, perfect ventilation and light.

CABIN PASSAGE, $60, $80, and $100, according to Location, etc.

INTERMEDIATE.--This is a class that affords people of moderate means a respectable way of traveling. Beds, bedding, wash-basins, etc., together with good food, separate dining-room from either cabin or steerage being provided. Passage, $40 single; $80 round trip.

STEERAGE PASSAGE at Low Rates.

DRAFTS payable in Ireland, England, and Scotland at low rates.

APPLY TO

WILLIAMS & GUION,

29 BROADWAY, N.Y.

BROWN BROTHERS & CO.,

59 Wall Street, NEW YORK,
209 Chestnut Street, PHILADELPHIA,
66 State Street, BOSTON,

AND

ALEXANDER BROWN & SONS,

COR. BALTIMORE AND CALVERT STREETS,

BALTIMORE.

BUY AND SELL BILLS OF EXCHANGE

ON

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, BELGIUM, AND HOLLAND.

ISSUE COMMERCIAL AND TRAVELERS' CREDITS

IN STERLING, available in any part of the world, and IN FRANCS, for use in MARTINIQUE and GUADALOUPE.

MAKE TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFERS OF MONEY

BETWEEN THIS AND OTHER COUNTRIES,

THROUGH LONDON AND PARIS.

TO TRAVELERS.--Travelers Credits issued either against cash deposited or satisfactory guarantee of repayment. In Dollars, for use in the United States and adjacent countries; or in Pounds Sterling, for use in any part of the world. Application for Credits may be addressed to either of the _above houses_ direct, or through any first-class Bank or Banker.

HOUSES IN LONDON AND LIVERPOOL.

MESSRS. BROWN, SHIPLEY & CO.

HATCH & FOOTE,

BANKERS,

No. 12 WALL STREET,

NEW YORK.

We buy and sell U.S. Bonds, execute orders in Stocks, Bonds, and Miscellaneous Securities, and transact a general Banking Business. Interest allowed on deposits.

OREGON

Railway and Navigation Co.,

OWNING AND OPERATING THE

WALLA WALLA & COLUMBIA RIVER R.R.

OCEAN DIVISION.

_The only direct Mail Line from_

San Francisco to Portland, Oregon.

Carrying WELLS, FARGO & CO'S EXPRESS.

"GEORGE W. ELDER." "OREGON." "COLUMBIA."

Regular Steamships from Portland to San Francisco and return, every Five Days until further notice.