Chapter I

Arrival at St. Louis--Preparations for the journey--Sâque
Indians--Their appearance, dress, and manners--Squaws--
Commencement of a pedestrian tour--Sandhill cranes--
Prairie settlers--Their hospitality--Wild pigeons,
golden plovers and prairie hens--Mr. P. and his
daughters--An abundant repast--Simplicity of the prairie
maidens--A deer and turkey hunt--Loutre Lick hotel--A
colored charon--Comfortable quarters--Young men of the
west--Reflections on leaving home--Loquacity of the
inhabitants--Gray squirrels--Boonville--Parroquets--
Embarkation in a steamboat--Large catfish--Accident on
board the boat--Arrival at Independence--Description of
the town--Encampment of the Rocky Mountain company--
Character of the men--Preparation for departure--Requisites
of a leader--Backwoods familiarity--Milton Sublette and his
band--Rev. Jason Lee, the missionary--A letter from home--
Mormonites--Military discipline and its consequences, 121