Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-02-23
RETURN OF A SANTA FEE CARAVAN.
Csrrsspsnd<nes Of The .Nt,sar l. .sdton,rr.

4
ST. LorIs. dee Sis. 1850.
Independence (Which we reached
on the sixth day from St. Louis. in ou,
journey 10 meet the returning caravan
OF Santa Fee Traders is the county
seat OF Jackson. q border county OF
Missouri, twelve miles from the line.
II is a fouri>hing settlement. though
on the very outskirts Of civilization
containing dozen stores, and FIVE OF
six hundred inhabitants.
! Disappointed in our expectation oi
meeting The compan- here, We resolv.
ed TO push on; and mounting our
mules. with a days provisions-for m
oranf courier had assured us the Ira.
ders were within that time Of Indep pen
dence-we were soon lost in the bosom
OF the prairie. and beyond the las,
white settlements in the West. Now
and then an Indian trail. crossing OUT
path, indicated to US that human foot.
steps had before traversed this other.
wise trackless desert. IL was a drcary
scene: one vide un6roken plain. with.
out q tree. hill or stump, or even
so much as a stone To relieve the eve,
wandering in vain for some object on
which to rest.
"fonder they come" exclaimed nv
friend about the middle Of the after
noon. pointing 10 q dark speck in the
distant horizon. for his practical eye
had discovered what was not visible 10
me for q few minutes.
An interval of half an hour brough,
US together. The greetings were mos,
cordial. What's the newsi' "Who
is Governor" as jackson Presiden,
yet:" were among the strange cues.
tons which followed in quick success
sion-ior the trader in his absence
hears no more OF the United States
than II he were in the interior Of Afri-
ca. He meets no herald Of the busy
world IN these ends OF the earth
Oh : the luxury Of newspaper
There were upwards Of 20 wagons
each drawn by four mules. The gro.
tesque company comprised specimens
of French, Spanish, Indian and Amer.
can Characters, though il vas difficult
TO distinguish them. Their boards
were Of three months growth. and 10
appearance they had slept in their
olDihes through the whole lournev.-
! These, however, were soon dofed. and
buried IN common hole, according "a
The custom Of the trader, on the eve OF
reaching the borders of civilization.
/ A TIP to Santa Fee usually occnnieS
seven months. They take ont dones.
tic goods, fancy articles. aud sometime.
tea. sugar. &c. aud in return brinl
Buffalo robes, furs wool gold Gust. SC
/ The companies vary IN numbers from
100 to $50. Formerly twas deemed
unsafe 10 make the journey with les,
than i5o. They a., enble at Indepen.
den"e. choose a commander. whose
government is ahso.utc. and otherwise
organize fnr the expedition. The
creates, precariipn il necessary IN ira.
vrr.ing the Incian country A. NJ IN,
the wagons are dam up in n hollow
squarr and ,ihIn IN enclosures they
pi'ch tho'r '"r'.: ~ ". thsv b,youac,
nIyhi dh-r nh fi- month, 10 seihcr. 4
~"!b ,eni unnpef ui seniincls being on
the hook out.
The Santa Fee trade has enriched
many. But 1t is at least precariou,
business, and Is attended with dan ger.
and exposure Of almos. every ,maeina
, BILE description. There are those how.
ever, who follow il as .he sailor doe,
the sea. and are never so content as in
the midst ofiis privations and f4tigues
De guStI6us. &c.