Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-09-14

found the greatest scarcity on Platte river,
(soon after we reached ill., except at the
Elm Grove, near independence where the
fuel was scarcesi. There need be no fear
a bout fuel, as we always found plenty, tho
we used dry willows very often.
We suffered no great inconvenience from
the Indians. They made no attack upon US,
did not kill or wound a single individual;
and we are not certain they stole any Of
our animals. If we lost any by the lndi
ans stealing them they were certainly very
few. Until we reached Green river, west
Of the Rocky Mountains, we kept up reg.
ular guard around our wagons, and picket
ted out our mules and horses until dark /,
when we put them into the caulI, the circle
formed by the wagons, while our oxen and
loose cattle were left out all the time. An
Indian will not steal an OK. After we reach
ed Green river, we left our horses, mules,
oxen, and cows out all the time, and we
kept no guard around the wagons.
We have seen great many new and
beautiful objects on the way. We had but
little time TO examine them. We saw nu-
merous herds of BuHaIoes, some wild hor-
sos, and many elks, deer, and antelopes.
have no time or room to say any thing
about our buffalo hunts.
The greatest difficulty we found on the
way was the labor and vexation OF hunt.
ing up our stock every morning. The ,e~
dunn Of so long a journey is considerable.
While we were on the plains of Platte, the
roads were so smooth that our drivers often
went TO sleep, and there was a general
drowsiness pervading all. We travelled
through prairie country, until we came
within eighty miles Of this place. In the
Blue Mountains we passed through heavy
bodies Of pine.
We have found the road for wagons TO
this point entirely practicable; and to Fort
Hall the best road in the world. From
Fort Hall to this point, distance Of some
five hundred miles, the road is sometimes
difficult, and at times very good. Uu,iI we
came 10 Fort BaiSe, $50 miles from this
place, we had not TO double our teams a
single time. Since we lett Baise we have
had TO double our teams at about four pa-
ces; but we have never had to unload our
wagons once in ascending or descending a
hill. The road is entirely practicable, and
can be SO improved as TO be all the way a
good one. A the wagons that were good,
came through readily, and many that were
very indifferent. A trip of the same length
IN the United States would have broken
down mote wagons.
In regard to the proper and necessary
preparation for the journey, | wish TO Say
something; as have taken particular care
to inform myself, and have had some expe
rence. Every thing depends upon the
proper arrangement made at the start. As
regards wagons, they should be light two
horse wagons, in good state Of repair, of
good workmanship, and materials, and with
falling tongues. Let no man bring heavy
wagon, as he will break his team down for
no purpose. The best wagon beds are the
light yankee beds, with thin light plank in
the bottom. The beds should be very light
and ot simple construction. Wagon sheets
should be OF cotton osnaburg, and made
double. II the wagons are such as des-
| cribed, there is no danger of their breaking
down. The reason is this: at the COM
mencement of the journey, and until you
pass Fort Hall, the road is SO good that Il
wagon will not break down; and when you
reach that place, your load is so reduced
that there is no danger. There is no neccs
sity to bring extra axeltrees, as you will not
need them. AS regards the teams, we have
found by full experience that OK teams are
clearly and unequivocaIly the best, greatly
superior TO mules or horses in all respects.
They are much more hardy than mules and
endure the trip better. An OK is one of the
hardest animals in the world. He will eat
almost any thing, will find it in thickets
and swamps, will climb hills for it, and will
obtain it in many places where mule will
not They cost less at the start, and are
worth most at the end Of the trip: the
gearing is more simple, never wears out,
and the Indians will not steal them. We
have found that oxen from to 6 years old,
bear the trip best. In fact those Of three
and four years old have borne the trip bet
ter than those of any other age. Those
which are heavy and strong in their form,
are better than the tall and slender oxen.
We have found also that cows OF good size,
make most excellent teams, perhaps better
than oxen. They walk very kindly, walk
actively, and being lighter than oxen, their
feet do not wear so much. They are
worth more at the end of the trip, and cost
less at the beginning. They can De broken
to walk any where on the road. Were |
preparing a team for the trip, ! would have
few yoke of oxen, and the balance COWS;
and | would have about twice as many as
should want at one time.
We have not shod a single OK, and it is
wholly unnecessary to supply yourselves
| with shoes for them. had sufficient num-
Der of OK shoes made, which have thrown
away at this place, having never used any