The Republican journal., 1878-10-24
rerrors Of Bewilderment on the Prairt


toba
~ any one not familiar with the plains,
the danger Of being left alone upon them
is not to be underestimated As well
might be be left upon an unchartered sea.
Inc old, old maps, framed from the dis
coverles Of Cabot and CASTER, which rep
resented the centre Of America as a vast
inland sea, erred only in the description
OF the ocean, which they placed in the
| central continent. The ocean is there
but 1T Is one Of grass and waves of sand,
and the shores are the CrestS OF mountain
ranges and dark pine forests. Left alone
upon the illimitable plain, passing by in
his ignorance of prairie craft those mum
berless milestones to safety which make
i % the plan-dwellera great bubble high
way the inexperienced traveller begins at
length to realize that he is lost. 1t dawns
upon him first in a SENSE Oi absolute be
WtIderment a heWildorment 50 intense
as TO produce for the moment an almost
perfect blank i'll the mind. He is incapa-
Die Of summonlng thought sufficient to
reallke anything to consider bis present
situation on take measures for future dC-
ton. 1t is an lndetinable state, where all
IS chaotic, quickly succeeded, however,
by that all-peryadinG terror which chains
thought ana action n a manner nearly
AKIN to death 4 vague, rhapelcSS terror,
imagining all possible. horrible things and
painting mlStily and huHily upon the
numbed faculties namelcss niserics et to
be experienced Il Slow death by staryu-
tion OF thirst. exposure to the dcvouriu-
elements or wild beasts: tortlres ofrvcry
Imaginable description alWay, ending IN h
lingering death ANA above all. never
more 70 share human sympathy u going
out u utter darkness. ucrfnctlv alone.
lhcu despair Joins terror. adling it- tor
lures and lastly, comes that an powerful.
all-pegsuading desire l0r human compau-
ionship. which blending Nth Till former
feelings, unhngcs tho intellect aud rcn-
dcrS the man insane
In winter the dangers of the prairie
deepen ana become manifold. Ihc dccp
SHOWS obitcratc Wit landmarks. To TIL
plan-dwcurr however all the myria,t
features OF the prairie are but 50 many
guide boards pointing out his destination.
He VINO runs may rcad. lie Aas TIE sun
by day, the moon and stars by night.
The turning of a blade of grass points him
east MI west the bark Of every Tree north
and south; the birds ot the air forecast
the weather for him. The minutest trail
or track is visible to him. Hesec- a tWig
broken, and it tells the story of passing
animal; an upturned pebble on tile beach
tells him the hour when the animal drank.
He Will distinguish the trail oi a wagon
On thr prairie Wears after II lla4 passed
the grass, he SANS. never grows TIE same.
There d, not a sigh ot thu restless Wind
that is uuInteIH.Ibe to him. lie will
take u straight course in oue direction
over THE plans. Where no landmark ran
be seen, on DAYS when the sun Is not Nisi-
ble nor d breath of air stirring. The half
breed Or Indian never grt, lost. 1.-The be
caught III i storm upou tAe plain. hls es-
cape becomes ~implv question II phys-
ical endurance. OF a lower order of cul-
ture and of 4 solitary habit. ht is scarcely
susceptible To thc mental tortare THAT
prostrates tho white man. Asan iI.lstra-