row. I am far from regretting the delay, as it will give me an opportunity of commencing a letter which, I know, will interest you.
Like all the works of God, our humble beginnings have not been unattended with trials: our journey had even well nigh been indefinitely deferred by the postponement of two caravans on which we had confidently relied; one of hunters, for the American Fur Company; the other an exploring expedition belonging to the United States, at the head of which we expected to see the celebrated M. Nicollet. Happily God inspired two estimable travelers, [named Romaine and Baker] of whom more hereafter, and afterward some sixty others, to take the same route as ourselves, some for health, others for science or pleasure; but the greater number to seek their fortune in the too highly boasted land of California. This caravan formed an extraordinary mixture of different nations, every country of Europe having in it a representative, my own little band of eleven persons hailing from eight.
The difficulties of setting out once overcome, many others followed in succession. We had need of provisions, fire-arms, implements of every kind, wagons, guides, a good hunter, an experienced captain,- in a word, whatever becomes necessary when one has to traverse a desert of 8oo leagues, and expects nothing but formidable obstacles to surmount, and thieving, and sometimes murderous, enemies to combat,- and swamps, ravines and rivers to cross, and mountains to climb, whose craggy and precipitous sides suddenly arrest our progress, compelling us to drag our beasts of burden up their steep ascents. These
s The remains of the "Western Emigration Society," organized in Weston, Missouri, the preceding winter, with soo members, all but one of whom (John Bidwell) withdrew before the time set for startingdiscouraged, it is said, by Thomas J. Farnham's published account of California. The party as made up was composed of emigrants from Missouri, an invalid named George Ilenshaw from Illinois, three families from Arkansas, and others. It was commanded by John Bartleson, and guided by Thomas Fitzpatrick.