OREGON BOUND 1853 147
them ever ready to give me the best place in the lodge, with the best buffalo robe and best buffalo meat. I would trust them to any extent. I have not heard of an animal ever hav- ing been stolen by an Indian between the Loupe fork and Bear river mountains, nor do I believe such a thing ever occurred. About the Bear river region were the diggers miserable robbers but now, with another tribe, by the agency of the small pox, they are nearly annihilated. They were a powerful band a year ago, but are now a disunited and wan- dering handful, hardly recognized as a tribe, and nearly harm- less even as thieves.
As additional advice to those who intend going over this road, they should make their calculations to live as nearly as possible as they do at home. The last place to get good whip- stocks is on the west side of the Des Moines. There are some, but not the best, on the east side of the Missouri, going up from Kanesville to the upper ferry. Opposite and about 60 rods above the present eastern landing of that ferry, on the west side of the Missouri, is a good place, and the best place to get good hickory for spare ox -bows three or four of which ought to be taken with every team. A man wants about three dozen common screws ; 2 papers 8 oz. and 10 oz. tacks ; 2 Ibs. shingle and 2 Ibs. 6d nails ; a saw, hammer, good axe, spade, %, % and inch augers with one handle, wrench, screw driver and two good pocket knives one being to lose on the way. So far, a gun is of little use except to fire off, clean out and load up again every three or four days. A family should be supplied with such medicines as they know how to use, especial- ly for such diseases as proceed from a neglected and dirty con- dition of the skin and overcharging of the bowels with Platte water sand, and colds taken by swimming the Platte for cattle and fuel ; and the best of remedies for murrain, alkali, over- flowing of the galls, hobnail and other ails of cattle and horses. There is an abundance of a purer and honester article of saler- atus in this country than can be got at factories, and a man may get more or less as he pleases at Kanesville. Salt for
