great difference between the Captain of this boat and the Captain of the Griffin Yeatman this one is a real half cent Yankee We live verry plain but healthy. the banks of the river look more ruged than the Ohio the water is verry Mudy but quite sweet we observed quite a number of natu- ral chimneys ricks [sic] piled up as though the hand of man had been opper- ating on them Nature works out some queer shapes we got aground several times but got off without trouble
May ^rd We arrived at Independance this morning at 2 oclock A. M. having got our loading on shore at sunrise the directors started up to see the town and make some enquiries about matters the town is three miles from the landing it has the appearance of haveing grown up in one night like "Jonah's gourd" we concluded to camp i mile below the town near a small stream and camped out for the first time in my life we bought no mules today thinking it advisable to look about some first
Friday May 4th iS^p. Today we have made further investigation on gen- eral matters we purchased 3 mules and engaged one waggon
May f The directors are at loss to know what kind of mules to purchase, today we purchased 7 American mules but think they shall generally buy Spanish mules
Sunday May 6^ I together with two more started out some three miles for a pair of mules No one knowes how vexatious it is to manage wild mules these were as wild as Arabs and we were tired enough
Monday May yth. Today we commenced in earnest we bought 30 Spanish mules and at night our camp began to look like starting but to new beginers business crowds in every form waggons to buy harnesses to fit &c &c
Tuesday May 5" Mr. [J. A.] Hough and I started in the country to pur- chase a few horses and chains it being next to impossible to get any black- smithing done We directed our course to the town of Liberty Clay county Mo. We bought a verry fast horse for ^^ dolls such as would bring in Mass $200, quick the land here is a good deal prara and most of the horses raised on them will skim over the ground like a bird we put [up] at a fine tavern and receved the best of treatment.
May p Friend Hough and I started out in the country to find a few horses the day was a fine one and we enjoyed the ride much we purchased 3 horses at an everage price of 40 dolls, here we bought our chains and whiffle trees as well as shoes for our mules packed our chains on a mule and started for camp we arrived late at home on account of being de- tained at the ferry all well in our party but they are dying with cholera all around us
May 14 Tuesday From the 9th to the 14th was spent in preparing for the journey all being ready we made a final move from Grove Camp as we called it at Independance We moved out 1 3 miles where there was plenty
