ans !"
Thus they slowly contmued their way down the Sierra to the north branch of the American river, when on the 9th of January they came to a rancheria of natives, who were so overcome on beholding the pitiful condition of the strangers that they burst into loud lamentations, the women sobbing in sympathy as they hastily prepared mashed acorns for their re- lief Then these natives sent messengers on to the next rancheria, that its people might likewise prepare food and welcome for the afflicted travellers ; and so they passed them along from one to another, all that was left of them, until on the l7th of January they reached the house of M. D. Richey, whose kind- hearted daughter on first beholdhig Mr. Eddy burst into tears without speaking a word.
Of the seventeen who set out from Truckee, eight had perished by the way, and all of these were men. Every woman had come through. The news of their suffering, and the condition of those left behind, spread swiftly among the settlers. Couriers were despatched to Sutter's fort, to Sonoma, to Yerba Buena, and im- mediate preparations were made for the relief of the sufferers. Men eagerly volunteered to go to their assistance, and money was furnished with lavish hands. Even thus early in her history, as ever after- ward, the heart of California was wide open to the cry of distress. Several expeditions at once set out for Mountain camp, as the cabins near Donner lake were called. The first was under Reed, who when driven from the camp for man-slaughter had made his way to California, where he was awaiting the ar- rival of the party with his wife and children. Sutter and John Sinclair sent out a party under Aquilla Glover. Eddy attempted to return with this party, but was obliged from weakness to give it up. Glover made two expeditions, Reed and McCutcheon two, Foster and Eddy one, besides the expeditions of Starks and others, and of Mr Fellan.
Burying provisions in the snow for their return as
