pursuing our journey up the river, passing towering hills on our left, while on the right lay the land of a second Egypt. Arrived at noon at a little town called Hermen, where they cultivate and make wine. The next place of note was Jefferson City, a truly romantic place for a city. Here we again halted for the night.
April 5.—Left Jefferson City this morning at 5 o'clock. Snowing, very blustery. Came to Booneville at 4 o'clock P. M. Weather clear, but cool. Traveled on afternoon, went to bed at 9 and found ourselves tied up next morning at Lexington.
April 7.—Left Lexington this morning at 4 o'clock. This day the river was most desperate. Traveled to all points of the compass. Snags and sand bars at every point. We stuck in the mud more than once. Passed several little towns and arrived at night at Kansas City built on solid rock. Lots of half-breeds.
April 8.—This morning we left Kansas City at 4 o'clock; found much better country. At 11 o'clock we came to Fort Levinsworth [Leavenworth], a very beautiful place, and at 12 o'clock we came to Weston, another very handsome little town, situated six miles above Levinsworth; this evening we passed an extensive prairie and tied up at a woodyard for the night.
April 9.—This morning left woodyard at 4 A. M. After running around through snags for 15 miles, we came in sight of St. Joseph at 10 A. M ., where we landed. St. Joseph is a beautiful town of some 5,000 or 6,000 inhabitants and is fast improving. Here we landed our freight, set up our wagons and encamped for the night on the wharf.
April 10.—This morning we moved out one mile east of the town preparatory to fitting out teams and provisions for our long journey.
April 11.—This morning we set out on the hunt of cattle, or rather work oxen, and after traveling hard all day and seeing thousands of cattle, we returned at night, cold, wet and hungry, to camp without making any pur-
