out the west at this time. Over vast wild sections skins were the only currency, and at the settlements traflfic for the most part assumed the form of barter or exchange of labor. It was, therefore, exceedingly difficult, as I have said, for the saints to get their property into portable form, even after selling their lands at half or quarter their value. The gentiles, of course, (X)uld pay what they pleased, being the only buyers, and the saints being forced to sell. More- over, there was more property thrown upon the market than could be taken at once, and the depart- ure of so large and thrifty a portion of the popula- tion was of itself sufficient to depreciate property. The best they could do was to exchange their lands for wagons and horses and cattle, and this they did to as large an extent as possible, scouring the coun- try for a hundred miles around in search of live-stock.'^
And now, putting upon their animals and vehicles such of their household effects as they could carry, in small detachments the migratory saints began to leave Nauvoo.^ Before them was the ice-bound river, and beyond that the wilderness.
There is no parallel in the world's history to this migration from Nauvoo. The exodus from Egypt was from a heathen land, a land of idolaters, to a fer- tile region designated by the Lord for his chosen peo- ple, the land of Canaan. The pilgrim fathers in flying to America came from a bigoted and despotic people —
- ' The Mormons went up and down with their furniture, etc., and traded
for anything that could travel, such as an animal or a wagon . . . Another company went out in May, but they did not sell their property, leaving it in the hands of trustees to sell.' Wells' Xarraiive, MS., 37. Their two- story brick house, which they had occupied but three months, and which they had denied themselves in every way to build, Mrs Richards says was sold for ' two yoke of half -broken cattle and an old wagon. ' Reminiscences, MS., 20.
® ' When we were to leave Mo. , the saints entered into a covenant not to cease their exertions imtil every saint who wished to go was removed, which was done. . .We are better off now than we were then;. . .he [B. Y.] wants to see this influence extend from the west to the east sea.' Brigham moved:
- That we take all the saints with us, to the extent of our ability, that is, our
influence and property; seconded by Elder Kimball, and carried unanimously. ' This covenant was entered into Oct. 6, 1S45. Times and Seasons, vi. 1011.
