mer, but it was deemed inexpedient to move forward
that year. Some twelve hundred cattle were herded
on the rush bottoms, about a hundred miles up the
river.
The building of a water flouring mill was in process of construction, and Brigham superintended the work. As the camp journalist writes: "He sleeps with one eye open and one foot out of bed, and when anything is wanted he is on hand." The tithing collected was distributed among the destitute at Mount Pisgah. To the gentiles who visited their camps such hospitality was extended as their means permitted, which though often scant was never stinted.
Within the camp the women attended not only to their ordinary household duties, but were busily occu- pied spinning, knitting, making leggings from deer and elk skins, and in weaving willow baskets for market. ^° With cheerfulness and courage they adapted them- selves to their many vicissitudes, their faith in their religion never swerving, and supported by it to a pa- tient endurance beyond human strength. Most of them had exchanged their household treasures and personal effects, even to their table and bed furniture, for stores of maize or flour, which with milk were their only articles of diet. As evening approached, the tinkling of cattle bells announced the return of the men, when the women went forth to meet them, and welcome them back to their log hut and frugal meal. Then a little later all sounds were hushed, save that on the still night arose the strains of the evening hymn and the murmur of the evening prayer, the day closing, as it had commenced, with a supplication for the blessing of the Almighty, and with heartfelt thanksgiving that he had been pleased to deliver his people from the hands of their persecutors.
During the latter part of the winter and toward the early spring matters assumed a brighter look.
^" Several loads of willow baskets were manufactured. Hist. B. Young, M
