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grazing for the animals led the more impatient members to strike out for themselves. Irksome regulations against pro- miscuous hunting and the consequent abandonment of the main body of the company, 74 the limitation of the number of cattle each member might drive, and the refusal of the "have- nots" to stand guard over the stock of the "haves," 75 dis- satisfaction with incompetent officers, 76 disagreements about the route, or the determination on the part of some to seek another destination 77 were fertile causes of discontent and consequently of schism.
The problem arising out of this tendency to disintegrate was met in a variety of ways. Occasionally the company simply split without further ado, the seceders going off by themselves. So simple a solution was frequently impolitic, however, partly because of the danger to small bands from marauding Indians and partly, too, because of the difficulty in dividing the assets and common obligations of the company. In a number of cases, consequently, an effort was made to divide the com- pany merely for administrative purposes, so to speak, but to
74 See Minto, Address, O. P. A. Transactions, 1876, p. 39 and Ibid., Robert Wilson Morrison, O. P. A. Transactions, 1894, p. 56. Cf. Diary of E. E. Parrish, O. P. A. Transactions, 1888, p. 94. Under date, July 15, he writes, "Quite a confusion in camp this morning about buffalo hunting. The General seemed quite 'cantankerous' because Louis Crawford went out after buffalo this morning contrary to orders. . . . The colony (sic) was called together by the General, who, after a short abusive speech, tendered his resignation. . . . We are now in companies."
75 Cf. Communication in the New Orleans Picayune, November 21, 1843, re- printed in Or eg. Hist. Quart., I, 398. In discussing the migration of 1843, the writer says, "Several enactments were made and agreed to, one of which was called up to be rescinded, and something of an excitement arose in regard to it. The law made was that no family should drive along more than three head of stock for each member composing it, and this bore hard on families that had brought with them cattle in large numbers." (Jesse Applegate, of this com- pany, had over two hundred head and others over a hundred head. Oreg. Hist. Quart., IV, 177.) The dispute resulted in a split of the large body into two or three divisions and so they moved on, making distinct encampments all the way." Cf. also New Orleans Picayune for August 16, 1843, containing a copy of a communication in the Iowa Territorial Gazette, reprinted in Oreg. Hist. Quart., II, 191.
76 Shortess, First Emigrants to Oregon, O. P. A. Transactions, 1896, p. 97, "Before reaching the Santa Fe Crossing, our leader in consequence of intemper- ance and neglect of duty had lost all influence or authority and every one did what was right in his eyes." "Before leaving the crossing, our leader being ac- cused of incompetence and waste of funds placed in his hands, saw fit to resign along with two others who had become obnoxious to the party. They were, how- ever, permitted to stay until our arrival at Bent's Fort." A division of the com- pany was effected here. Cf. references note 74. See Bryant, What I Saw in California, p. 43.
77 E. P. D. Houghton, Donner Party, p. 32. Cf. Minto, Reminiscences, Oreg. Hist. Quart., II, 152-
