Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/326

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280
T. C. Elliott

seen no buffalo since we left Rendezvous. Had no game of any kind except a few messes of Antelope which John's Father gave us. We have plenty of dry Buffalo meat which we purchased of the Indians & dry it is for me. I can scarcely eat it, it appears so filthy, but it will keep us alive & we ought to be thankful for it. We have had a few meals of fresh fish also which relished well. Have the prospect of obtaining plenty in one or two weeks more. Found no berries. Neither have I found any of Ma's bread. (Girls do not waste the bread, if you know how well I should relish even the dryest morsel you would save every piece carefully.) Do not think I regret coming. No, far from it. I would not go back for a world. I am contented & happy notwithstanding I get very hungry & weary. Have six weeks steady journeying before us. Will the Lord give me patience to endure it. Feel sometime as if it was a long time to be traveling. Long for rest, but must not murmur. We are told we shall find the heat greater as we go on than we have found it previously to this. Feel to pity the poor Indian women who are continually traveling in this manner during their lives & know no other comfort. They do all the work, such as getting the wood, preparing food, picking their lodges, packing & driving their animals, the complete slaves of their husbands. I am making some little proggress in their language long to be able to converse with them about the Saviour. They all appear anxious to converse with us & to be understood by us.

28thVery mountainous all the way today, came over another ridge Rode from eight A M till two P M. We thought yesterday the Indians were all going to leave us except two or three but not one has; They fear to on account of the Black Feet tribe, who are their enemies, and would destroy them all if they could. The Flat Head tribe are nearly extinguished by them. One of the axle trees of the waggon broke today. was a little rejoiced, for we were in hopes they would leave it & have no more trouble with it. Our rejoycing was in vain however for they are making a cart of the hind wheels this afternoon & lashing the forward wheels to it, intending to take it through in some shape or other. They are so resolute & untiring in their efforts they will probably succeed. Had a little fresh fish for breakfast & some Antelope for supper sent us by Mr McLeod, and