Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/332

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286
T. C. Elliott

taken today. We have a little rice to eat with our dry mest given us by Mr McLeod, which makes it relish quite well.

7thCame fifteen miles without seeing water, over a dry parch earth, covered with its native sage as parched as the earth itself. Heat excessive but mitigated with a gentle breeze. We have encamped on a fine place plenty of good grass for our weary animals. Thus are blessings so mingled, that it seems as if there was nothing else but mercy and blessings all the way. Was there ever a journey like this, performed where the sustaining hand of God has been so manifest every moment. Surely the children of Israel could not have been more sensible of the "pillar of cloud by day & of the pillar of fire by night," than we have been of that Hand that has led us thus safely on. God has heard prayer in our behalf, & even now while I am writing on this Holy day is the sweet incence of prayer ascending before the throne of Heavenly Grace. Nor are we forgoten by our beloved churches at home in the prayers of the Sanctuary. We are too sensible of its blessed effects to believe otherwise & O how comforting is this thought to the heart of the Missionary. We love to think & talk of home with such feelings as that. It warms our hearts, strengthens & encourages us in the work of our beloved Master & makes our journeyings easy.

8thMon. Eve. Snake River. Have an excellent amp ground tonight, plenty of excellent fead for our horses & cattle. Quite a change in the temperatures of the atmosphere since yesterday noon. It was so cool last night & we have such a wind today, that we and our animals have traveled more comfortably for it. We think it remarkable that our cattle should endure the journey as well as they do. We have two sucking calves that appear to be in very good spirits, they suffer some from sore feet, otherwise they have come on very well. Have come eighteen miles today & have taken it so deliberately that it has been easy for us. The hunters came in last night well loaded. They had been in the mountains two days after game. Killed three Elks & two Antelopes. This is the first Elk meat we have had & the last opportunity we expect to have of taking any more game. We are told many have traveled the whole distance from Rendezvous to Walla W without any fresh, living entirely upon the dry We think ours will last us untill we