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Show 16 NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. believe a word of it. For the first three or four weeks, and before the novelty bas to any considerable degrePworn off, all goes on finely, and alrnost any ~our of the day or night even, can be heard fro1n the bps of so~e one '' 0 California, that's the land for me." But mtnd , you', long before the Humboldt River is rea?hed, Y?u hear very little of song, or merriment of any ktnd. Cu·cumstances have transpired, and events taken place, that more than likely have given to the stoutest hearts, and strongest minds, a serious turn. But should some one, as he plods along in the dust and heat, weary and wQ.yworn, in a moment of abstraction, happen to oreak out into song, instead of, "0 California," you will be far more likely to hear, " 0 carry me back to old Virginnie ; " so that when you hear men speaking of it, only as a pleasure trip, depend, upon it that either they know nothing about it, or are ardent and enthusiastic admirers of nature, and therefore see at almost every step, something new, strange, or magnificent to admire, that affords them pleasure. When the national wagon road across the plains shall have been to some extent improved, and government, much more than now, shall have extended its protection · ove~ it, it may possibly be made a pleasure trip entire; but seldom is no"r· And yet the first half or two-thirds can, with proper 1nanagement, be made with much pleas- · ure ; whilst the last six hundred 1niles is almost always, even under the most favorable circu1nstances, attended 'vith much of anxiety an.d fatigue. Still, as a whole, the ... NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. 17 journey of the plains is one of peculiar and almost unequalled interest, and more than compensates the observant traveler ten fold for all his fatigue and privation. There are many incidents connected with the march of the United States army towards Salt Lake City, the burning of the government wagon trains by the Mormons, and subsequent events connected with the rebellion of that people, that have tended greatly to increase the interest of the overland route, and which alone will induce great numbers of Californians to make their return trips to the Eastern States, hereafter, by the way of the plains. Californians returning to the States, if desirous of saving one, t-,vo, or three hundred dollars, in making the trip there, should always go by the plains, as the journey can be made far more easily from California to Missouri, than in the opposite direction. All the worst part of the road lies west of the South Pass ; so that in going from California eastwardly, it is necessarily passed over :first, and while the animals are yet in their strength. NUMBER OF MEN IN A COMPANY. It is generally considered that a company should consist of twenty-five or thirty able men, and this number certainly is enough, either for convenience or safety ; besides, it is useless to form· a larger company. Difference of opinion is sure to prevail ; and as every one thinks his own opinion the best, and no possible mode of |