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Show • PREFACE. It will be ren1a1ked un p.:.H'l1sa1, that an el~oneou n in1pres:3ion exteusi\·ely --o prevails as to ·what in renJity constitute tl1e "Plains," it b2i ng u r:derstood The intention of the present "Jour- that they !lre o t~e vast Jc-,·e1 ,-,·Hste, renal,'' is to give a general description of liev·ed by an o ccasior-.~1 ul uti~ unci interthe country, also incidents in can1p life sected by rivers, which is not the case. along a route for a greater part of the With but little exception, the p lains way but little frequented by en1igt·ants, eud \vhen the Rocky .l\fouutains are and, as a consequence, but litt1e knov{n reached. Necessarily a j onrncy such outside official circles, but 'vbich has as 've have recorded, is a tedious one, recently attracted. the attention of " gold attended by rnany harcL hips and danseekers." It ·was aimed at making it gcrs, oftentimes hazardous, and of complete and cornprehensive, only as course the circumstances di<1 uot adn1it a narative of events iu the order they of tba !:>est facilit ies for 1naking au inoccurred. ''Taking notes," a business teresting ~.. .. olun1e. I t 'vas jotted down we \vere not fatniliar with, became during intervals of labor attending the sornething of a. ta~k, through section~ · trip, and many of its pages were v;;Tit\ Vhere the scenery 'vas of the sa1ne ten by the ntidnight cntnp-firo : Lt 11onrs n1onotouous appearance. Repetitions that should have beeu U.e, .. oted to rest. \\'ill occur, they cannot well be avoided. It \Vas not our design '"hen \\Titing "\Ve consulted no author, and had the tb~ "Notes," that tbcy should en;r ap\ vorks of no explorer as a guide in n1a- rear in print; but a copy having- bee11 king it up. A map of the country 'vas requested by 1nany of our fr iends, and our only chart. ''.rhe ·work is strictly finding it too Jong and te di otl::~ a task our own, and ~tands on its merits as I for our pen, "'e concluded to en1ploy such. the type. |