Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/383



THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY V OKKUON 24:j

down tliuir horses. A prudent t'iirc should be taUeii oL' horses, teams and pro- visions, from the start. Nothing should be wasted or thrown away that ean be eaten. li" a prudent course is taken, the trip can be made, in ordinary seasons, in four months. It took ns longer; but we lost a great deal of lime on llie road, and had the way to break. ' '

A mountain man known to travelers as Major Harris, and to the plainsmen as "Black Harris" in company with another :Missouri warrior known to fame as Major Adams, gives the following list for an outfit to Oregon :

"Every man should be provided at least with a good rifle, six pounds of I)owder and twelve pounds of lead. The best size bore for a rifle is forty to the pound. This size will easily kill buffalo, but a smaller calibre will be better suited for the game west of the mountains. Each person should have at least one hun- dred and forty pounds of bacon, one hundred and fifty pounds of flour, ten pounds of salt, twenty pounds coil'ee, twenty pounds sugar. It would do well for several persons to constitute a mess, each mess to be provided with a small tent and cook- ing utensils. Mules are much better to endure this trip than horses, though a horse is very useful in running buffalo. A horse, to be of use in hunting, might be kept for that express purpose."

Medorem Crawford who came aci-oss the plains in 1842, and was one of the men who formed the Provisional Government, gives a list of goods and trinkets he brought along to trade with the Indians as follows :

P.\CK NO. 1

Pr. Blankets, Tobacco, 1 Bunch Glass Beads, 1 Bunch Fancy White, 1 Bunch Garnishing White, 2 Doz. Butcher Knives, 1 Bunch Blue Agate lieads, 1 Bunch Garnishing Blue, 1 Bunch Fish Hooks, 1 Piece Blue Cloth, Tobacco, Powder, Glass Beads. Fancy White B. Garnishing, B. White, Butcher Knives, Blue Agate Beads, 1 Blue Garnishing Beads, Fish Hooks, Blue Cloth, Crawford's Clothes, 2 Bunch Bells, Rice, Flints, 2 Gross Rings, 2 Doz. Looking Glasses, 1 Blue Garnishing Beads, Crocker's Clothes, Red Cloth, Lead.

PACK NO. 2

Crawford's Clothes, Crocker's Clothes, 1 Blanket, 2 Bunches Bells, Rice and Flints, 2 Gross Rings, 2 Doz. Looking Glasses, 1 Doz. Garnishing Beads, 1 Piece Red Cloth, Bar Lead.

S. M. Gilmore, who came across in 1843, and after the experience of that trip wrote back to friends in Missouri from Vancouver under date of November 11th, 1843, his advice to those planning to move to Oregon, as follows:

"Your wagons should be light, yet substantial and strong, and a plenty of good oxen. Though I wrote while on the Sweetwater that mules were preferable, but after seeing them thoroughly tried I have become convinced that oxen are more preferable— they are the least trouble and stand traveling much the best — are worth a great deal more when here. Load your wagons light and put one-third more team to them than is necessary to pull the load. Bring nothing with you ex- cept provisions and a plenty of clothes to do you for one year from the time you leave. They can all be had on as good terms as in Missouri, and even better;