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410 EZRA FISHER

opportunity of performing- anything like missionary labor on our way. In this respect we are somewhat disappointed, yet we hope to exert in some measure a restraint over them which will be salutary hereafter. When we left the Nimaha Agency, we hoped to be able to influence the company in which we then were to rest on the Lord's day, but we soon found that every circumstance was construed into a case of emergency, except those manifest providences in which it became impracticable to move. You can have no conception of the influence such a journey exerts for the time being to progress on their journey almost entirely preclude the upon the character of moral, and even professedly Christian men. Every man's interest seems to conflict with that of his neighbor, and still they must live in a community to a certain extent. We have preached but three Sabbaths since we left the Nimaha Agency, and been constrained, notwithstanding every remonstrance, to travel a few miles, sufficient to throw the camp in confusion every other Sabbath. But the days of this pilgrimage are comparatively short, and we hope and trust the trials will the better fit us for faithfully serving our common Lord in the land to which we are directing our steps. May Almighty God grant us the desire of our hearts.

Our roads since we crossed the Missouri river have been the best we ever saw in any country, and at present our greatest fears are that the long season of drought will render the feed so poor and scarce that our cattle will suffer. We have suffered but little for want of water as yet, and we are now approaching a region of springs and perpetual snow, so that we have but little to fear from that score. We expect it will be at least twelve or thirteen weeks more before we reach the field of our future labors, and we know not whether we shall be able to write you again till that time. I am now writing seated on a buffalo robe in the open air under a scorching sun. (I would suppose the thermometer would range between 86 and 96), with the bottom of a fallen wash tub in my lap for a table and in the midst of the con- fusion of the camp. You must therefore tax your patience