Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/334

 many streams, where the packs frequently get wet, requires no small amount of labour, besides the injury done to the articles. Our books what few we have, have been wet several times. In going from Elmira to Williamsport this trunk fell in to the creek & wet all my books & Richards, too very much. The sleigh box came off & all of us came near a wetting, like wise The custom of the country is to possess nothing & then you will loose nothing while traveling farewell for the present.

13th Sat.Dear H. Mr McKay has asked the privaledge of taking the little trunk along so that my soliloquy about it last night was for nought, however it will do me no good it may him. We have come at least fifteen miles & have had the worst route in all the journey for the cart, we might have had a better one, but for being misled by some of the company who started out before their leaders. It was two o'clock before we came into camp. They were preparing to cross Snake River. The river is divided by two islands into three branches & is fordable. The packs are placed upon the top of the highest horses & in this way crossed without wetting. Two of the tallest horses were selected to carry Mrs. S & myself over Mr McLeod gave me his & rode mine. The last branch we rode as much as a half mile in crossing & against the current too which made it hard for the horses the water being up to their sides. Husband had considerbly difficulty in crossing the cart. Both the cart & the mules were capsized in the water and the mules entangled in the harness. They would have drowned, but for a desperate struggle to get them ashore. Then after putting two of the strongest horses before the cart & two men swimming behind to steady it, they succeeded in getting it over. I once thought that crossing streams would be the most dreadful part of the journey. I can now cross the most difficult stream without the least fear. There is one manner of crossing which Husband has tried, but I have not, neither do I wish to Take an Elk Skin and streach it over you spreading yourself out as much as possible. Then let the Indian women carfully put you on the water, & with a cord in