rades, and that the person who directs the march is
partial toward his favorites, etc. That man who exercises the greatest
forbearance under such circumstances, who is cheerful, slow to take up
quarrels, and endeavors to reconcile difficulties among his companions,
is deserving of all praise, and will, without doubt, contribute largely
to the success and comfort of an expedition.

The advantages of an association such as I have mentioned are
manifestly numerous. The animals can be herded together and guarded by
the different members of the company in rotation, thereby securing to
all the opportunities of sleep and rest. Besides, this is the only way
to resist depredations of the Indians, and to prevent their stampeding
and driving off animals; and much more efficiency is secured in every
respect, especially in crossing streams, repairing roads, etc., etc.

Unless a systematic organization be adopted, it is impossible for a
party of any magnitude to travel in company for any great length of
time, and for all the members to agree upon the same arrangements in
marching, camping, etc. I have several times observed, where this has
been attempted, that discords and dissensions sooner or later arose
which invariably resulted in breaking up and separating the company.

When a captain has once been chosen, he should be sustained in all his
decisions unless he commit some manifest outrage, when a majority of
the company can always remove him, and put a more competent man in his
place. Sometimes men may be selected who, upon trial, do not come up to
the anticipations of those who have placed them in power, and other men
will exhibit, during the course of the march, more capacity. Under
these circumstances it will not be unwise to make a change, the first
election having been distinctly provisional.

WAGONS AND TEAMS.

A company having been organized, its first interest is to procure a
proper outfit of transportation and supplies for the contemplated
journey.

Wagons should be of the simplest possible construction--strong, light,
and made of well-seasoned timber, especially the wheels, as the
atmosphere, in the elevated and arid region over which they have to
pass, is so exceedingly dry during the summer months that, unless the
wood-work is thoroughly seasoned, they will require constant repairs to
prevent them from falling to pieces.

Wheels made of the bois-d'arc, or Osage orange-wood, are the best for
the plains, as th