ed and snowed, and our horses had an uncomfortable time of it, and
we did not fare much better, as there were eleven of us camped on the
floor of a log shanty, with the chinking pretty well knocked out, so
that the wind, rain and snow had a free sweep amongst us.

15 miles.

12th. Very windy and cold--started on account of our horses, and drove
twelve miles, to Iowa City, where we arrived about noon, after one of
the most disagreeable day's drive I ever experienced. We laid over the
rest of the day on account of the wind. We here found quite a number of
our Lake co. friends, who had got here in advance of us.

12 miles.

13th. Remained in Iowa City; the wind still high and the weather very
cold. Iowa City is quite a place, with a population, as I am told, of
about 2500. It is the seat of government for the State of Iowa, which
is its only recommendation. It is situated on the Iowa river, which is
navigable at high water for steamboats of a small class. The State
House will be a very handsome building when finished; it is built of
hewed stone, on the bank of the Iowa river, and when the work is
properly finished will do honor to the State. This is a gathering point
for California teams, and the town is now full of them lying bye on
account of bad weather. It is supposed there are 100 wagons here now,
and they keep coming; besides, there are numbers wind bound at the
Cedar river.

We are stopping at Swan's Hotel, the best house in the city, the
register of which shows the names of great numbers of our town and
county people who started before us--and more are coming after. This
afternoon, another team, or the advance guard of it, from our town came
up. We now begin to find every thing higher as we get farther advanced
towards the frontiers. Corn is worth here fifty cents a bushel, and
report says that towards Council Bluffs there is no feed for horses and
cattle of any kind or at any price.

14th. Sunday. We still lie over; the weather has become more moderate,
though it is still cold; the wind has gone down, so that it is more
comfortable travelling, consequently most of the teams have left town
on their route. They stretch off across the prairie this morning as far
as the eye can reach, quite an army of themselves; what we shall find
when we get to the Missouri river, it is impossible to tell; judging
from present appearances there will be one of the largest armies
congregated that were ever got together at o