easier circumstances at
home; while the ox-drawn "Conestogas" belonged to the common crowd.
With the larger waggons, a "corral" had been formed--as is the usual
custom of the prairie caravan.

In the following fashion is the enclosure constructed:--The two front
waggons are drawn side by side, and halted close together. The two that
follow next on the trail, are driven up outside of these--until their
front wheels respectively touch the hind ones of the pair that precede
them--when they also stop. The pair following in their turn double
their poles upon these; and so on, till half the train is expended. The
enclosure is not yet complete. It forms only a half-circle, or rather a
semi-ellipse; and the corresponding half is obtained, by a slight change
in the mode of bringing up the remaining vehicles. These are driven
forward to the ground, so that the rear of each is turned _inward_--the
reverse of what was observed in bringing the others into place--and the
double-curve which before was constantly diverging, now becomes
convergent. When all the waggons have got into their places, the
ellipse will be completed; but it is customary to leave an _open_ space
at the end--a sort of avenue by which the enclosure may be entered.
When horses and cattle require to be _corralled_, this entrance can be
closed, by simply stretching a rope across it. If danger be
apprehended, the travellers can keep within this enclosure--the bodies
of the waggons forming an excellent rampart of defence. The tilts serve
as tents; and under their capacious covering the female members of the
emigrant's family are accustomed to sleep in comfort and security.
Sentinels outside, and horse-guards picketed still further off, give
warning of the approach of an enemy.

As we drew near the camp, we could perceive that in this approved
fashion had the Mormons constructed their _corral_. Most of the lighter
vehicles were inside the enclosure; and there we could see the forms of
women and children moving about in an excited manner--as if they had
retreated thither on discovering our approach. The men still remained
outside; and the horses and horned cattle had been left undisturbed.
Our party was not large enough to have created an alarm--even had our
arrival been unexpected. It could scarcely have been so. No doubt they
took us for what we were: the emissaries of the Utah chief!

When within a few hundred yards of the camp, a party, already on
hor