CAPTAIN MARCY'S PRAIRIE AND OVERLAND TRAVELLER. * THE art of navigation

is a simple thing in its lowest grade, that of canal navigation ; it is considerably more complex in rivers; and its difficulties increase in a rapidly accumulating ratio until they become almost infinite at the extreme end of the scale. Just so it is with land travelling. It is one thing to make a pedestrian tour in our own island,—quite another thing to climb the gla- ciers of the Alps ; and a prudent man would hardly like td. at- tempt the latter feat until he had consulted the works of Profes- s r Tyndal and of other veterans in that particular field of eater prise. Journeying through vast wildernesses, infested by fierce and cunning savages, is a work in which consummate skill is re- quisite, and that skill does not come by nature, it is the fruit of individual experience grafted upon the combined experience of many preceding adventurers. The beginner must acquire the traditionary lore of his new craft, and make himself master of its principles, either by conversation or by the study of books; but often the information he needs lies scattered through many volumes, and he wants time or opportunity for reading them up. What he most needs is a grammar of his art, such as the young seaman has in his " None, and this has now been provided for him by Captain Marcy of the United States Army. His book em- bodies the results of a quarter of a century's experience in bon- • The Prairie and Orerland Traveller : a Companion for Emigrants, Trabers. Travellers, Hunters, and Soldiers traversing Great Plains and Prairies. By Cap- tain B. B. Marcy. Published by Sampson, Low, and Co. tier life, a great portion of which has been spent in exploring the interior of the American continent ; and it has been reprinted without alteration for English and colonial use, in-the well. grounded belief that its guidance will be valuable not only in the piturie, bat equally so wherever the traveller is thrown upon his own resources.. To home-keeping readers it will be scarcely less acceptable than to those for whose use it is specially intended, becruse it reproduces in epitome the personal interest of many narratives of adventure, and not seldom its practical instructions are conveyed in the shape of actual incident. For example— "In passing over the Rocky Mountains during the winter of' 1867-8, our supplies of provisions were entirely...consumed eighteen days before reaching the first settlements in New Mexico, and we were obliged to resort to a variety of expedients to supply the deficiency. Our poor mules were fast Ailing and dropping down from exhaustion in the deep snows, and our only dependence for the means of sustaining life was upon these starved animals as they became unserviceable and could go no farther. We had no salt,

sugar, coffee, or tobacco, which, at a time when men are performing the severest labour that the human system is capable of enduring, was a great privation. In this destitute condition, we found a substitute for tobacco in the bark of the red willow, which grows upon many of the mountain streams in that vicinity. The outer bark is first removed with a knife, after which the inner bark is scraped up into ridges around the sticks, and held in the fire until it is thoroughly roasted, when it is taken off the stick, pulverized in the hand, and is ready for smoking. It has the narcotic properties of the tobacco, and is quite agreeable to the taste and smell. The sumach leaf is also used by the Indians in the same way, and has a similar taste to the willow bark. A decoction of the dried wild or horse-mint, which we foiled abundant under the snow, was quite palateable, and answered instead of coffee. It dries up in that climate, but does not lose its flavour. We suffered greatly for the want of salt ; but, by-burning the outside of our mule steaks, and sprinkling a little gunpowder upon them, it did not require a very ex-

tensive stretch of the imagination to flinty the presence of both salt and pepper. We tried the meat of horse, colt, and mulct, all of which were in a starved condition, and, of course, not very tender, juicy, or nutritious. We consumed the enormous amount of from five to six pounds of this meat per man daily, but continued to grow weak and thin, until, at the expiration of twelve days, we were able to perform but little labour, and were continu- allycraving for fat meat."

The chapter on saddles deservesthe attention of commanders of cavalry and of all horsemen. Long ago Marshal Saxe declared that the Hungarian hussar saddle was the only one fit for cavalry. It is very similar to that of the horse-riding nomades of Asia and America, yet it appears that the Austrian and the Russian are the only European services in which it is adopted. Above all, saddles known-te him, Captain Marcy prefers a modification of the Mexican, called the Californian saddle, which is exceedingly well adapted for rough frontier service, has an easier seat than the Mexican, and is thought by many to be the best for the horse's back. An excellent substitute for the saddle blanket has been found in a mat .made of a kind of moss which abounds on trees in Southern States of the Union. It grows in tufts of long, dark grey fibres, and is one of the most dismal-looking objects in the whole vegetable- kingdom. We never could see it on the tree without thinking of weather-stained scalps of Christian women streaming from the poles of an Indian wigwam. This moss is not unknown in England, where it has been used, without much ad- vantage we believe, as stuffing for mattresses. Saddle-mats made of this cheap, durable, and cool material have been used for years by American officers in Mexico and-Texas, and they all concur in opinion that a horse will-never get a sore back when one of- these mats is placed'on it under a good saddle. Captain Marcy notices the various remedies in most repute for the-cure of bites by venomous serpents, and gives his decided pre- ference to ardent spirits, taken until the patient -becomes very much intoxicated. This is considered a sovereign antidote among American settlers on the Western frontier, and cases are known to our author iii which it was quite successful. He also adduces instances of care-by 'repeated applications of poultices made with powdered indigo-and-water: The first poultices turned white, and the application-was renewed until the indigo ceased to change its colour. He was present when an Indian: child was bitten in the forefinger by a large rattlesnake. The mother immediately put the finger in her mouth, sucked the poison from it for some minutes, repeatedly spitting out as she did so, then applied to the wound chewed plantain leaves, over which she sprinkled finely powdered tobacco, and wrapped the finger up in a rag. The child did not afterwards stiffer the least pain or inconvenience. Captain Maroy does not appear to. have witnessed the administration of another remedy of which he reports wonderful things, naming his-authority. Cedron, which is a nut that grows on the Isthmus of Panama, and which is sold by the druggists New York, is said to be an infallible anti- dote to serpent-bites: In the Bullet de l'Aead. de Med' for February, ink it is stated that a man waebitten at Panama by a coral snake; the most. poisonous species on the Isthmus. During the few seconds that it took him te--take the cedron from his bag, he was seized with violent pains at the heart and throat; but he had scarcely chew ed and swallowed a piece of the nut-about the size of a small bean, when the pains ceased as by. magic. He chewed a little more, and applied it externally to the wound, when the

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a-disappeared, and were followed by a copious evacuation of a substance

ourdled milk. Many other cases are mentioned where the cedron proved an antidote."

Contrary to what some writers of fiction would lead us to ex- pect, Captain Marcy has seen very few white men who were good- at the Indian , art of following up a trail, and practice did not seem very materially to improve their faculties in this regard— "An Indian, on coming to a trail, will generally tell at a glance its age, by what particular tribe it was made. the number of the party, and many other things connected with it astounding to the uninitiated.' I remember, upon one occasion, as I was riding with a Delaware upon the prairies, we crossed the trail-of a large party of Indians travelling with lodges. The tracks appeared to me quite fresh, and I remarked to the Indian that we must be near the party. Oh no,' said he, ' the trail was made two days before, in

the mbrningye at.thasame time pointing with his finger to where the sun would be at about 8 o'clock. Then, seeing that my curiosity was excited to know by what means he arrived aethis conclusion, he called my attention to the fact that there had been no dew for the last ewo nights, but that on the pre- vious morning it had been heavy. - He then pointed out to' me some spears of grass that had been pressed down into the earth by the horses' hofs, upon which the sand still adhered, having dried on, thus clearly showing that the grass was wet when the tracks were made.

" At another time as I was travelling with the same Indian, I discovered upon the ground what I took to be a bear-track, with a distinctly-marked

impression of the heel and all the toes. I immediately called the Indian's attention to it, at the same time flattering myself that I had made quite an important discovery, which had escaped his observation. The fellow re- marked with a smile, *Oh no, captain, may be so he not bear track.' He

then pointed with his gun-rod to some spears of grass that grew near the impression, but I did not comprehend the mystery until he dismounted and explained to me that, when the wind was blowing, the spears of grasswould be bent over toward the ground, and the oscillating motion thereby pro- duced would scoop out the loose sand into the shape I have described. The truth of this explanation was apparent, yet it occurred to me thtit its solu- tion would have baffled the wits of most white men."

A very intelligent Indian of the Delaware tribe, named Black Beaver, was with Captain Marcy for two seasons in the capacity of guide. This man was a sort of cosmopolite, having visited,

during ten years' service under the American Fur Company, nearly every point of interest within the limits of the unsettled territory of the Union. He was a great humourist, and one of

his whims was to pretend that his well-won reputation as a fear- less warrior was the drollest of mistakes, and he used to laugh heartily in telling what a mortal funk he had been in, when to others he had seemed to be inspired by the most headlong valour. The joke was so well maintained that the Captain was for some time puzzled to know what to think of the man. " Captain," he would say, "if you have a fight, you mustn't count much on me, for I'ze a big coward. When the fight begins, I 'spect you'll see me run under the cannon ; Injun mighty 'fraid of big gun."

"I remember, upon one occasion, I had bivouacked for the night with Black .Beaver, and he had been endeavouring to while away the long.hours of the evening by relating- to me some of the most thrilling incidents of his highly-adventurous and erratic life, when, at length, a hiatus in the con- versation gave me an opportunity of asking him if he was a married man. He hesitated for some time ; then looking up and giving his forefinger a twirl, to imitate the throwing of a lasso, replied, One time me Cate.h'um wife. I pay that woman, his modder, one loss—one saddle—one bridle— two plug tobacco, and plenty goods. I take him home- to my house—got plenty meat—plenty corn—plenty every thing. One time me go take walk, maybe so three, maybe so two hours: When:I come home, that woman he say, Black Beaver, what for you go. way long time ? " I say, I not go nowhere ; I just take one littel walk.' Then that woman he gerheaP-mad, and say, "No, Black Beaver, you not take no littel walk. I know-what for you go way ; you go see nodder one woman." I say,...‘ Maybe not.' Then that woman she cry long time, and all e'time now she mad. You never seen 'Merican woman that-a-way?'

" I sympathized most deeplywith my friend in his distress, and told him for his consolation that, in- my opinion, the women of his nation were not pe- culiar in this respect-; - that they were pretty much alike all over-the world, and I was under the impression that there were well-authenticated instances even among white women, where they had subjected themselves to the same causes of- complaint so feelingly depicted by him. Whereupon he very earnestly asked, ' What you do for cure him ? Whip him?' I replied, No ; that, so far as my observation extended, I was under the impression that this was generally regarded by those who had suffered from its effects as One of those chronic and vexatious complaints which would not be benefited by. the treatment he_ suggested, even when administered in homoeopathic doses, and I believed it was new admitted by all sensible men, that it was better in all such cases, to let nature take its course,- trusting to a merciful Providence.'

"At this reply, his countenance assumed a dejected elpression, but at length he brightened up again and triumphantlyrenmrked, 'I tell lieu; my friend, what I do; I ketch 'um nodder one wife when I go home.'

" Black Beaver had visited St. Louis and the small towns upon:the Mis- souri frontier, and he prided himself not a little upon his acquaintance with the customs of the whites, and never seemed more happy than when an op- portunity offered to display this knowledge in presence of his Indian com- panions. It so happened, upon one occasion, that I had a Comanche guide who bivouacked at the same fire with Beaver. On visiting them one even- ing, according to my usual practice, I found them engaged in a:very earnest and apparently not very amicable conversation.. On inquiring the cause of this, Beaver answered, I've been telling this Comanche what I seen 'mong the white folks.' "

" I said, Well Beaver what did you tell him ? ' "' I tell him 'bout the steam-boats, and the rail-roads, and the heap o' houses I seen in -St. Louis.'

" Well, sir, what does he think of that ? ' " He say I'ze d—d fool.' " What else did you tell him about ? '

" I tell him' the world is round, but he keep all e'time say, Hush, you fool ! do you spore l'ze child ? Haven't I got eyes? Can't I see the prairie ? You call him round ? He say, too, maybe so I tell you emnething you net know before. One time my grandfather he make long jemmy that way (pointing to the West). When he get on big mountain, he seen heap water on Collier side, jest so flat he can be, and he seen the sun go -right straight down on (other side. I then tell him all these rivers he seen, _all e'time the water he run ; 13' pose the world fiat, the water he stand still. Maybe so he not b'lieve me ? '

" I told hint it certainly looked very much like it. I then asked him to explain to the Comanche the magnetic telegraph. He looked at me ear- nestly, and said, what you call that magnetic telegraph F ' " I said, You have heard of New York and New Orleans ' ""' Oh yes," he replied.

" Very well ; we have a wire connecting these two cities, which are about a thousand miles apart, and it would take a man thirty days to ride it upon a good horse. Now a man stands at one end of this wire in New York, and by touching it a few times he inquires of his friend in New -Orleans what he had for breakfast. His friend in New Orleans touches the other end of the wire, and in ten minutes the answer comes back—hem and eggs. Tell bitirthat, Beaver.

" WO:countenance assumed a most comical expression, but he • made no remark until I again requested him to repeat what I had said to the Co- manche, when he observed, No, captain, I not tell him that, for I don't b'lieve that-myself.' " Upon my assuring him thatsuchwas the fact, and that I had -seen it myself, he said, ‘Injun not very smart; sometimes he's big fool, but be holler pretty loud; you hear him maybe half a mile; you say Ilmican man he talk thousand miles. I'spect you try to fool me now captain ; maybe to you lie.' " The Prairie Indians are very different in habits and character from the tribes that formerly d.welt on the Atlantic seaboard, and our author has never been able to discover among them any traces of the virtues which are esteemed by civilized men. He believes that it is impossible to purchase their goodwill by presents, or to make them endurable as neighbours, except by inflicting upon them such a lesson as will not soon be forgotten- " The opinion of a friend of mine, who has passed the last twenty- five years of his life among the Indians of the Rocky Mountains, corroborates the opinions I have advanced upon this head, and al- though I do not endorse all of his sentiments, yet many of them are de- duced from long and matured experience and critical observation. He says, 'They are the most onsartainest varmints in all creation, and I reckon tha'r not mor'n half human • for you never seed a human, arter you'd fed and treated him to the best fixins in your lodge, gist turn round and steal all your horses, or ary other thing he could lay Ins hands on. No, not ad- zaekly. He would feel kinder grateful, and ask you to spread a blanket in his lodge of you ever passed that a-way. But the Injun he don't care shucks for you, and is ready to do you a heap of mischief as soon as he quits your feed. No, Cap.,' he continued, 'it's not the right way to give um presents to buy peace but of I war governor of these yeer United States, I'll tell you what I'd do. I'd invite um all to a big feast, and make believe I wanted to have a big talk ; and as soon as I got um all together, I'd pitch in and seulp about half of um, and then t'other half would be mighty glad to make a peace that would stick. That's the way I'd make a treaty with the dog'ond, red bellied varmints; and as sure as you're born, Cap., that's the only way.'

" I suggested to him the idea that there would be a lack of good faith and honour in such a proceeding, and that it would be much more in ac- oordance with my notions of fair dealing to meet them openly in the field, and there endeavour to punish them if they deserve it. To this he replied, Tain't no use to talk about honour with them, Cap.: they hain't got no such thing in um • and they won't show fair fight, any way you can fix it. Don't they kill and eculp a white man when-ar they get the better on him ? The mean varmints, they'll never behave themselves until you give um a clean out and out licking. They can't onderstand white folks' ways, and they won't learn urn ; and of you treat um decently, they think you ar afeard. You may depend on't, Cap., the only way to treat Injuns is to thrash them well at first, then the balance will sorter take to you and be- have themselves.' "