I had a long talk with the surgeon who seemed well informed about the country, and asked him about the prospects.

He did not give the Mormons a very good name.

He said to me:--"If you go to Salt Lake City, do not let them know you are from Missouri, for I tell you that many of those from that State will never see California.

You know they were driven from Missouri, and will get revenge if they can." Both the surgeon and the captain said the stream came out on the Pacific Coast and that we had no obstacles except cataracts, which they had heard were pretty bad.

I then went to Dallas and told him what we proposed doing and to our surprise he did not offer any objections, and offered me $60 for my pony.