392 ADVENTURES IN TEXAS, CHIEFLY IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1840; WITH A DISCUSSION OF COMPARATIVE CHARACTER, POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS AND MORAL; ACCOMPANIED BY AN APPENDIX, Containing an humble attempt to aid in establishing and conducting PREFACE. THE Occurrences here published, are called "Adventures," instead of a tour, journey, or journal; because, for the sake of brevity, much that would belong to a journal is omitted. Through a great desire for making my book as small as possible, it was at first written without the affair of "The Hospitable Hunter." An earnest remonstrance against that particular omission, induced me afterward to write it, and to place it in Chapter IX., to which it chronologically belongs. The narrative was at first written upon the plan of concealing the name of the author, and the names of almost all other persons concerned. This original design is now so far changed as to publish the writer's name; and thus to expose him to the charge of egotism, which he had hoped to escape. In mitigation of this offence, he hopes that the reader will give him due credit, for the jugulation of matter which would have filled a large volume, besides the olla podrida of an Appendix. If any error be found, it is hoped and requested, that an explanation, correction, or defence may be allowed in the same paper or some other. May that best of all friends, who powerfully and sweetly supported the author in all his adventures, grant a blessing with the publication of the few which are here related. CONTENTS. Its want of cleanliness, and comfort. It takes up the Captain and crew of a wreck. A trial of sleeping on the deck, the cabin-floor, the locker, the state-room, and the steerage. Profanity of the Captain and crew. other blow. Danger of suffocation. Texas alone, on an Indian pony. The animal escapes, and leaves the traveller to carry his baggage through the mud, during the after- noon, and lodge, dinnerless and supperless in a tree, during the night. Hardly any fatigue or weakness, but great comfort and en- An apprenticeship of a couple of days, to a veteran Texan traveller from Kentucky, to learn the mysteries of wilderness journeying.— Lodge in the open air near some wagoners, who, with their wagons and oxen, had just crossed a deep bayou by swimming.-Joined in worship, and showed great kindness.-Roused from slumber by rain falling in the face.-Narrowly escaped submersion in crossing the Walk after the pony twenty miles. A frontier dwelling. A ride by the compass. Obliged to camp out. Symptom of the approach of Indians or wild beasts. Arrival at Austin, and preaching without offence, against sins which it is not lawful to mention in some Pres- byterian congregations in the United States, for fear of being consi- dered personal. Kindness of the cabinet. |