As might be known, I will soon be emigrating to Idaho. As I will travel quite some distance, over lands little-known and across uncharted rivers, I have been researching the journey. Specifically, I have been reading Lansford W. Hastings "Emigrants Guide to Oregon and California" and Randolph B. Marcy's "The Prairie Traveler." Both have been wonderfully helpful.

For instance, I have the put up my bacon in stout bags of 100 pounds each, I have sufficient saleratus and salt, my butter is boiled and sealed in tins, I have desecrated..er, desiccated..vegetables in plenty, several gallons of vinegar, 450 pounds of flour, pemmican, and so forth.

In addition, I have two rifle guns and two revolvers, and I have allowed five pounds of powder and twenty pounds of lead each (as well as 1,000 caps). I have the recommended clothing of flannel and wool, a pair of boots and a pair of stout shoes, a gutta-percha ground sheet, &c.

Before leaving my car will be thoroughly checked out, and I will have enough CDs and cassettes to sustain me. I will have my trumpet, too.

My question is this: does anyone know if the Comanche, Cayus, Payute, Arapoho, Black-feet, Sioux, or others are on the war-path this Spring? And does it look as if there will be good browsing for the oxen and cattle?

Or have there been traveler's guides published more recently than 1845?
8-)