[57] For the placer mines, see our volume xix, p. 304, note 128 (Gregg).—Ed.
[58] Ocaté Creek is in Mora County, New Mexico, a tributary of the upper waters of the Canadian, one of the several streams called Colorado by the Mexicans. Because of this name, it was thought (until Long's expedition in 1820) to be the headwaters of Red River.—Ed.
[59] Having crossed the Prairies between Independence and Santa Fé six times, I can now present a table of the most notable camping sites, and their respective intermediate distances, with approximate accuracy—which may prove acceptable to some future travellers. The whole distance has been variously estimated at from 750 to 800 miles, yet I feel confident that the aggregate here presented is very nearly the true distance.
| From Independence to | M. | Agg. |
| Round Grove, | 35 | |
| Narrows, | 30 | 65 |
| 110-mile Creek, | 30 | 95 |
| Bridge Cr., | 8 | 103 |
| Big John Spring, (crossing sv'l. Crs.) | 40 | 143 |
| Council Grove, | 2 | 145 |
| Diamond Spring, | 15 | 160 |
| Lost Spring, | 15 | 175 |
| Cottonwood Cr., | 12 | 187 |
| Turkey Cr., | 25 | 212 |
| Little Arkansas, | 17 | 229 |
| Cow Creek, | 20 | 249 |
| Arkansas River, | 16 | 265 |
| Walnut Cr., (up Ark. r.) | 8 | 273 |
| Ash Creek, | 19 | 292 |
| Pawnee Fork, | 6 | 298 |
| Coon Creek, | 33 | 331 |
| Caches, | 36 | 367 |
| Ford of Arkansas, | 20 | 387 |
| Sand Cr. (leav. Ark. r.) | 50 | 437 |
| Cimarron r. (Lower sp.) | 8 | 445 |
| Middle spr. (up Cim. r.) | 36 | 481 |
| Willow Bar, | 26 | 507 |
| Upper Spring, | 18 | 525 |
| Cold spr. (leav. Cim. r.) | 5 | 530 |
| M'Nees's Cr., | 25 | 555 |
| Rabbit-ear Cr., | 20 | 575 |
| Round Mound, | 8 | 583 |
| Rock Creek, | 8 | 591 |
| Point of Rocks, | 19 | 610 |
| Rio Colorado, | 20 | 630 |
| Ocatè, | 6 | 636 |
| Santa Clara Spr., | 21 | 657 |
| Rio Mora, | 22 | 679 |
| Rio Gallinas (Vegas), | 20 | 699 |
| Ojo de Bernal (spr.), | 17 | 716 |
| San Miguel, | 6 | 722 |
| Pecos village, | 23 | 755 |
| Santa Fe, | 25 | 770 |
—Gregg.
[60] This paper, the first printed in Jackson County, was called The Evening and Morning Star, the first issue being in June, 1832.—Ed.
[61] This occurred July 20, 1833. Bishop Partridge and Charles Allen were the victims of the punishment.—Ed.
[62] In Northern Mexico, as I learned afterwards, the credulity of the superstitious was still more severely tried by this celestial phenomenon. Their Church had been deprived of some important privileges by the Congress but a short time before, and the people could not be persuaded but that the meteoric shower was intended as a curse upon the nation in consequence of that sacrilegious act.—Gregg.
[63] The following were drowned: James Campbell, George Bradbury, David Linch, Thomas Harrington, William Everett, Smallwood Nolan.—Ed.
[64] Far West was begun in 1836; by 1838 there was a Mormon population of twelve thousand in and around the city.—Ed.