There are some small plantations, principally cultivated by colored people, who in almost all cases appear to be well satisfied with their condition in life.
On May 26th, we had moved out about twenty miles from Independence and were prepared for a start. Independence is but a short distant from where Kansas City now stands. (Distance to here, 20 miles.)
Saturday, May 26.
We commenced packing our mules early in the morning, but owing to their wild and unbroken state, and being unacquainted with packing, we were not prepared to start until five o’clock in the evening, when we left our old camp-ground and travelled three miles and again camped. (Distance, 3 miles.)
This appeared like a very tedious way to get to California, a distance of more than 2,000 miles.
Sunday, May 27.
We commenced packing again this morning and were prepared to start at about noon. This is quite an improvement in point of time over yesterday.
It took as many men to pack a mule as could stand around it, and we were obliged to choke many of them, before we could get the saddle upon their backs.
They would kick, bite and strike with their fore feet, making it very dangerous to go about them. Several of our company were quite badly disabled by working with them, so that they were unable to assist in packing.
We started about noon and traveled about eight miles, over a high, rolling prairie, and camped. Today we crossed the western boundary of Missouri and entered the Indian Territory. (Distance, 8 miles.)