The first Encampment--The Oatman Family--Their checkered Allotment up to the Time of their Emigration--Mr. Oatman--His Ill-health--Proposes to join the Party organized to form an American Colony near the Gulf of California, in 1849--The 10th of August--Discord in Camp, owing to the religious Prejudices of a few--First Danger from Indians--The Camanche Band--Two Girls taken for “Injins”--The Grape Dumpling--Mexican Settlements--The Hunt for Antelopes, and its tragical End--Charles refuses to fight “Injins” with Prayer--Moro--Scarcity of Provisions--Discontent and Murmurings--Mr. Lane--His Death--Loss of Animals by the Apaches--Mrs. M. in the Well--Santa Cruz and Tukjon--Some of the Company remain here--Pimole--The only traveling Companions of the Oatman Family resolve to remain--Mr. Oatman, in Perplexity, resolves to proceed. The 9th of August, 1850, was a lovely day. The sun had looked upon the beautiful plains surrounding Independence, Missouri, with a full, unclouded face, for thirteen hours of that day; when, standing about four miles south of westward from the throbbing city of Independence, alive with the influx and efflux of emigrant men and women, the reader, could he have occupied that stand, might have seen, about one half hour before sunset, an emigrant train slowly approaching him from the city. This train consisted of about twenty wagons, a band of emigrant cattle, and about fifty souls, men, women, and children. Attended by the music of lowing cattle, and the chatter of happy children, it was slowly traversing a few miles, at this late hour of the day, to seek a place of sufficient seclusion to enable them to hold the first and preparatory night’s camp away from the bustle and confusion of the town. Just as the sun was gladdening the clear west, and throwing its golden farewells upon the innumerable peaks that stretched into a forest of mountains gradually rising until they seemed to lean against the sun-clad shoulders of the Rocky Range, imparadising the whole plain and mountain country in its radiant embrace, the shrill horn of the leader and captain suddenly pealed through the moving village, a circle was formed, and the heads of the several families were in presence of the commander, waiting orders for the camping arrangements for the night. Soon teams were detached from the wagons, and with the cattle (being driven for commencement in a new country) were turned forth upon the grass. Rich and abundant pasturage was stretching from the place of their halt westward, seemingly until it bordered against the foot-hills of the Indian territory in the distance.