قراءة كتاب Life of Kit Carson The Great Western Hunter and Guide
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Life of Kit Carson The Great Western Hunter and Guide
LIFE
OF
Kit Carson,
Great Western Hunter and Guide:
COMPRISING
WILD AND ROMANTIC EXPLOITS AS A HUNTER AND TRAPPER IN
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS; THRILLING ADVENTURES AND
HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES AMONG THE INDIANS AND
MEXICANS; HIS DARING AND INVALUABLE
SERVICES AS A GUIDE TO SCOUTING
AND OTHER PARTIES, ETC., ETC.
WITH AN ACCOUNT OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT EXPEDITIONS
TO THE FAR WEST.
By CHARLES BURDETT.
ILLUSTRATED.
PHILADELPHIA:
PORTER & COATES,
No. 822 CHESTNUT STREET.
Copyright, 1869, by John E. Potter & Co.
PREFACE.
In offering to the public a revised and complete history of the most remarkable of American frontiersmen, we perform a pleasing task. All the attainable circumstances connected with his life, adventures and death are fully set forth, and we offer this in confidence as a reliable authority for the reader.
No one should hesitate to familiarize himself with the exploits of the subject of this volume. They evince a magnanimity and an uprightness of character that is rarely found in one leading so daring and intensely wild a life, and cannot but contribute their share of lustre to the interesting records of the Far West. We regret that his modesty, equally proverbial with his daring, prompted him to withhold many of the exciting incidents of his career from the public.
We have compiled a portion of this work from such official reports of his great skill, indomitable energy, and unfaltering courage as have been communicated by his friend and commander, Col. Fremont, who has invariably awarded to him all the best attributes of manhood, when opportunity afforded. Added to these, our hero had been prevailed upon by a few of his friends to communicate some of the records of the most important passages in his extraordinary and eventful life, which are embodied in this volume.
His has indeed been a life of peculiarly exciting personal hazards, bold adventures, daring coolness, and moral and physical courage, such as has seldom transpired in the world, and we have been greatly impressed, in its preparation, with the necessity for a thorough work of this kind. All are aware that the young, and even matured, often seek for books of wild adventure, and if those of an unhurtful and truthful character are not found, they are apt to betake themselves to trashy and damaging literature. In this view, this work has a purpose which, we trust, will commend it to every family throughout the land.
CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| PAGE | |
| Hero of the narrative—from what race descended—his fame—theater of his exploits-nativity—his father emigrates to Missouri—father's occupation—Kit's apprenticeship—dissatisfaction with his trade—joins an expedition to Santa Fe—surgical operation—Santa Fe, its situation, business, style of buildings, water, appearance, altitude, scenery, population—spends the winter at Taos—learns the Spanish language—joins a party bound to Missouri—returns to Santa Fe—becomes a teamster—El Paso, its grape culture, style of living of its people, name—youth of traveler—new occupation for the winter—becomes interpreter for a trader. | 13 |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Chihuahua, cathedral, statues, public buildings, convent, mint, trade, age, population—Carson longs for the prairie—changes employment—returns to Taos—joins a party of hunters and trappers to punish the Indians—result of the affray—Indian style of fighting—method of trapping for beaver—beaver signs—setting the traps—bait—fastening the traps—caution in setting the traps. | 21 |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Carson's qualifications for a trapper—starts for California—desert in the route—Mohave Indians, non-intercourse with whites, appearance, dress, ornaments, painting their bodies, money—Mission San Gabriel, cattle, horses, sheep, mules, vineyards, income—other Missions in California, when founded, laborers—Missions of Upper California—Missionary subscriptions—management of the fund—Commandante-general—the Monks—golden age of the Missions. | 29 |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| New Mexico and Arizona—their desert prairies—Carson in California—traps on the San Joaquin—the valley of the Sacramento. | 40 |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| The Digger Indians, a description of them, and their mode of living—Carson's visit to a ranche in search of a cow—his journey to the camp with his prize. | 45 |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| Carson at the Mission San Gabriel—recovers sixty stolen horses after a fight with the Indians—"Los Angelos"—climate of California. | 54 |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| Visit to a ranche—likes California, but likes buffalo better—leaves Los Angelos, and traps on the Colorado—in a tight place, but gets out of it. | 66 |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Trapping with Young upon the Colorado—captures cattle and horses from the Indians—goes to Santa Fe, disposes of furs, and sows his wild oats—coureurs des bois, travels, dress, habits—joins Mr. Fitzpatrick trapping among the Nez Perces—winters in the New Park—punishes the Crow Indians for horse-stealing—pursues and punishes robbers of a cache—flies from a party of sixty Indians. |