But if the force made a tolerable appearance on its quitting the
capital, a few hours' march put an end to all discipline and restraint.
Although the country abounded with game, and it was killed from mere
wantonness, such was their improvidence, that they were obliged to
resort to their salt pork and other provisions; and as, in thirty days,
forty large casks of whisky were consumed, it is easy to suppose, which
was indeed the fact, that every night that they halted, the camp was a
scene of drunkenness and riot.
During the last few days of the march through the game country they
killed more than a hundred buffaloes, yet, three days after they had
quitted the prairies, and had entered the dreary northern deserts, they
had no provisions left, and were compelled to eat their worn-out and
miserable horses.
A true account of their horrible sufferings would beggar all
description; they became so weak and utterly helpless that half a dozen
Mexicans, well mounted, could have destroyed them all. Yet, miserable as
they were, and under the necessity of conciliating the Indians, they
could not forego their piratical and thieving propensities. They fell
upon a small village of the Wakoes, whose warriors and hunters were
absent, and, not satisfied with taking away all the eatables they could
carry, they amused themselves with firing the Indian stores and shooting
the children, and did not leave until the village was reduced to a heap
of burning ashes.
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