with two friends, after employing a suitable number of shepherds, he commenced his journey and traveled northward to Fort Laramie, where he came to and followed the emigrant road that leads direct into California via Salt Lake, etc.  In the month of August, 1853, after meeting with very trifling losses, as he traveled very slowly and understood thoroughly the business he was employed in, Kit Carson with his flock of sixty-five hundred sheep reached the point of his destination in California, where he found no difficulty in disposing of them at the rate of five dollars and fifty cents per head.

The making of these long journeys with such large herds of sheep, over a diversified country, sometimes abounding in water and grass, while on the other hand, and not unfrequently, for many miles, the earth is barren, is a difficult task.  When broad, deep and swift rivers are to be forded, it requires dexterity and management to prevent heavy losses.

The trail which Kit Carson followed to Fort Laramie is now a well-beaten path.  It runs almost due north from Taos, and abounds, in the proper season, in good grass and water.  For about one hundred and twenty miles, it passes through a broken country, but when that distance is accomplished, the traveler is ushered on to the plains and keeps on them for most of the way close under the Rocky Mountains.  The scenery on this route is most magnificent, and at times as grand perhaps as can be seen in any part of the world.  The distance from Taos, Kit Carson’s starting-point, to Laramie River, is counted by hundreds of miles; and in this great tract of country, there live several of the largest and most troublesome tribes of Indians in the far West.  The names of these tribes are the Utahs, Apaches, Arrapahoes, Cheyennes and Sioux.  A man with a large drove of sheep is so conspicuous an object that he is certain to attract their notice and bring them to him.  Kit Carson, however, was well received by them and allowed to pass unmolested.  They were pleased to find so formidable an enemy moving boldly into their country and bearing the olive branch of peace.  He however forgot not to pay them toll by presenting them with a suitable number of the sheep.  In this way he prevented them from being tempted to steal from him.  This is a usual custom, and the Indians expect that this sort of attention will be shown them.  They do not like, at all seasons of the year, to have these herds pass through their country.  Being so large, they eat up much of their grass, which assists greatly to drive away the game.  We remember on one occasion that an American, in charge of several thousand sheep, started on a journey from New Mexico to California.  Everything went prosperously with the man until he left the Raton Mountains and entered the country inhabited by the Arrapahoes and Cheyennes.  At first, he was received in a friendly manner by these Indians; but was commanded by them to rest where he was until