The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson, the Nestor of the Rocky Mountains, from Facts Narrated | Page 3

in his brain, he did not, for an instant,

flatter himself that the pleasant task would ever be assigned to him.
Finally, however, at the urgent solicitation of many personal friends,
Christopher Carson dictated the facts upon which this book is written.
They were then placed in the writer's hands, with instructions to add to
them such information as had fallen under his observation, during quite
extensive travels over a large part of the wide expanse of country,
which has been Christopher Carson's theatre for action.
The book is a book of solid truth; therefore, the faults in the style,
arrangement and composition, become affairs of minor consideration.
For this reason, the writer makes no apologies to embarrass the critics.
Christopher Carson, physically, is small in stature, but of compact
frame-work. He has a large and finely developed head, a twinkling grey
eye, and hair of a sandy color, which he wears combed back _à la
Franklin mode_. His education having been much neglected in his
youth, he is deficient in theoretical learning. By natural abilities,
however, he has greatly compensated for this defect. He speaks the
French and Spanish languages fluently, besides being a perfect master
of several Indian dialects. In Indian customs, their manners, habits and
the groundwork of their conduct, no man on the American continent is
better skilled.
The writer, while on a foreign tour, once had the opportunity and
pleasure of hearing Gordon Cumming and other hunters of less note,
discourse on their hunting exploits; furthermore, in our own country,
while seated around camp-fires and in log houses, he has listened to the
adventures of ancient and modern Nimrods in the chase; besides these
facts, he has both seen and read much of hunting exploits; but, no
hunter ever filled his fancy so perfectly, as does Christopher Carson, a
man who acts and never boasts.
Without further comment, the reader is presented with the work, while
the writer cherishes the hope, that the facts, which for the first time are
given to the world, will prove to be both interesting and important as
jottings of history.
The author begs leave to return to his friend, C. HATCH SMITH, A.M.,

of Brooklyn, New York, his acknowledgment for valuable assistance in
revising, correcting and arranging his manuscript.
196 Twenty-third street, New York.

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Carson's Birthplace--His Emigration to Missouri--Early Prospects--Is
an Apprentice--Stories of the Rocky Mountains--He Enlists to go
there--Adventures on the Prairies--Broaders is Wounded--Carson's
Nerve put to the Test--Rude Amputation--Safe Arrival at Santa
Fé--Goes to Taos and learns the Spanish Language--Early
Vicissitudes--Disappointment and Attempt to return to Missouri--Is
employed as an Interpreter, Teamster, etc., 13
CHAPTER II.
The news of the Defeat of Mr. Young's Trapping Party by the Indians
reaches Taos--Young raises a Party to chastise the Indians--Kit Carson
becomes a Conspicuous Member of the Expedition--The Indians are
found on Salt River--The Fight--Trapping Exploits--A new
Country--Trials and Vicissitudes--Sacramento Valley--California and
its Roman Catholic Missions in 1829--Another Indian Fight--Sale of
Furs--Indian Depredations--Kit Carson and Twelve Trappers engage
with the Indians in a Battle--Return to the Camp with recovered
Property, 30
CHAPTER III.
The Return from California to New Mexico--San Fernando and the
Peublo of Los Angelos--Description of these Peublos--Passports
demanded at Los Angelos--Trouble with the Mexican Authorities--Kit
Carson sent on with the Pack Animals--One Trapper shoots
another--The Mexicans become frightened--Indians come into Camp

with their Weapons concealed--Cool Reception, by Kit Carson--Arrival
at Santa Fé and Taos--Money realized soon parted with--Carson joins
another Expedition--The Rivers trapped on--Four Men Killed by
Blackfeet Indians--Kit Carson joins Gaunt's Party--The Parks--Winter
Quarters--Crow Indian Depredations--Kit Carson and his Party in
Pursuit--the Fight--Winter on the Arkansas--Another Expedition--Two
Deserters--Kit Carson sent in Pursuit--The Fate of the
Runaways--Adventures with Indians--Hair-breadth Escape made by Kit
Carson, 42
CHAPTER IV.
Kit Carson and two Companions plan a Hunt for themselves--The
Great Success met with--Return to Taos--Sale of the Beaver Fur--Kit
Carson joins Captain Lee and goes on a Trading Expedition--Winter
Quarters--Kit Carson is sent in Pursuit of a Thief--Overtakes and is
obliged to shoot the Runaway--Property recovered--The Return to
Camp--The Sale of Goods--Kit Carson joins Fitzpatrick and Party--Kit
Carson organizes a Hunting Party--His Encounter with two Grizzly
Bears--The Summer Rendezvous--Kit Carson joins fifty Trappers and
goes to the Country of the Blackfeet Indians--Annoyances received
from these Indians--Winter Quarters in 1832--Horses Stolen--Kit
Carson and eleven Men in Pursuit--A Parley--A Fight--Kit Carson
severely wounded--His great Sufferings and Fortitude--His
Convalescence--The Retreat--A New Expedition--A Braggadocio--Kit
Carson Fights a Duel and Wounds his man--Duels in the Rocky
Mountains in Olden Times, 68
CHAPTER V.
The Fall Hunt--McCoy of the Hudson's Bay Company organizes a
Trapping Party which Kit Carson joins--The Hunt--Scarcity of Beaver
on Humboldt River--The Party is divided--Kit Carson with a majority
of the Men goes to Fort Hall--Hardships and Privations met
with--Buffalo Hunt--All their Animals stolen in the Night by a