EVERYONE had caught "Gold Fever". They all headed to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado hoping to strike it rich. It was an arduous task. Different stories, tales, and rumors of finding gold gave everyone hope. Clara wanted to join them, not for gold, but to find her daughter Eliza Jane, whom she hadn't seen in over 20 years. Clara couldn't afford such a journey, so she negotiated with a group of men. She'd do all the cooking and laundering if they let her tag along. They declined because they didn't want some slave with them. Clara pulled out her freedom papers, and they let her on board. She became an argonaut.
After each chapter Linda Lowery gives us various information about phrases, habits, and other things popular in Clara's time. Chapter 8 consists only of these tid-bits. Linda tells us in detail about the food they ate, the clothes they wore; the dangers they faced.
Chapter 9 tells us what Clara did while she was on her journey, and goes in detail on what she cooked. Clara had never prepared a meal for a crowd this large in her life, even when she was a slave. Speaking of which, (in my opinion) they still treated her like one. They made her sleep outside with the cows because she was black (a fine way to treat a lady preparing all your food, don't you think?). The women who paid an extra fee slept inside. Only when he weather was so severe would they let her inside.
Families were on board, and parents took time to educate their kids. People danced, played their harmonicas and fiddles, sang songs, told stories, and debated about slavery. It was the hot topic, and they talked about it like conservatives talk about liberals today. When they got into arguments, Clara cleverly sneaked away.
They took Sundays off, the Christians on board demanded it. People would pray and read the Bible.
One day, the daily routine changed. They approached Indians. They were panicked. They found Kiowa. Clara was the only one that wasn't scared. Clara understood that the Indians must have been shocked at the arrival of white men. This was their land, they were there first, and Clara got that. It all went peaceful, they did some trading, and they were off. They were relieved!
They had struggles with the weather. Too hot, too cold. It was severe. Even when the weather was perfect, the wagons kept breaking down. Clara probably still had a good attitude knowing she might be able to carpe diem with her daughter.
Later a herd of bison began charging at them, the men fired rifles and made the stampede go another direction.
Did I mention they used buffalo poop as a substitute to wood sometimes? And that when they burned it it smelled good? Yeah.
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| Buffalo Chips (Do not eat) |
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