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asking questions about them of two hundred more； while the children
played up and down all the steps； and in and out among all the
people's legs； and were beheld； to the general dismay； toppling
over all the dangerous places； the letter…writers wrote on calmly。
On the starboard side of the ship； a grizzled man dictated a long
letter to another grizzled man in an immense fur cap： which letter
was of so profound a quality； that it became necessary for the
amanuensis at intervals to take off his fur cap in both his hands；
for the ventilation of his brain； and stare at him who dictated； as
a man of many mysteries who was worth looking at。 On the lar…board
side； a woman had covered a belaying…pin with a white cloth to make
a neat desk of it； and was sitting on a little box； writing with
the deliberation of a bookkeeper。 Down； upon her breast on the
planks of the deck at this woman's feet； with her head diving in
under a beam of the bulwarks on that side； as an eligible place of
refuge for her sheet of paper； a neat and pretty girl wrote for a
good hour （she fainted at last）； only rising to the surface
occasionally for a dip of ink。 Alongside the boat； close to me on
the poop…deck； another girl； a fresh； well…grown country girl； was
writing another letter on the bare deck。 Later in the day； when
this self…same boat was filled with a choir who sang glees and
catches for a long time； one of the singers； a girl； sang her part
mechanically all the while； and wrote a letter in the bottom of the
boat while doing so。
'A stranger would be puzzled to guess the right name for these
people； Mr。 Uncommercial；' says the captain。
'Indeed he would。'
'If you hadn't known； could you ever have supposed … ？'
'How could I！ I should have said they were in their degree； the
pick and flower of England。'
'So should I；' says the captain。
'How many are they？'
'Eight hundred in round numbers。'
I went between…decks； where the families with children swarmed in
the dark； where unavoidable confusion had been caused by the last
arrivals； and where the confusion was increased by the little
preparations for dinner that were going on in each group。 A few
women here and there； had got lost； and were laughing at it； and
asking their way to their own people； or out on deck again。 A few
of the poor children were crying； but otherwise the universal
cheerfulness was amazing。 'We shall shake down by to…morrow。' 'We
shall come all right in a day or so。' 'We shall have more light at
sea。' Such phrases I heard everywhere； as I groped my way among
chests and barrels and beams and unstowed cargo and ring…bolts and
Emigrants； down to the lower…deck； and thence up to the light of
day again； and to my former station。
Surely； an extraordinary people in their power of self…abstraction！
All the former letter…writers were still writing calmly； and many
more letter…writers had broken out in my absence。 A boy with a bag
of books in his hand and a slate under his arm； emerged from below；
concentrated himself in my neighbourhood （espying a convenient
skylight for his purpose）； and went to work at a sum as if he were
stone deaf。 A father and mother and several young children； on the
main deck below me； had formed a family circle close to the foot of
the crowded restless gangway； where the children made a nest for
themselves in a coil of rope； and the father and mother； she
suckling the youngest； discussed family affairs as peaceably as if
they were in perfect retirement。 I think the most noticeable
characteristic in the eight hundred as a mass； was their exemption
from hurry。
Eight hundred what？ 'Geese； villain？' EIGHT HUNDRED MORMONS。 I；
Uncommercial Traveller for the firm of Human Interest Brothers； had
come aboard this Emigrant Ship to see what Eight hundred Latter…day
Saints were like； and I found them （to the rout and overthrow of
all my expectations） like what I now describe with scrupulous
exactness。
The Mormon Agent who had been active in getting them together； and
in making the contract with my friends the owners of the ship to
take them as far as New York on their way to the Great Salt Lake；
was pointed out to me。 A compactly…made handsome man in black；
rather short； with rich brown hair and beard； and clear bright
eyes。 From his speech； I should set him down as American。
Probably； a man who had 'knocked about the world' pretty much。 A
man with a frank open manner； and unshrinking look； withal a man of
great quickness。 I believe he was wholly ignorant of my
Uncommercial individuality； and consequently of my immense
Uncommercial importance。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 These are a very fine set of people you have brought
together here。
MORMON AGENT。 Yes； sir； they are a VERY fine set of people。
UNCOMMERCIAL （looking about）。 Indeed； I think it would be
difficult to find Eight hundred people together anywhere else； and
find so much beauty and so much strength and capacity for work
among them。
MORMON AGENT （not looking about； but looking steadily at
Uncommercial）。 I think so。 … We sent out about a thousand more；
yes'day； from Liverpool。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 You are not going with these emigrants？
MORMON AGENT。 No； sir。 I remain。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 But you have been in the Mormon Territory？
MORMON AGENT。 Yes； I left Utah about three years ago。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 It is surprising to me that these people are all so
cheery； and make so little of the immense distance before them。
MORMON AGENT。 Well； you see； many of 'em have friends out at Utah；
and many of 'em look forward to meeting friends on the way。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 On the way？
MORMON AGENT。 This way 'tis。 This ship lands 'em in New York
City。 Then they go on by rail right away beyond St。 Louis； to that
part of the Banks of the Missouri where they strike the Plains。
There； waggons from the settlement meet 'em to bear 'em company on
their journey 'cross…twelve hundred miles about。 Industrious
people who come out to the settlement soon get waggons of their
own； and so the friends of some of these will come down in their
own waggons to meet 'em。 They look forward to that； greatly。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 On their long journey across the Desert； do you arm
them？
MORMON AGENT。 Mostly you would find they have arms of some kind or
another already with them。 Such as had not arms we should arm
across the Plains； for the general protection and defence。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 Will these waggons bring down any produce to the
Missouri？
MORMON AGENT。 Well； since the war broke out； we've taken to
growing cotton； and they'll likely bring down cotton to be
exchanged for machinery。 We want machinery。 Also we have taken to
growing indigo； which is a fine commodity for profit。 It has been
found that the climate on the further side of the Great Salt Lake
suits well for raising indigo。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 I am told