I shall never cease to feel grateful to him for the confidence reposed in me.

It gave me one of the unique experiences of my life,--an experience which, on exactly the same lines, can never be repeated within our borders.

Now, these thirty years after, I review that experience with satisfaction and pleasure, recalling, with deep affection, the kind and generous companions of that wild and memorable journey.

No party of men thrown together, without external contact for months at a time, could have been more harmonious; and never once did any member of that party show the white feather.
I desire to acknowledge here, also, my indebtedness to Prof.A.H.
Thompson, Major Powell's associate in his second expedition, for many kindnesses.
* I use the title Major for the reason that he was so widely known for so long a period by it.

He was a volunteer officer during the Civil War, holding the rank of Colonel at the end.