This book offers all the useful and necessary advice for American pioneers travelling far West to ensure a safe journey. Based on the personal experience of the author, it describes in detail about the different routes to California and Oregon, how to pack a wagon for the journey, the finding and purifying water, repairing broken wagons, weathering storms, the selection of horses, handling saddle wounds, the avoiding of quick sands, the interpreting of smoke signals and sign language, the best way to make a fire on the prairie, interacting with Indians, and hints on the best methods of hunting. It also provides some information about the habits of the Indians and wild animals that frequent the prairies, with the secrets of the hunter's and the warrior's strategy.