CHAPTER XVII.

Scarcity of Food in the Great Salt Lake Valley--Wild Vegetables for Greens--Fair Prospects for Crops--Clouds of Crickets lay Bare the Fields--People struggle Against the Pests Almost to Despair--Vast Flocks of Sea Gulls, as the Clouds of Heaven, Come to the Rescue--Destruction of the Crickets--People Praise the Lord--The Writer Invited to a Meeting, Ordained a Seventy, and Called with Others to go on a Mission to the Society Islands--Words of Presidents Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball--Preparations to Travel to California with an Emigrant Company--Description of the Route by Captain Jefferson Hunt--Start on My Mission--Prophecy by President Willard Richards--Battle with Indians at Provo Averted by Apostle C. C. Rich--Prospects of Utah Valley to Support Population--Overtake the Emigrant Company--Discussions at Beaver River--Company Starts for Walker's Pass--Turned Back by Scarcity of Water--Experience on the Desert--Dissensions in the Company--Futile Attempt to send some of the Members Back--Apostle C. C. Rich Foresees Further Trouble, and Endeavors to Save the Mormon Part of the Train by Advising Them to Return to the Old Spanish Trail--Methodist and Campbellite Ministers Incite the Company Against their Mormon Guide, Captain Hunt--Main Company Disregards Captain Hunt's Warning of Danger, and Leaves the Old Spanish Trail to Search for the Route Through Walker's Pass--Mormons go with Captain Hunt on the Southern Route.