Mark Twain 
Roughing It 

Mark Twain’s humorous account of his six years in Nevada, San Francisco, and the Sandwich Islands is a patchwork of personal anecdotes and tall tales, many of them told in the ‘vigorous new vernacular’ of the West. Selling seventy five thousand copies within a year of its publication in 1872,
Roughing It was greeted as a work of ‘wild, preposterous invention and sublime exaggeration’ whose satiric humor made ‘pretension and false dignity ridiculous.’ Meticulously restored from a variety of original sources, the text is the first to adhere to the author’s wishes in thousands of details of wording, spelling, and punctuation, and includes all of the 304 first-edition illustrations. With its comprehensive and illuminating notes and supplementary materials, which include detailed maps tracing Mark Twain’s western travels, this Mark Twain Library
Roughing It must be considered the standard edition for readers and students of Mark Twain.

قائمة المحتويات

ILLUSTRATIONS

FOREWORD


ROUGHING IT

Prefatory


1. My Brother Appointed Secretary of Nevada-I Envy His Prospective

Adventures-Am Appointed Private Secretary under

Him- My Contentment Complete- Packed in One Hour Dreams

and Visions- On the Missouri River- A ‘Bully’

Boat


2. Arrive at St. Joseph-Only Twenty-five Pounds Baggage

Allowed-Farewell to Kid Gloves and Dress Coats-Armed

to the Teeth- The ‘Allen’-A Cheerful Weapon- Persuaded

to Buy a Mule- Schedule of luxuries- We Leave ‘the States’

-Our Coach-Mails for the Indians- Between a Wink and

an Earthquake-A Modern Sphynx and How She Entertained

Us-A Sociable Heifer


3. ‘The Thoroughbrace Is Broke’-Mails Delivered Properly Sleeping

under Difficulties-A Jackass Rabbit Meditating, and

on Business-A Modern Gulliver- Sage-brush- Overcoats

as an Article of Diet- Sad Fate of a Camel-Warning to

Experimenters


4. Making Our Bed-Assaults by the Unabridged-At a Station-

Our Driver a Great and Shining Dignitary-Strange

Place for a Front Yard- Accommodations-Double Portraits-

An Heirloom-Our Worthy Landlord-‘Fixings

and Things’-An Exile-Slum-gullion-A Well Furnished

Table-The Landlord Astonished- Table Etiquette-

Wild Mexican Mules- Stage-coaching and Railroading


5. New Acquaintances-The Cayote-A Dog’s Experiences-

A Disgusted Dog-The Relatives of the Cayote -Meals

Taken Away from Home


6. The Division Superintendent-The Conductor-The

Driver-One Hundred and Fifty Miles’ Drive without Sleep-

Teaching a Subordinate-Our Old Friend Jack and a Pi!-

grim-Ben Holladay Compared to Moses


7. Overland City-Crossing the Platte-Bemis’s Buffalo Hunt

-Assault by a Buffalo-Bemis’s Horse Goes Crazy-

An Impromptu Circus-A New Departure-Bemis Finds

Refuge in a Tree-Escapes Finally by a Wonderful Method 41

8. The Pony Express-Fifty Miles without Stopping-‘Here

He Comes!’-Alkali Water-Riding an Avalanche-Indian

Massacre


9. Among the Indians-An Unfair Advantage-Lying on Our

Arms-A Midnight Murder-Wrath of Outlaws-A Dangerous,

Yet Valuable Citizen


10. History of Slade-A Proposed Fist-Fight-Encounter with

Jules-Paradise of Outlaws-Slade as Superintendent-

As Executioner-A Doomed Whisky Seller-A Prisoner-

A Wife’s Bravery-An Ancient Enemy Captured-Enjoying a

Luxury-Hob-nobbing with Slade-Too Polite-A Happy

Escape


11. Slade in Montana-On a Spree-In Court-Attack on a

Judge-Arrest by the Vigilantes-Turn-out of the Miners-

Execution of Slade-Lamentations of His Wife-Was Slade

a Coward?


12. A Mormon Emigrant Train-The Heart of the Rocky Mountains-

Pure Saleratus-A Natural Ice-House-An Entire

Inhabitant-In Sight of’Eternal Snow’-The South Pass-

The Parting Streams-An Unreliable Letter Carrier-Meeting

of Old Friends-A Spoiled Watermelon-Down the

Mountain-A Scene of Desolation-Lost in the Dark- Unnecessary

Advice-U.S. Troops and Indians-Sublime Spectacle-

Another Delusion Dispelled-Among the Angels


13. Mormons and Gentiles-Exhilarating Drink, and Its Effect

on Bemis-Salt Lake City-A Great Contrast-A Mormon

Vagrant-Talk with a Saint-A Visit to the King-A Happy

Simile


14. Mormon Contractors-How Mr. Street Astonished Them-

The Case before Brigham Young, and How He Disposed of

It-Polygamy Viewed from a New Position


15. A Gentile Den-Polygamy Discussed-Favorite Wife and

D 4-Hennery for Retired Wives-Children Need Marking

-Cost of a Gift to No. ~A Penny-Whistle Gift and Its

Effects-Fathering the Foundlings-It Resembled Him-

The Family Bedstead


16. The Mormon Bible-Proofs of Its Divinity-Plagiarism of Its

Authors-Story of Nephi-Wonderful Battle-Kilkenny

Cats Outdone


17. Three Sides to All Questions-Everything a Quarter-Shriveled

Up-Emigrants and White Shirts at a Discount-‘Forty-

Niners’-Above Par-Real Happiness


18. Alkali Desert-Romance of Crossing Dispelled-Alkali

Dust-Effect on the Mules-Universal Thanksgiving


19. The Digger Indians Compared with the Bushmen of Africa-

Food, Life and Characteristics-Cowardly Attack on a Stagecoach-

A Brave Driver-The Noble Red Man


20. The Great American Desert-Forty Miles on Bones-Lakes

without Outlets-Greeley’s Remarkable Ride-Hank Monk,

the Renowned Driver-Fatal Effects of ‘Corking’ a Story-

Bald-Headed Anecdote


21. Alkali Dust-Desolation and Contemplation-Carson

City-Our Journey Ended-We Are Introduced to Several

Citizens-A Strange Rebuke-A Washoe Zephyr at Play-

Its Office Hours-Governor’s Palace-Government Offices

-Our French Landlady Bridget O’Flannigan-Shadow

Secrets-Cause for a Disturbance at Once-The Irish

Brigade-Mrs. O’Flannigan’s Boarders-The Surveying

Expedition-Escape of the Tarantulas


22. The Son of a Nabob-Start for Lake Tahoe-Splendor of the

Views-Trip on the Lake-Camping Out-Reinvigorating

Climate-Clearing a Tract of Land-Securing a Title-

Out-house and Fences


23. A Happy Life-Lake Tahoe and Its Moods-Transparency of

the Waters-A Catastrophe-Fire! Fire!-A Magnificent

Spectacle-Homeless Again-We Take to the Lake-

A Storm-Return to Carson


24. Resolve to Buy a Horse-Horsemanship in Carson-A Temptation-

Advice Given Me Freely-! Buy the Mexican Plug-

My First Ride-A Good Bucker-! Loan the Plug-Experience

of Borrowers-Attempts to Sell-Expense of the Ex periment-

A Stranger Taken In


25. The Mormons in Nevada-How to Persuade a Loan from

Them-Early History of the Territory-Silver Mines Discovered-

The New Territorial Government-A Foreign One and

a Poor One-Its Funny Struggles for Existence-No Credit,

No Cash-Old Abe Curry Sustains It and Its Officers-

Instructions and Vouchers-An Indian’s Endorsement-

Toll-Roads


26. The Silver Fever-State of the Market-Silver Bricks-

Tales Told-Off for the Humboldt Mines


27. Our Manner of Going-Incidents of the Trip-A Warm but

Too Familiar a Bedfellow-Mr. Ballou Objects-Sunshine

amid Clouds-Safely Arrived


28. Arrive at the Mountains-Building Our Cabin-My First

Prospecting Tour-My First Gold Mine-Pockets Filled with

Treasures- Filtering the News to My Companions-The Bubble

Pricked-All Not Gold That Glitters


29. Out Prospecting-A Silver Mine at Last-Making a Fortune

with Sledge and Drill-A Hard Road to Travel-We Own in

Claims-A Rocky Country


30. Disinterested Friends-How ‘Feet’ Were Sold-We Quit

Tunneling-A Trip to Esmeralda-My Companions-

An Indian Prophecy-A Flood-Our Quarters during It


31. The Guests at ‘Honey Lake Smith’s’-‘Bully Old

Arkansas’-Our Landlord-Determined to Fight-The

Landlord’s Wife-The Bully Conquered by Her-Another

Start-Crossing the Carson-A Narrow Escape-Following

Our Own Track-A New Guide-Lost in the Snow


32. Desperate Situation-Attempts to Make a Fire-Our Horses

Leave Us-We Find Matches-One, Two, Three and the

Last-No Fire-Death Seems Inevitable-We Mourn over

Our Evil Lives-Discarded Vices-We Forgive Each Other-

An Affectionate Farewell-The Sleep of Oblivion


33. Return of Consciousness-Ridiculous Developments-

A Station-House-Bitter Feelings-Fruits of Repentance-

Resurrected Vices


34. About Carson- Gen. Buncombe- Hyde vs. Morgan-How

Hyde Lost His Ranch- The Great Land-Slide Case- The

Trial-Gen. Buncombe in Court-A Wonderful Decision-

A Serious Afterthought


35. A New Traveling Companion-All Full and No Accornrnodat

ions-How Capt. Nye Found Room-And Caused Our

Leaving to be Lamented-The Uses of Tunneling- A Notable

Example- We Go into the Claim Business and Fail-At the

Bottom

36. A Quartz Mill-Arnalgarnation-‘Screening Tailings’-

First Quartz Mill in Nevada-Fire Assay- A Smart Assayer-

I Stake for an Advance


37. The Whiteman Cement Mine- Story oflts Discovery-

A Secret Expedition- A Nocturnal Adventure- A Distressing

Posit ion-A Failure and a Week’s Holiday


38. Mono Lake-Shampooing Made Easy- Thoughtless Act of

Our Dog and the Results-Lye Water-Curiosities of the

Lake-Free Hotel-Some Funny Incidents a Little

Overdrawn


39. Visit to the Islands in Mono Lake- Ashes and Desolation-

Life amid Death- Our Boat Adrift- A j ump for Life-

A Storm on the Lake-A Mass of Soap Suds- Geological

Curiosities-A Week on the Sierras-A Narrow Escape from

a Funny Explosion-‘Stove Heap Gone’


40. The ‘Wide West’ Mine-It Is Interviewed by Higbie-

A Blind Lead- Worth a Million- We Are Rich at Last-

Plans for the Future


41. A Rheumatic Patient- Day Dreams- An Unfortunate Sturnble-

I Leave Suddenly-Another Patient-Higbie in the

Cabin-Our Balloon Burst- Worth Nothing- Regrets and

Explanations-Our Third Partner


42. What to Do Next?-Obstacles I Had Met With-‘Jack of All

Trades’- Mining Again- Target Shooting-! Turn C ity Editor-

I Succeed Finely


43. My Friend Boggs-The School Report-Boggs Pays Me an

Old Debt-Virginia City


44. Flush Times-Plenty of Stock-Editorial Puffing-Stocks

Given Me-Salting Mines-A Tragedian in a New Role


45. Flush Times Continue-Sanitary Commission Fund-Wild

Enthusiasm of the People-Would Not Wait to Contribute-

The Sanitary Flour Sack-It Is Carried to Gold Hill and Dayton-

Final Reception in Virginia-Results of the Sale-

A Grand Total


46. The Nabobs of Those Days-John Smith as a Traveler-Sudden

Wealth-A Sixty-Thousand-Dollar Horse-A Smart

Telegraph Operator-A Nabob in New York City-Charters

an Omnibus-‘Walk Right in, It’s All Free’-‘You Can’t Pay

a Cent’-‘Hold on, Driver, I Weaken’-Sociability of New

Yorkers


47. Buck Fanshaw’s Death-The Cause Thereof-Preparations for

His Burial-Scotty Briggs the Committeeman-He Visits the

Minister-Scotty Can’t Play His Hand-The Minister Gets

Mixed-Both Begin to See-‘AII Down but Nine’-Buck

Fanshaw as a Citizen-How to ‘Shake Your Mother’-The

Funeral-Scotty Briggs as a Sunday School Teacher


48. The First Twenty-six Graves in Nevada-The Prominent Men

of the County-The Man Who Had Killed His Dozen-Trial

by Jury-Specimen Jurors-A Private Graveyard-The Desperadoes-

Whom They Killed-Satisfaction without

Fighting


49. Fatal Shooting Affray-Robbery and Desperate Affray-

A Specimen City Official-A Marked Man-A Street

Fight-Punishment of Crime


50. Capt. Ned Blakely-Bill Noakes Receives Desired Information-

Killing of Blakely’s Mate-A Walking Battery-

Blakely Secures Noakes-Hang First and Be Tried Afterward-

Capt. Blakely as a Chaplain-The First Chapter of

Genesis Read at a Hanging-Noakes Hung-Blakely’s

Regrets


51. The Weekly Occidental-A Ready Editor-A Novel-A Concentration

of Talent-The Heroes and the Heroines-The

Dissolute Author Engaged-Extraordinary Havoc with the

Novel-A Highly Romantic Chapter-The Lovers Separated-

Jonah Outdone-A Lost Poem-The Aged Pilot

Man-Storm on the Erie Canal-Dollinger the Pilot Man-

Terrific Gale-Danger Increases-A Crisis Arrived-Saved

as if by a Miracle


52. Freights to California-Silver Bricks-Underground Mines-

Timber Supports-A Visit to the Mines-The Caved

Mines-Total of Shipments in 1863


53. Jim Blaine and His Grandfather’s Ram-Filkins’s Mistake-

Old Miss Wagner and Her Glass Eye-Jacops, the Coffin

Dealer-Waiting for a Customer-His Bargain with Old Robbins-

Robbins Sues for Damage and Collects-A New Use

for Missionaries-The Effect-His Uncle Lem and the Use

Providence Made of Him-Sad Fate of Wheeler-Devotion

of His Wife-A Model Monument-What about the Ram?


54. Chinese in Virginia City-Washing Bills-Habit of

Imitation-Chinese Immigration-A Visit to Chinatown-

Messrs. Ah Sing, Hong Wo, See Yup, etc.


55. Tired of Virginia City-An Old Schoolmate-A Two Years’

Loan-Acting as an Editor-Almost Receive an Offer-

An Accident-Three Drunken Anecdotes-Last Look at

Mount Davidson-A Beautiful Incident


56. Off for San Francisco-Western and Eastern Landscapes-

The Hottest Place on Earth-Summer and Winter


57. California-Novelty of Seeing a Woman-‘Well, if It Ain’t a

Child!’-One Hundred and Fifty Dollars for a Kiss-Waiting

for a Turn


58. Life in San Francisco-Worthless Stocks-My First Earthquake-

Reportorial Instincts-Effects of the Shocks-Incidents

and Curiosities-Sabbath Breakers-The Lodger and

the Chambermaid-A Sensible Fashion to Follow-Effects of

the Earthquake on the Ministers


59. Poor Again-Slinking as a Business-A Model Collector-

Misery Loves Company-Comparing Notes for Comfort-

A Streak of Luck-Finding a Dime-Wealthy by Comparison

-Two Sumptuous Dinners


60. An Old Friend-An Educated Miner-Pocket-Mining-

Freaks of Fortune


61. Dick Baker and His Cat-Tom Quartz’s Peculiarities-On an

Excursion-Appearance on His Return-A Prejudiced Cat-

Empty Pockets and a Roving Life


62. Bound for the Sandwich Islands-The Three Captains-

The Old Admiral-His Daily Habits-His Well Fought

Fields-An Unexpected Opponent-The Admiral Overpowered-

The Victor Declared a Hero


63. Arrival at the Islands-Honolulu-What I Saw There-Dress

and Habits of the Inhabitants-The Animal Kingdom-Fruits

and Delightful Effects


64. An Excursion-Capt. Phillips and His Turn-out-A Horseback

Ride-A Vicious Animal-Nature and Art-Interesting

Ruins-All Praise to the Missionaries


65. Interesting Mementoes and Relics-An Old Legend of a

Frightful Leap-An Appreciative Horse-Horse-Jockeys and

Their Brothers-A New Trick-A Hay Merchant-Good

Country for Horse Lovers


66. A Saturday Afternoon-Sandwich Island Girls on a Frolic-

The Poi Merchant-Grand Gala Day-A Native Dance-

Church Membership-Cats and Officials-An Overwhelming

Discovery


67. The Legislature of the Island-What Its President Has Seen-

Praying for an Enemy-Women’s Rights-Romantic Fashions-

Worship of the Shark-Desire for Dress-Full Dress-

Not Paris Style-Playing Empire-Officials and Foreign

Ambassadors-Overwhelming Magnificence


68. A Royal Funeral-Order of Procession-Pomp and Ceremony-

A Striking Contrast-A Sick Monarch-Human

Sacrifices at His Death-Burial Orgies


69. ‘Once More upon the Waters’-A Noisy Passenger-Several

Silent Ones-A Moonlight Scene-Fruits and Plantations


70. A Droll Character-Mrs. Beazeley and Her Son-

Meditations on Turnips-A Letter from Horace Greeley-

An Indignant Rejoinder-The Letter Translated but Too Late


71. Kealakekua Bay-Death of Capt. Cook-His Monument-

Its Construction-On Board the Schooner


72. Young Kanakas in New England-A Temple Built by

Ghosts-Female Bathers-I Stood Guard-Women and

Whisky-A Fight for Religion-Arrival of Missionaries


73. Native Canoes-Surf-Bathing-A Sanctuary-How Built-

The Queen’s Rock-Curiosities-Petrified Lava


74. Visit to the Volcano-The Crater-Pillar of Fire-Magnificent

Spectacle-A Lake of Fire


75. The North Lake-Fountains of Fire-Streams of Burning

Lava-Tidal Waves


76. A Reminiscence-Another Horse Story-My Ride with the

Retired Milk Horse-A Pic-nicking Excursion-Dead Volcano

of Haleakala-Comparison with Vesuvius-An Inside View


77. A Curious Character-A Series of Stories-Sad Fate of a

Liar-Evidence of Insanity


78. Return to San Francisco-Ship Amusements-Preparing for

Lecturing-Valuable Assistance Secured-My First Attempt

-The Audience Carried-‘All’s Well That Ends Well’


79. Highwaymen-A Predicament-A Huge Joke-Farewell to

California-At Home Again-Great Changes. Moral


A.-Brief Sketch of Mormon History

B.-The Mountain Meadows Massacre

C.-Concerning a Frightful Assassination That Was

Never Consummated


EXPLANATORY NOTES

SUPPLEMENTS

REFERENCES

NOTE ON THE TEXT

عن المؤلف

Harriet Elinor Smith, Lin Salamo, and Robert Pack Browning are associate editors with the Mark Twain Project. Edgar Marquess Branch is Emeritus Professor of English at Miami University.