Article #497-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from Tracks of a Rolling Stone, by Henry J. Coke

The vast prairies on this side of the Rocky Mountains were grazed by
herds of countless bison, wapiti, antelope, and deer of various species.
These were hunted by moving tribes of Indians—Pawnees, Omahaws,
Cheyennes, Ponkaws, Sioux, &c. On the Pacific side of the great range, a
due west course—which ours was as near as we could keep it—lay across a
huge rocky desert of volcanic débris, where hardly any vegetation was to
be met with, save artemisia—a species of wormwood—scanty blades of gramma
grass, and occasional osiers by river-banks. The rivers themselves often
ran through cañons or gulches, so deep that one might travel for days
within a hundred feet of water yet perish (some of our animals did so)
for the want of a drop to drink. Game was here very scarce—a few
antelope, wolves, and abundance of rattlesnakes, were nearly the only
living things we saw. The Indians were mainly fishers of the Shoshone—or
Great Snake River—tribe, feeding mostly on salmon, which they speared
with marvellous dexterity; and Root-diggers, who live upon wild roots.
When hard put to it, however, in winter, the latter miserable creatures
certainly, if not the former, devoured their own children. There was no
map of the country. It was entirely unexplored; in fact, Bancroft the
American historian, in his description of the Indian tribes, quotes my
account of the Root-diggers; which shows how little was known of this
region up to this date. I carried a small compass fastened round my
neck. That and the stars (we travelled by night when in the vicinity of
Indians) were my only guides for hundreds of dreary miles.

Such then was the task we had set ourselves to grapple with. As with
life itself, nothing but the magic powers of youth and ignorance could
have cajoled us to face it with heedless confidence and eager zest.
These conditions given, with health—the one essential of all
enjoyment—added, the first escape from civilised restraint, the first
survey of primordial nature as seen in the boundless expanse of the open
prairie, the habitat of wild men and wild animals,—exhilarate one with
emotions akin to the schoolboy’s rapture in the playground, and the
thoughtful man’s contemplation of the stars. Freedom and change, space
and the possibilities of the unknown, these are constant elements of our
day-dreams; now and then actual life dangles visions of them before our
eyes, alas! only to teach us that the aspirations which they inspire are,
for the most part, illusory.

Brief indeed, in our case, were the pleasures of novelty. For the first
few days the business was a continuous picnic for all hands. It was a
pleasure to be obliged to help to set up the tents, to cut wood, to fetch
water, to harness the mules, and work exactly as the paid men worked.
The equality in this respect—that everything each wanted done had to be
done with his own hands—was perfect; and never, from first to last, even
when starvation left me bare strength to lift the saddle on to my horse,
did I regret the necessity, or desire to be dependent on another man.
But the bloom soon wore off the plum; and the pleasure consisted not in
doing but in resting when the work was done.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Tracks of a Rolling Stone by Henry J. Coke**

Context of the Source

Tracks of a Rolling Stone (1871) is a travel memoir by Henry J. Coke, an English adventurer and explorer who journeyed through the American West in the mid-19th century. The book documents his experiences traversing uncharted territories, interacting with Native American tribes, and enduring the harsh realities of frontier life. The excerpt provided describes the stark contrast between the fertile prairies east of the Rocky Mountains and the barren, volatile landscapes to the west, as well as the physical and psychological challenges of exploration.

Coke’s account is significant because it offers a firsthand perspective of a region that was still largely unknown to Euro-American settlers. His observations on Native American tribes (such as the Shoshone and the "Root-diggers") and the extreme conditions of the West contribute to the broader historical and anthropological record of the era.

Themes in the Excerpt

The Duality of Nature: Abundance vs. Desolation
- The passage begins by contrasting the lush prairies east of the Rockies—teeming with bison, elk, and deer—with the barren, volcanic wasteland to the west, where only wormwood, sparse grass, and rattlesnakes survive.
- This juxtaposition highlights the harsh unpredictability of the American West, where life and death are determined by geography. The rivers, though present, are often inaccessible, trapped in deep canyons, leading to the deaths of animals (and potentially humans) from thirst.
Human Survival in Extreme Conditions
- The Native American tribes Coke describes have adapted to their environments in drastically different ways:
  - The Shoshone rely on fishing (salmon spearing) and are skilled in their craft.
  - The "Root-diggers" (likely a reference to the Digger Indians, a pejorative term for various Great Basin tribes) survive on wild roots and, in extreme cases, resort to cannibalism in winter.
- Coke’s mention of infanticide among the Root-diggers is sensationalized (a common trope in 19th-century European accounts of "savage" tribes) but underscores the desperation of survival in such a harsh landscape.
The Illusion of Freedom and Adventure
- Coke reflects on the romantic allure of exploration—the thrill of escaping civilization, the exhilaration of the unknown, and the youthful ignorance that drives such endeavors.
- However, he quickly dismantles this romanticism, admitting that the initial joy of novelty fades into exhaustion and hardship. The "continuous picnic" of the first few days gives way to the grinding labor of survival, where rest—not adventure—becomes the true pleasure.
Isolation and Self-Reliance
- The absence of maps or guides forces Coke to rely on a compass and the stars, emphasizing the loneliness and self-sufficiency required in uncharted territory.
- He takes pride in the equality of labor—everyone, regardless of status, must work to survive—but this also means there is no one to depend on when strength fails.
The Fleeting Nature of Human Aspirations
- Coke philosophizes that freedom, space, and the unknown are constant themes in human daydreams, but reality often betrays these aspirations.
- The schoolboy’s rapture and the thoughtful man’s contemplation of nature are both temporary illusions—the actual experience is far more brutal.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

Juxtaposition & Contrast
- The fertile prairies vs. the volcanic desert create a stark contrast, reinforcing the unpredictability of the West.
- The initial excitement vs. the later exhaustion also serves as a narrative contrast, showing how romantic ideals collapse under reality.
Imagery & Sensory Detail
- Visual: "boundless expanse of the open prairie," "deep cañons or gulches"
- Tactile: "scanty blades of gramma grass," "dreary miles"
- Auditory (implied): The silence of the desert, the rattlesnakes’ warning.
- These details immerse the reader in the harsh, untamed landscape.
Metaphor & Simile
- "the magic powers of youth and ignorance" → Youth and naivety are framed as enchantments that blind explorers to danger.
- "the bloom soon wore off the plum" → The initial excitement (like the sweetness of a plum) fades into bitter labor.
- "dangles visions of them before our eyes" → Freedom and adventure are compared to tempting but unattainable mirages.
Irony & Understatement
- "the first escape from civilised restraint" is initially liberating, but the reality is far more grueling than civilization.
- "the pleasure consisted not in doing but in resting" → A dry, ironic admission that the real reward is survival, not adventure.
Allusion & Historical Context
- Coke references Hubert Bancroft, a historian who later cited Coke’s account of the Root-diggers, emphasizing how little was known about these regions.
- The mention of tribal names (Pawnees, Cheyennes, Sioux, Shoshone) grounds the narrative in real ethnographic observation, though filtered through a colonial lens.
Tone Shifts
- Initially optimistic and awestruck ("emotions akin to the schoolboy’s rapture").
- Gradually disillusioned ("the bloom soon wore off the plum").
- Philosophical and resigned by the end ("alas! only to teach us that the aspirations... are illusory").

Significance of the Passage

Historical Documentation
- Coke’s account provides a primary source on the pre-settlement American West, including Native American lifeways and the physical challenges of exploration.
- His description of the Root-diggers (likely Paiute or Shoshone groups) reflects European prejudices but also highlights the extreme adaptability required to survive in such an environment.
Critique of Romantic Exploration
- The passage deconstructs the myth of the heroic explorer, showing that youthful idealism is often crushed by reality.
- This aligns with later anti-colonial and postcolonial critiques of exploration narratives, which often glorified conquest while ignoring suffering.
Existential Reflection
- Coke’s musings on freedom, illusion, and human aspiration give the text a universal quality. The desire for the unknown is a recurring human theme, but the disillusionment that follows is equally universal.
Literary Influence
- The passage prefigures later Western literature (e.g., Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or Jack London’s The Call of the Wild), where the wilderness is both sublime and merciless.
- The shift from wonder to exhaustion is a common arc in travel and adventure writing.

Line-by-Line Breakdown of Key Sections

"The vast prairies... were grazed by herds of countless bison..."
- Sets up the initial abundance of the East, creating a false sense of security before the shift to the West.
"On the Pacific side of the great range... a huge rocky desert of volcanic débris..."
- Immediate contrast—the West is lifeless, inhospitable, and geologically violent (volcanic debris suggests past cataclysms).
"The rivers themselves often ran through cañons or gulches, so deep that one might travel for days within a hundred feet of water yet perish..."
- Irony of nature’s cruelty—water is visible but unreachable, a tragic paradox.
"Game was here very scarce—a few antelope, wolves, and abundance of rattlesnakes..."
- Symbolism: The wolves and rattlesnakes represent danger and survival, while the scarcity of game foreshadows human struggle.
"When hard put to it... they certainly... devoured their own children."
- Sensationalized claim (likely exaggerated), but it underscores desperation in a land where civilization’s rules do not apply.
"There was no map of the country. It was entirely unexplored..."
- Emphasizes the unknown—Coke is literally and metaphorically in uncharted territory.
"Such then was the task we had set ourselves to grapple with."
- Dramatic pause—the reader is forced to confront the enormity of the challenge.
"As with life itself, nothing but the magic powers of youth and ignorance could have cajoled us..."
- Philosophical reflection—youth and naivety are both a blessing and a curse, enabling courage but also blindness to danger.
"Freedom and change, space and the possibilities of the unknown... are constant elements of our day-dreams..."
- Universal human longing—but the reality is harsh.
"Brief indeed, in our case, were the pleasures of novelty..."
- The turning point—the romantic phase ends, and survival begins.
"But the bloom soon wore off the plum; and the pleasure consisted not in doing but in resting when the work was done."
- Final disillusionment—the true reward is rest, not adventure.

Conclusion: The Reality Behind the Romance

Coke’s excerpt is a masterful blend of adventure narrative and existential reflection. It lures the reader with the allure of the wild—the freedom, the untamed landscapes, the thrill of the unknown—only to systematically dismantle that romance, revealing the brutal, exhausting reality beneath.

The passage serves as both a historical document and a timeless meditation on human ambition. It asks: How much suffering are we willing to endure for the sake of freedom? And it answers: More than we realize, until we are broken by the experience.

In this way, Tracks of a Rolling Stone is not just a travelogue, but a cautionary tale—one that resonates with anyone who has ever chased a dream, only to find that the journey is harder than the destination.

Questions

Question 1

The narrator’s description of the Root-diggers’ survival strategies serves primarily to:

A. highlight the moral degeneracy of tribes untouched by European civilisation.
B. provide an anthropological counterpoint to the Shoshone’s superior fishing techniques.
C. underscore the inevitability of cultural collapse in resource-scarce environments.
D. evoke pity for the tragic but unavoidable consequences of colonial displacement.
E. amplify the passage’s central tension between human aspiration and environmental brutality.

Question 2

The phrase "the magic powers of youth and ignorance" (line 18) is best understood as:

A. a wistful celebration of the reckless optimism that defines exploratory endeavours.
B. a paradoxical acknowledgment that naivety enables feats reason would forbid.
C. an ironic indictment of the colonial mindset’s disregard for indigenous knowledge.
D. a metaphor for the supernatural resilience required to endure uncharted territories.
E. a euphemism for the privileged class’s ability to romanticise hardship.

Question 3

Which of the following most accurately characterises the shift in tone from the first paragraph to the second?

A. From detached scientific observation to impassioned moral condemnation.
B. From awestruck idealism to weary pragmatism.
C. From lyrical description of nature to bitter recrimination of human folly.
D. From celebratory escapism to nostalgic reminiscence.
E. From anthropological curiosity to existential despair.

Question 4

The assertion that "the pleasure consisted not in doing but in resting when the work was done" (lines 32–33) functions rhetorically to:

A. contrast the narrator’s stoicism with the perceived laziness of the Root-diggers.
B. expose the hypocrisy of colonial narratives that glorify labour as virtuous.
C. subvert the initial romanticisation of self-sufficiency through brutal honesty.
D. illustrate the psychological toll of isolation on even the most resilient explorers.
E. foreshadow the eventual abandonment of the expedition due to physical exhaustion.

Question 5

The passage’s closing sentiment—"alas! only to teach us that the aspirations which they inspire are, for the most part, illusory"—is most thematically aligned with which of the following literary traditions?

A. The pastoral idealisation of nature as a site of moral renewal.
B. The picaresque celebration of roguish individualism in adversity.
C. The Gothic fascination with the sublime terror of untamed landscapes.
D. The existentialist confrontation with the futility of human striving.
E. The realist critique of social inequality through personal hardship.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: E

Why E is most correct: The Root-diggers’ extreme adaptation—culminating in the narrator’s claim of infanticide—is not merely an ethnographic detail but a deliberate intensification of the passage’s core dialectic: the clash between human ambition (the "aspirations" of exploration, freedom, and discovery) and the merciless constraints of the environment. Their survival strategies force the reader to confront the limits of human endurance and the illusion of control over nature, directly mirroring the narrator’s later disillusionment. This aligns with the passage’s broader argument that the West’s allure is undermined by its brutality.