Spalding arrives early to the Idaho region with his wife; their purpose was religion, as they are Presbyterian missionaries. The couple traveled with a group of fur traders. In his account, he too writes of a wonderful encounter with the Native Americans,
As we approached the camp the Nez Perces met us in great numbers. When we arrived, we learned from all sources that when the Nez Perces camp heard that we were actually coming with the Fur Company, it was filled with rejoicing. As we came into camp they flocked around us by the hundreds (Letter from the Rocky Mountains, para. 7). Along with Spalding was a woman, Mrs. Narcissa Prentiss Whitman, wife of Dr. Marcus Whitman. This couple were also Presbyterian missionaries. In her letter, she shares a passage which describes her view of the land,
While passing the Mountains we came over some verry frightful looking places & the Hill were so steep that it was difficult riding them. The steepest point of Mount pleasant in Prattsburgh would be verry easy decending compared with some of these rugged places. And in crossing rivers we find it not difficult to ford them The Green river is the deepest we have forded on horseback (Whitman Letter and Journal, para.