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THE UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS
LIBRARY
Prom the library of
Walter Colyer
Albion, Illinois
Purchased 1926
X 917.5
cop. 2. ILUKOfS
r suavEV
\mm HlSTORICAf SURVEY
'MRU /
tf^f!B>-
I
TRAVELS
IN
THE INTERIOR OF AMERICA,
IN THE
Years 1809, 1810, and ISll j
INCLU'DINO
A DESCRIPTION OF UPPER LOUISIANA,
TOGETHER WITH
THE STATES OF OHIO, KENTUCKY, INDIANi\, AND
TENNESSEE,
WITH THE
ILLINOIS AND WESTERN TERRITORIES,
AND CONTAINING
REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS
USEFUL TO
PERSONS EMIGRATING TO THOSE COUNTRIES.
^ecpnJJ i£t»ittott*
By JOHN BRADBURY, F.L.S. London,
Correspoufiing Member of the Liverpool Pliilosophical Society, and Honorary Member of
tbc Liteiary and I'hilosophical Societies, New York, United States, Anieriea.
LONDON: PUBLISHED BY SHERWOOD, NEELY, AND JONBS»
1819.
6ntctcD at Stationers' l^all.
Liverpool: Printed hy Smith and Gdicay.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY
DE WITT CLINTON,
<iOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
PRESIDENT OF THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL
SOCIETY,
CITY OF NEW YORK, &c. &c.
THIS WORK
IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY
THE AUTHOR,
nj 5t4 1
PREFACE.
When I undertook to travel in Louisiana, it was intend-
ed that I should make New Orleans my principal place
of residence, and also the place of deposit for the result
of my researches. This intention I made known to Mr
Jefferson, during my stay at Monticello, when he imme-
diately pointed out the want of judgment in forming that
arrangement, as the whole of the country round New
Orleans is alluvial soil, and therefore ill suited to such
productions as were the objects of my pursuit. In con-
sequence of his representations, I changed my intentions,
and proceeded to St. Louis, one thousand four hundred
miles above Orleans by the course of the Mississippi,
where I employed myself, during the winter of 1810, in
making- such preparations as I deemed necessary for the
preservation of what might be collected during the ensu-
VI
ing summer. In my subsequent journey u\) the Missouri,
although every facility was afforded me that the nature of
the expedition would allow, yet the necessity of conform-
ing to the rules laid down to secure the safety of the
party daring the voyage, added to the known or supposed
proximity of the hostile Indians, during a considerable
part of our route, caused me to lose a great many oppor-
tunities, which, had my exertions been free, I should
not have done. Besides these impediments, I lost the
opportunity of collecting a great number of new plants
on my return, through the breach of faith towards me by
Mr. Lisa, who agreed that his boats should land me at
different places; which promise he neither did, nor in-
tended to, perform. For these reasons, I am persuaded
that much yet remains to be done in that interesting
country. When the whole of my collection was embark-
ed on the Missouri, at the Aricara nation, it was exten-
sive; but being then two thousand nine hundred miles
from New Orleans, the losses by the way, and during my
subsequent sickness at St. Louis, greatly diminished it.
Immediately after my return to the United States, and
before I could make any arrangement, either for my
return to England, or for the publication of the plants I
collected, the war broke out with this country : — I waited
for its termination, and made some arrangements which
caused a necessity for my stay some time longer.
Vll
I have made the above statement, because I think, that
whoever undertakes a mission of the nature which I did,
where the duty is to be performed in a wilderness, ought
to give an account how he performed it, even in his own
defence ; as it often happens that men are found, who,
from interested or malignant motives, will vilify his cha-
racter. I had intended that this should have been accom-
panied by a description of the objects collected, that had
not been before discovered ; but on my return to England,
I found that my design was frustrated, by my collection
having been submitted to the inspection of a person of
the name of Pursh, who has published the most interest-
ing of my plants in an appendix to the Flora Americce
Septentrionalis.
As my chief object has been to convey information
and to write the truth, I have not been particular in the
choice of words ; if, therefore, the style meets with cri-
ticism, I shall neither be surprised nor disappointed, A
catalogue of some of the more rare plants in the neigh-
bourhood of St. Louis, and on the Missouri, is added,
together with their habitats. To many it will be of no
value; but as it may be of some use to naturalists who
may visit those parts hereafter, I have thought proper to
insert it. In what relates to the country west of the
AUeghanies, I have been brief, because a more dilated
Vlll
account would have swelled the work much heyond the
limits I had prescribed to myself. A second visit to
those parts, in which my movements shall be less cir-
cumscribed, may enable me to give a more finished pic-
ture. In what has been said on those countries, I dis-
claim any deb'ign to encourage emigration ; and may be
credited in the assertion, because I can have no possible
interest in promoting it. I have told the truth, and I can
see no reason why it should have been suppressed.
Liverpool^ August 1, 1817.
SECOND EDITION.
Shortly after the publication of the first Edition
of this Work, Mr. Bradbury returned to America,
and is now residing at St. Louis. The rapid sale
of the first Edition, and its favourable reception
by the Public, have induced the publication of a
second, to which a Map of the United States has
been added, carefully collated from the one pub-
lished by Mr. Mellish.
Mr. Bywater's ingenious speculations on ani-
makulfu, which were published in the first Edition,
in a letter addressed by him to Mr. Bradbury, are
omitted in the second, at the request of the
author, who, on reconsidering the subject, wishes
to make some alterations, that he does not feel
himself at liberty to publish in Mr. Bradbury's
Work, without previously consulting him.
Liverpool, 1819.
CONTENTS.
Page
Arrival at St. Louis, 17
Departure up the Missouri, 10
Canadian Boatmen, 20
Arrival at Bon Homme Island, 22
Introduction to Daniel Boond, 24
Colter's interesting escape from the Blackfoot Indians, .... 25
Indian war parties, 31
Manitou rocks described, 32
Boond's Lick settlement, 33
The skunk , 35
Arrival at a village near Fort Orleans, 39
First d|»pearance of sand-stone and iron ore, 40
Increase of bees, 41
Arrival at Fort Osage, 43
Description of an Osage village, and the manners of the i
inhabitants, S
Wood pigeons described, 52
Coal discovered in the bluffs, 55
La Platte Riviere, 56
Indications of Indian war parties, ib.
Description of the lake and hills near Papillon creek, 57
Departure over land for the Ottoes, 61
Description of the Otto village^ , 62, 64
Xll
Thunder storm near Blackbird Creek, C^.ll
Blackbird's monument, 71
Account of Blackbird, (note J ib.
Ulaha village, 7-3
Introduction to the Big Elk and White C<jw, 70
Prairie Dog, 81
The author meets with three Poncar Indians, G2
Iron ore in the bluffs, 88
A large Indian war party attempts to oppose the progress "1
}
of the boats,
Smoking the calumet, 05
Character of the Sioux Indians, 07
The boats meet another party of Indians, 101
Mr. Lisa's boats come up, I'oo
Herds of Butfaloes, 114
Indian hunting, (note J ib.
Some account of the beaver, (note) 115
Arrival at the Aricara town, 118
Account of the Indian language, 119
Indian council, 120
RIedicine man, 124
The Aricaras prepare to defend themselves against the feioux, 12S
Journey over land to the 31issoHri Fur Company's Fort, . . . 135
Cannon-ball river, 1 39
Arrival at the Mandan town, 145
Jourtiey continued, 140
Arrival at the Fort, 147
Dance of the squaws, 154
Indian depository of the dead, 155
Instance of cruelty in an Indian chief, 157
Excursion to the 3Iandan village, 158
Whimsical frolic of young squaws, 160
Coal beds burning, 161
The author's rencontre with au Indian, 1<]2
Xlll
Pag*
Return to the Aricara town, 104
Return of an Indian war party, li;5
Indian mode of hiniting: buffaloes, 171
Customs of the Aricara Indians, « 73
Departure for St. Louis, \h''2
Tremendous thunder storm, 1^7
Battle of buffaloes, 100
Arrival at Fort Osage, I C-2
Account of the Grand Saline, on the Arkaijsas river, 103
White man's house at Boon's Lick, \2(i
Arrival at St. Louis, 1 C7
Departure for New Orleans, SOl
Planters and Sawyers in the 3Iississipp3, •2U2
Dangerous interview with Chickasaws, » 204
Earthquake at the Devil's Channel, 207
Singular notioii of the ca«se of the earthquake, 214
Arrival at Natchez, 216
New Orleans, ib.
Sugar plantations above New Orleans, 217
Vocabulary of the Osage language, 221
Oration of the Big Elk, 228
Narrative of a journey from the Aricara nation to the j)
Pacific Ocean, ^
Mr. Crooks's narrative, 233
Missouri Territory, or the country of Upper Louisiana, 242
Its vast extent, 243
Cheap purchase of, ^ note J 24 i
Immense salt deposit in Upper Louisiana, 25D
Saltpetre generated in caves, 25G
Appearances of coal, 257
Lead Mines, 25S
Fossil bones found in Upper Louisiana, 2(15
General character of the country, ib.
Its climate, 2GG
XIV
Page
Wild productions of the Missouri Territory, 267
State of agriculture, 271
Mode of hunting' up swine, 273
Situation of St. Louis, 274
Superior advantages of the Missouri Territory to new T
Settlers, J
Cultivation of cotton, and a description of the saw gin,. . . . 277
Rapacity of the Spanish governors, 284
Ohio State, 287
Extent of land that furnishes water to the Ohio river, 289
Abundance of coal, 291
Salt, 292
Beauty of the native woods, 297
Price of land, and amount of land tax, ,. 299
Trades and professions, and price of labour, ,304
Constitution of the state of Ohio, 308
Manners and hospitality of the Americans, 312
Advantages of settling on tlie prairies, 315
Remarks and observations useful to emigrants, 318
Catalogue of plants, .....,.,....« a . . t 335
/•
TRAVELS
IM THE
INTERIOR OF AMERICA.
On the 31 St December, 1809, I arrived at St.
Louis, in Upper Louisiana ; intending to make
that town or neighbourhood my principal place of
residence, whilst employed in exploring the inte-
rior of Upper Louisiana and the Illinois Territory,
for the purpose of discovering and collecting sub-
jects in natural history, either new or valuable.
During the ensuing spring and summer, I made
frequent excursions alone into the wilderness, but
not farther than eighty or a hundred miles into
the interior. In the autumn of 1810 I dispatched
for Orleans, in seven packages, the result of my
researches ; but had the mortification, soon after,
to hear that the boat containing my collection had
been driven ashore and damaged, on an island near
St. Genevieve, sixty miles below St. Louis. As
soon as I received this information 1 went thither,
but learned that the boat had been repaired, and had
B
18 TRAVELS IN THE
proceeded on her voyage. On my return to St.
Louis, I was informed that a party of men had
arrived from Canada, with an intention to ascend
the Missouri, on their way to the Pacific Ocean,
by the same route that Lewis and Clarke had
followed, by descending the Columbia River. I
soon became acquainted with the principals of this
party, in whom the manners and accomplishments
of gentlemen were united with the hardihood and
capability of suffering, necessary to the backwoods-
men. As they were apprised of the nature and ob-
ject of my mission, Mr. Wilson P. Hunt, the leader
of the party, in a very friendly and pressing manner
invited me to accompany them up the River
Missouri, as far as might be agreeable to my views.
I had intended to remove from St. Louis to Ozark,
(or more properly Aux-arcs) on the Arkansas, and
to spend the remaining summer on that river ;
but considering this opportunity for exploring the
Missouri too valuable to be lost, I gladly accepted
the invitation, to which an acquaintance with
Messrs. Ramsey Crooks and Donald M*Kenzie,
also principals of the party, was no small inducement.
As it would not be practicable to ascend the
Missouri until the breaking up of the ice in
spring, Mr. Hunt concluded, that to avoid the
expense of supporting his party at St. Louis, it
would be better to station them during the
winter on some part of the Missouri, at a con-
INTERIOR OF AAJERICA. 19
siderable distance above its mouth, as, at any point
on that river above the settlements, five or six
hunters can easily provide for forty or fifty men.
The party therefore quitted St. Louis, and proceeded
to the mouth of the Naduet, which falls into the
Missouri 4.50 miles from the Mississippi. In the be-
ginning of March Mr. Hunt returned to St. Louis
in a boat with ten oars, and on the morning of the
12th, having completed his arrangements, he again
embarked for the Missouri. As the post was ex-
pected to arrive the morning following, I put my
trunks on board the boat, and determined to wait
until that time, and meet the party at St. Charles.
I must here observe, that the post to St. Louis is
dispatched from Louisville, in Kentucky, a dis-
tance of more than SOO miles, through a wilderness,
and from various causes is often retarded for several
weeks, as had been the case at that period. In
the evening I was informed by a gentleman in St.
Louis, that a writ for debt had been taken out
against Dorion, (whom Mr. Hunt had engaged as
interpreter) by a person whose object was to defeat
the intentions of the voyage. Knowing that the
detention of Dorion would be of serious consequence
to the party, I left St. Louis at two o'clock the
following morning, in company with a young Eng-
lishman of the name of Nuttall, determined to meet
the boat previous to its arrival at St. Charles, which
1 effected j and Dorion was sent into the woods.
m
TRAVELS IN THE
his squaw accompanying him. We arrived at St.
Charles about noon, and soon after Mr. Samuel
Bridge, a gentleman from Manchester, then living
at St. Louis, arrived also^ with letters for me from
Europe, the post having come in as was expected.
We slept on board the boat, and in the morning
of the 14th took our departure from St Charles,
the Canadians measuring the strokes of their oars
by songs, which were generally responsive betwixt
the oarsmen at the bow and those at the stern :
sometimes the steersman sung, and was chorused
by the men.* We soon met with Dorion, but
* A few verses of one of their most favourite songs is annexed ;
and to show its frivolity to those unacquainted with the language,
an imitation in English is added.
I.
Derriere chez nous, il y a un etang,
Ye, ye ment.
Trois canards s'en vont baignans,.
Tous du long de la riviere,
Leger^ment ma bergere,
Leg^reuient, ye ment.
II.
Trois canards s'en vont baignans,
Ye, ye ment.
Le fils du roi s'en va chassant,
Tous du long de la riviere,
Legerement ma bergere,
Leg^reraent, ye ment.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 21
without his squaw, whom it was intended should
accompany us. They had quarrelled, and he had
IIT.
Le fils du roi s'en va chassant.
Ye, ye nient.
Avec son grand fusil d'argent,
Tous du long de la riviere,
I.egerenient, ma bergere,
Legerement, ye nient. — ice. kc.
I.
Behind our house there is a pond,
Fal lal de ra.
There came tliree dueks to swim thereon :
All along the river clear,
Lightly my shepherdess dear.
Lightly, fal de ra.
n.
There came three ducks to swim thereon,
Fal lal de ra.
The prince to chase them he did run
All along the river clear.
Lightly my shepherdess dear,
Lightly, fal de ra.
IIL
The prince to chase them he did run,
Fal lal de ra.
And he had his great silver gun,
All along the river clear,
Lightly my shepherdess dear.
Lightly, fal de ra. — &c. &c.
22 TRAVELS IN THE
beaten her, in consequence of which she ran away
from him into the woods, with a child in her arms,
' and a large bundle on her back. A Canadian of
the name of St. Paul was sent in search of her. The
day was very rainy, and we proceeded only nine
miles, to Bon Homme Island, where we encamped,
and St. Paul arrived, but without the squaw. I
observed in the broken banks of this island, a num-
ber of tuberous roots, which the Canadians call
pommes de terre. They are eaten by them, and
also by the Indians, and have much of the consist-
ence and taste of the Jerusalem artichoke : they
are the roots of glyciiie apios.
15th. — About two hours before day, we were
hailed from the shore by Dorion's squaw, who had
been rambling all night in search of us. She was
informed, that we would cross over to her at day-
break, which we did, and took her on board. I
walked the greater part of this day on the north side
of the river, which is partly bounded by rocks of
secondary lime-stone ; at the foot of which I ob-
served crystals of quartz and calcarious spar, or
carbonate of lime. We encamped opposite the re-
mains of the village of St. Andrew, which is now
abandoned.
l6th — We this day passed the Tavern Rocks,
so called from a large cave therein, level with the
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 23
surface of the river. These rocks are nearly three
hundred feet liigh, and are of the same nature as
those we passed yesterday, but more abundantly
filled with organic remains, consisting of anomicP3.m\
entrochu. On the islands which we passed there is
abundance of eqidsetum hyemale^ called rushes by
the settlers, by whom this plant is held in high es-
timation, on account of its affording winter food for
their cattle. On the first settlement of Kentucky,
the borders of the rivers were found to be thickly
^eiw'ith C2inQ,(^arundinaria ynacrospermaof Michaux)
and it was one of the strongest inducements with
the first settlers to fix on a spot if cane was abun-
dant. On the Missouri, the rushes are equally
valuable, affording to the first settler winter food for
his cattle for several years, after which they perish,
being destroyed if fed on during the winter. We
this night arrived at Point L'Abaddie, where we
encamped.
17th. — Early this morning I walked along the
river, and was much struck with the vast size to
■which the cotton wood tree* grows. Many of
those which I observed this day exceed seven feet
in diameter, and continue with a thickness very
little diminished, to the height of 80 or 90 feet,
where the limbs commence. After breakfast, we
* Popnlus atlguhsa of Michaux, called by the French Liard.
^4> TRAVELS IN THE
crossed to the north side of the river, and in the
afternoon landed at a French village, name Cha-
rette. In tiie woods surrounding this place I ob-
served a striking instance of the indolence of the
inhabitants. The rushes in the neighbourhood had
been already destroyed by the cattle, and from the
neglect of .the owners to provide winter food for
their horses, they had been reduced to the neces-
sity of gnawing the bark off the trees, some hun-
dreds of which were stripped as far as these animals
could reach. The cotton wood, elm, mulberry,
and nettle trees (celtis crassifoliaj suffered the most.
On leaving Charette, Mr. Hunt pointed out to me
an old man standing on the bank, who, he informed
me, was Daniel Boond, the discoverer of Kentucky.
As I had a letter of introduction to him, from his
nephew Colonel Grant, I went ashore to speak to
him, and requested that the boat might go on, as I
intended to walk until evening. I remained for
some time in conversation with him. He informed
me, that he was eighty-four years of age ; that he
had spent a considerable portion of his time alone
in the back woods, and had lately returned from
his spring hunt, with nearly sixty beaver skins. On
proceeding through the woods, I came to the river
Charette, which falls into the Missouri about a mile
above the village, and was now much swelled by
the late rains. As the boat had disappeared be-
hind an island, and was at too great a distance to
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 25
be hailed, I got across by swimming, having tied
my clothes together, and inclosed them in my deer
skin hunting coat, which I pushed before me. I
overtook the boat in about three hours, and we en-
camped at the mouth of a creek called Bcjeuf, near
the house of one Sullens. I inquired of SuUens
for John Colter, one of Lewis and Clarke's party,
whom General Clark had mentioned to me as be-
ing able to point out the place on the Missouri
where the petrified skeleton of a fish, above forty
feet long, had been found. Sullens informed me
that Colter lived about a mile from us, and sent his
son to inform him of our arrival j but we did not
see him that evening.
18th. — At day-break Sullens came to our camp,
and informed us that Colter* would be with us in a
* This man came to St. Louis in May, 1810, in a small
canoe, from the head waters of the Missouri, a distance of three
thousand miles, which he traversed in thirty days. 1 saw him on
liis arrival, and received from him an account of his adventures
after he had separated from Lewis and Clarke's party : one of
these, from its singularity, I shall relate. On the arrival of the
party on the head waters of the Missouri, Colter, observing an
appearance of abundance of beaver being- there, he got permis-
sion to remain and hunt for some time, which he did in company
with a man of the name of Dixon, who had traversed the im-
mense tract of country from St. Louis to the head waters of the
Missouri alone. Soon after he separated from Dixon, and trap-
ped in company with a hunter named Potts ; and aware of the
26 TRAVELS IN THE
few minutes. Shortly after he arrived, and accom-
panied us for some miles, but could not give me
hostility of the Blackfett Indians, one of whom had been killed
by Lewis, they set thtir traps at ni::^ht, and took them up early
in the morning:, remaining concealed during the day. They were
examining- their traps early one morning, in a creek about six
milf^s from that branch of the Missouri called Jefferson's Fork,
and were asrendins" in a canoe, when they suddenly heard a great
noise, resembling the trampling of animals ; but they could not
ascertain the fact, as the high perpendicular banks on each side
of the river impeded their view. Colter immediately pronounced
it to be occasioned by Indians, and advised an instant retreat ;
but was accused of cowardice by Potts, who insisted that the
noise was caused by buffaloes, and they proceeded on. In a ft w
minutes afterwards their dnubts were removed, by a party of
Indians making their appearance on both sides of the creek, to
the amount of five or six hundred, who beckoned them to come
ashore. As retreat was now impossible. Colter turned the head
of the canoe to the shore ; and at the moment of its touching,
an Indian seized the rifle belonging to Potts ; but Colter, who is
a remarkably strong man, immediately retook it, and handed it
to Potts, who remained in the canoe, and on receiving it pushed
off into the river. He had scarcely quitted the shore when an
arrow was shot at liim, and he cried out, " Colter, I am wound-
ed.'' Cttlter remonstrated wilh him on the folly of attempting
to escape, and urged him to come ashore. Instead of complying,
he instantly levelled his rifle at an Indian, and shot him dead on
the spot. This conduct, situated as he was, may appear to have
been an act of madness ; but it was doubtless the effect of sud-
den, but sound reasoning ; for if taken alive, he must have ex-
pected to be tortured to death, according to their custom. He
was instantly pierced with arrows so numerous, that, to use the
language of Colter, " he uas made a riddle of." They now
seized Colter, stripped him entirely naked, and began to consult
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 27
the information I wished for. He seemed to have
a great indination to accompany the expedition ;
on the manner in which he should be put to death. They were
first inclined to set him up as a mark to shoot at ; but tlu" rhief
interfered, and seizins: him by the shoulder, a<;kpd him if he
could run fast ? Colter, who had been some time amou^st the
Kee-kat-sa, or Crow Indians, had in a considerable degree ac-
quir<'d the Elackfoot lang'uag-e, and was also well acquainted with
Indian customs. He knew that he had now to run for his life, with
the dreadful odds of five or six hundred aa^ainsl him, and those
armed Indians ; therefore cunning'ly replied that he was a very
bad runner, although he was considered by the I.unters as re-
markably swift. The chief now commanded the party to remain
stationary, aiid led Colter out on the prairie three or four hun-
dred yards, and released him, bidding- him to sure himself if he
covld. At that instant the horrid war whoop sounded in the
ears of poor Colter, who, urged with the hope of preserving life,
ran with a speed at which he was himself surprised. He pro-
ceeded towards the Jefferson Fork, having to traverse a plain six
miles in breadth, abounding with the prickly pear, on which he
was every instant treading with his naked feet. He ran nearly
half way across the plain before he ventured to look over his
shoulder, when he perceived that the Indians were very much
scattered, and that he had gained ground to a considerable dis-
tance from the main body ; but one Indian, who carried a spear,
was much before all the rest, and not more than a hundred
yards from him. A faint gleam of hope now cheered the heart
of Colter : he derived confidence from the belief that escape
was within the bounds of possibility; but that confidence was
nearly being fatal to hira, for he exerted himself to such a de-
gree, that the blood gushed from his nostrils, and soon almost
covered the fore part of his body. He had now arrived within
a mile of the river, when he distinctly heard the appalling sound
of footsteps behind him, and every instant expected to fetl the
28
TRAVELS IN THE
but having been lately married, he reluctantly took
leave of us. I walked this day along the bluffs,
spear of his pursuer. Again he turned his head, and saw the
savage not twenty yards from him. Determined if possible to
avoid the expected blow, he suddenly stopped, turned round,
and spread out his arms. The Indian, surprised by the sudden-
ness of the action, and perhaps at the bloody appearance of
Colter, also attempted to stop ; but exhausted with running, he
fell whilst endeavouring to throw his spear, which stuck in the
o-round, and broke in his hand. Colter instantly snatched up
the pointed part, with which he pinned him to the earth, and
then continued his flight. The foremost of the Indians, on ar-
riving at the place, stopped till others came up to join them,
when they set up a hideous yell. Every moment of this time
was improved by Colter, who, although fainting and exhausted,
succeeded in gaining the skirting of the cotton wood trees, on
the borders of the fork, through which he ran, and plunged into
the river. Fortunately for him, a little below this place there
was an island, against the upper point of which a raft of drift
timber had lodged. He dived under the raft, and after several
efforts, got his head above water amongst the trunks of trees,
covered over with smaller wood to the depth of several feet.
Scarcely had he secured himself, when the Indians arrived on the
river, screeching and yelling, as Colter expressed it, " like so
many devils." They were frequently on the raft during the day,
and were seen through the chinks by Colter, who was congratu-
lating himself on his escape, until the idea arose that they might
set the raft on fire. In horrible suspense he remained until night,
when hearing no more of the Indians, he dived from under the
raft, and swam silently down the river to a considerable distance,
when he landed, and travelled all night. Although happy in
having escaped from the Indians, his situation was still dreadful :
he was completely naked, under a burning sun ; the soles of his
feet were entirely filled with the thorns of the prickly pear ; he
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 29
which were beautifully adorned with anemone he-
patica. We encamped near the lower end of Lu-
tre (Otter) Island.
The 19th commenced and continued rainy. —
When we had passed the lower settlements, we be-
gan to see the river and its borders in a state of
nature. The rushes, eqidsetum hyemale, were so
thick and tall, that it was both painful and difficult
to walk along, even at a very slow pace.
20th. — The river on the south side, during this
day's travel, is mostly bounded by bluffs, or rocks.,
of whitish limestone : their appearance is very pic-
turesque ; the tops are crowned with cedar, and the
ledges and chinks are adorned with mespilus Cana-
densiSy now in flower. We encamped this night
seven miles above the mouth of Gasconade River.
21st. — The rain, which had been almost incessant
since our departure from St. Charles, had now ceas-
was hungry, and had no means of killing; game, although he saw
abundance around hira, and was at least seven days journey from
Lisa's Fort, on the Bighorn branch of the Roche Jaune River.
These were circumstances under which almost any man but an
American hunter would have despaired. He arrived at the fort
in seven days, having subsisted on a root much esteemed by the
Indians of the Missouri, now known by naturalists as psoralea
esculent u.
30
TRAVELS IN THE
ed. I went ashore, after breakfast, intending to
walk along the bluffs, and was followed by Mr.
Nuttall. We observed that the boat immediately
passed over to the other side of the river, on account
of its being more easy to ascend. As this sometimes
happened several times in a day, we felt no concern
about it, but proceeded on our researches. In the
forenoon we came to a creek or river, much swelled
by the late rains : I was now surprised to find that
Mr. Nuttall could not swim. As we had no toma-
hawk, nor any means of constructing a raft, and
were certain that the boat was before us, we looked
for no alternative but to cross the creek by fording
it. We therefore continued to ascend, and in about
half an hour arrived at a place where a tree had
fallen in on the opposite side of the river, which
reached about half way across it* I stripped, and
attempted to wade it, but found it impracticable.
I then offered to take Nuttall on my back, and swim
over with him ; but he declined, and we continued
our route. About a league further up, we found a
raft of drift-wood, which had been stopped by a
large tree that had fallen into the river ; this we
crossed, and with some difficulty overtook the boat.
We arrived at a French village, called Cote sans
Dessein, about two miles below the mouth of
Osage River. After we had formed our camp, the
interpreter went into the village, where he had some
acquaintance. On his return, he informed us that
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 31
there was a war party of Indians in the neighbour-
hood, consisting of the Ayaiiwais, Potowatomies,
Sioux, and Saukee nations, amounting to nearly
three hundred warriors. He had learned, that this
party were going against the Osages j but having
discovered that there was an Osage boy in the vil-
lage, they were waiting to catch and scalp him.
He also informed us, that we might expect to fall
in with other war parties crossing the Missouri
higher up. This was unpleasant news to us, as it
is always desirable that white men should avoid
meeting with Indian war parties : for if they are
going to war, they are generally associated in larger
parties than can subsist by hunting, from which
they refrain, to prevent being discovered by their
enemies, wherefore they are almost certain to levy
contributions of provisions or ammunition on all
thev meet. When tht y^ return from war, the dan-
ger is still greater ; for, if successful, they often
commit wanton ravages ; and if unsuccessful, the
shame of returning to their nation without having
performed any achievement, often induces them to
attack those whom they would, in other circum-
stances, have peaceably passed. i\s we were six-
teen men, well armed, we were determined to resist
any act of aggression, iu case of a rencontre with
them.
!2^nd, 2Srd, and 24th. — Almost incessant rain.
Our bread was now becoming very mouldy, not
3^ TRAVELS IN THE
having been properly baked. Mr. Hunt anxiously
waited for a fine day to dry it, together with the
rest of the baggage.
25th. — Met a boat with sixteen oars coming from
Fort Osage to St. Louis, for supplies : news had
arrived at the fort, that the Great Osages had lately
killed an American at their village.
26th. — It raked nearly the whole of this day :
the flats near the river still continue to be so thickly
covered with rushes, that it is almost impossible to
travel over them.
27th. — The north bank of the river now assumes
a most interesting appearance : it consists of a range
of rocks, nearly perpendicular, from 150 to 300
feet high ; they are composed of a very white lime-
stone, and their summits are covered to the edge
with cedar. The length of this range is about six
miles, and at the upper end they assume a semi-
circular form. These are called the Manitou Rocks,
a name given to them by the Indians, who often
apply this term Manitou to uncommon or singular
productions of nature, which they highly venerate.
On or near these Manilous, they chiefly deposit
then- offerings to the Great Spirit or Father oj Life.
This has caused some to believe that these Mani-
tous are the objects that they worship ; but this
opinion is erroneous. The Indians believe that the
^o
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 6
Great Spirit either inhabits, or frequently visits,
these, manifestations of his power; and that offer-
ings deposited there, will sooner attract his notice,
and gain his auspices, than in any other place.
These offerings are propitiatory, either for success
in war or in hunting, and consist of various articles,
of which the feathers of the war eagle (falco me-
lanci'tosj are in the greatest estimation. On these
rocks several rude figures have been drawn by the
Indians with red paint : they are chiefly in imita-
tion of buffaloe, deer, &c. One of these, accord- .
ing with their idea of the Great Spirit, is not un-
like our common representation of the devil. We
encamped this night a little above tlie mouth of
the Bonne Femme, a small river on the north side,
where the tract of land called Boond's Lick settle-
ment commences, supposed to be the best land in
Western America for so great an area : it extends
about 150 miles up the Missouri, and is near fifty
miles in breadth.
28th. — I left the boats early, intending to w^alk
to the Lick settlements, which are the last on the
river, excepting those occupied by one or two fa-
milies near Fort Osage. After travelling eight or
ten miles, I was surprised in the woods by a severe
thunder storm. Not knowing whether I could
reach the settlements before night, I returned to
meet the boat, and found our two hunters, who
c
M TRAVELS IN THE
had sheltered themselves in a hollow tree : they
had killed a buck, on a part of which we dined,
and carried the remainder to the boat, and soon
after we arrived at the fhst house, belonging to a
planter named Hibband. This evening we had a
most tremendous thunder storm ; and about nine
o'clock, a tree, not more than fifty yards from our
camp, was shivered by lightning. Mr. Hunt, Mr.
Nuttall, and myself, who were sitting in the tent,,
sensibly felt the action of the electric fluid.
29th. — As Mr. Hunt had some business with one
of the settlers, we walked to his house, where we
'heard that war had already commenced between
the Osages and the confederate nations, and that
the former had killed seven of the Ayauways. This
determined us to continue our practice of sleeping
on our arms, as we had done since the 2 1 st. We
slept this night about a league above the settle-
ments.
30th. — We were now beyond all the settlements^
except those at Fort Osage, and Mr. Hunt resolved
to send the hunters out more frequently, as gam6
might now be expected in abundance. I accom-
panied them, and we killed a buck and a doe.
I found the country, three or four miles from the
river, very broken or stony. The almost incessant
rains had now raised the Missouri to within a few
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 35
feet of its annual flood, which rendered the navi-
gation very difficult.
31st. — The morning was rainy, and was succeed-
ed by a strong north wind, which caused a sudden
change in the temperature of the weather: the 30th
had been warm, but this night the water, in a tin
cup of a pint measure, that had been left full in the
boat, was found to be nearly all solid ice on the
morning of the first of April.
April 1st. — After breakfast I went ashore with
the two hunters, Harrington and Mears, but soon
separated from them in order to visit the bluffs. In
the evening I descended into the valley, and on
my way to find the boat, observed a skunk,* ( Vi-
verra mephitis) and being desirous of procuring the
skin, fired at it, but with shot only, having that day
* This animal in its defence discharges a few drops of a liquid
so foetid, that the stench can scarcely be endured by any animal.
Clothes on which the smallest particle has fallen, must be burit-d
in the earth for at least a month before they can be worn. This
liquor is highly inflammable, and is secreted in a gland beneath
the tail, from which it is thrown with a force that will carry it
to the distance of three or four yards. Only a very few of the
American dogs can be induced to attack it, aud those are so
powerfully affected by the horrid stench, that they continue to
howl for a considerable time afterwards, and instinctively relieve
themselves by scratching holes ia ths earth, into which they put
their nosn.
36 TRAVELS IN THE
taken out my fowling-piece instead of my rifle.
It aj)peared tliat I had either missed entirely, or
only slightly wounded it, as it turned round in-
stantly, and ran towards me. Being well aware of
the consequence if overtaken, I fled, but was so
closely pursued, that I was under the necessity of
re-loading whilst in the act of running. At the
next discharge I killed it ; but as it had ejected its
offensive liquor upon its tail, I could not touch it,
but cut a slender vine, of which I made a noose,
and dragged my prize to the boat. I found that
the Canadians considered it as a delicacy, and were
desirous of procuring it to eat : this enabled me to
obtain the skin without having to perform the dis-
gusting operation of taking it off myself. Soon
after my arrival, Harrington came in, and brought
the intelligence that they had killed a large bear
about four miles off. He had left Mears engaged
in skinning it, and came to request that one or two
men might be sent to assist in fetching it in. As
it was near night, Mr. Hunt determined to stop,
and two of the Canadians were sent along with
Harrington ; I also accompanied them. Although
our course lay through a very thick wood, Har-
rington led us wdth great precision tow^ards the
place, and when he supposed himself near it, he
stopped, and we gave a shout. In a few seconds
afterwards we heard tlte discharge of a rifle, and
also a shout from Mears, who was within two hun-'
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 37
dred yards of us. On joining him we were sur-
prised to find that he had two bears. He inform-
ed us, that after the departure of Harrington lie
re-lpaded his rifle, and laid it beside him whilst he
was skinning and cutting up the bear: he had
nearly completed this operation, when he heard a
rustling, as if an animal was coming towards him.
To defend himself, he seized his piece, and at the
moment we shouted, a bear appeared in view.
Not seeing Mears, he laid his fore paws on the
trunk of a fallen tree, and turned his head to look
back. Mears could not ha\e wished for a better
opportunity ; he shot him through the head. The
bears were very large, and as the night had set in
before the latter was skinned and cut up, it was
too late to send to the boat for assistance : I there-
fore offered to carry a part, provided they would
allot to me the skins, as they were the only clean
part of the spoil. This proposition was agreed to,
and we set out. Before we had proceeded far, it
became quite dark, which caused us to take a
wrong direction, that led to a swamp. In addition
to our difficulties, the underwood consisted chiefly
of the prickly ash, ( zanthoanjlon clava Hercules)
by which our faces and hands were continually
scratched : there was also an abundance of small
prickly vines entwined among the bushes, of a
species of smilax. These were easily avoided dur-
38 TRAVELS IN THE
ing day-light, but they were now almost every
instant throwing some of us down. Whilst we
were deliberating whether it would not be advisable
to stop, make a fire, and remain there during the
night, we heard the report of a gun, which we
thought proceeded from the boat : we therefore
steered our course in the direction of the sound.
Shortly afterwards we perceived before us a light
glimmering through the trees, and in less than half
an hour we had a full view of it. Mr. Hunt, from
our long delay, had become apprehensive of what
had really happened, viz. that we had lost our way,
and having observed near the camp a very large
cotton-wood tree, which was dead, and evidently
hollow, he caused a hole to be cut into the cavity
near the root, and a quantity of dry weeds being
put in, it was set on fire. The trunk was at least
seventy or eighty feet in length before the broken
limbs commenced ; several of these projected eight
or ten feet, and were also hollow. The flame?,
impelled by so long a column of rarefied air, issued
from the top, ar.d from the ends of the limbs, with
a surprising force, and with a noise equal to that
of a blast furnace. Although smarting with pain,
weary, wet, and hungry, not having eaten any
thing since morning, I sat down to enjoy the scene,
and have seldom witnessed one more magnificent.
On relating to the hunters this evening that I had
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 39
been pursued by a skunk, they laughed heartily,
and said it was no uncommon thing, having been
often in the same predicament themselves.
'! '2nd. — We this day passed the scite of a viHage
on the north-east side of the river, once belonging
to the Missouri tribe. Foiu' miles above it are the
remains of Fort Orleans, formerly belonging to
the French ; it is 240 miles from the mouth of the
Missouri. We passed the mouth of La Grande
Riviere, near which I first observed the appearance
of prairie* on the alluvion of the river. Our hun-
ters went out, but soon returned without attempt-
ing to kill any thing, having heard some shots fired,
which they discovered proceeded from Indians in
pursuit of elk. The navigation had been very
difficult for some days, on account of the frequent
occurrence of, what is termed by the boatmen,
emharras. They are formed by large trees falling
into the river, where it has undermined the banks.
Some of these trees remain still attached by their
* Prairie is the terra given to such tracts of land as are di-
TPSted of timber. In travelling west from the Alleghanies they
•ccur more frequently, and are of greater extent as we approach
the Mississippi. When we proceed to the distance of two or
three hundred miles west of that river, the whole country is of
this description, which continues to the Rocky Mountains west-
ward, and from the head waters of the Mississippi to near the
Gulf of Mexico ; an extent of territory which probably equals i»
area the whole empire of China.
40 TRAVELS IN THE
roots to the firm ground, and the drift-wood being
collected by the bl'anches, a dam of the length of
the tree is formed, round the point of which the
water runs with such velocity, that in many in-
stances it is impossible to stem it. On account of
these obstacles, we were frequently under tlie ne-
cessity of crossing the river. This day the carcases
of several drowned buffaloes passed us.
3rd. — I walked the greatest part of the day, but
found it troublesome, being much annoyed by the
prickly ash. In the evening we had another severe
thunder storm.
4th. — The navigation became less difficult, as
the river had fallen four feet.
5th. — Went out with the hunters, who shot
nothing but a goose, (anas Canadensis) that was
sitting on a tree beside its nest, in which was the
female. Observed for the first time that the rocks
bordering the river were sand stone. In these I
found nodules of iron ore imbedded.
6th. — Walked all day, and in the afternoon met
the hunters, who had found a bee tree,* and were
* The term given in America to a hollow tree, containing a
swarm of bees.
INTERIOR OF AMERIC/i. 41
returning to the boat for a bucket, and a hatchet
to cut it down. I accompanied them to the tree.
It contained a great number of combs, and about
three gallons of honey. The honey bees have been
introduced into tliis continent from Europe, but at
what time I have not been able to ascertain. Even
if it be admitted that they were brought over soon
after the first settlement took place, their increase
since appears astonishing, as bees are found in, all
parts of the United States ; and since they have
entered upon the fine countries of the Illinois and
Upper Louisiana, their progress westward has been
surprisingly rapid. It is generally known in Upper
Louisiana, that bees had not been found westward
of the Mississippi prior to the yeai' 1797-* They
are now found as high up the Missouri as the Maha
nation, having moved westward to the distance of
600 miles in fourteen years. Their extraordinary
progress In these parts is probably owing to a por-
tion of the country being prairie, and yielding
therefore a succession of flowers during the whole
summer, which is not the case in forests. Bees
* At that tfme the natural history of the bee was not very
well known at St. Louis. They relate there, that a French lady
of that place having' received a present of honey from Kaskas-
kias, was much delighted with it, and being told it was produced
by a kind of fly, she sent a negro with a small boiX to Kaskaskias
(HO miles) to get a pair of the flies, in order that she might
obtain the breed.
4^
TRAVELS IN THE
have spread over this continent in a degree, and
with a celerity so nearly corresponding with that of
the Anglo-Americans, that it has given rise to a
belief, both amongst the Indians and the Whites,
that bees are their precursors, and that to whatever
part they go the white people will follow. I am
of opinion that they-xre right, as I think it as im-
possible to stop the prtjgress of the one as of the
other. We encamped this night at the bottom of
an island.
'7th. — This morning I went upon the island,
accompanied by one of the Frenchmen named
Guardepee, to look for game. We were wholly
unsuccessful in our pursuit, although the island is
of considerable extent. On arriving at the upper
end of it, we perceived a small island, of about two
acres, covered with grass only, and separated from
the large one by a narrow channel, the mouth of
which was covered with drift timber. We passed
over, and walked through the grass, and having
given up all hopes of game, we were proceeding to
the river to wait for the boat, when my companion,
who was before me, suddenly stopped, fired, and
jumped aside, crying out, *' Voildy 0 (liable^ tirez"
at the same time pointing towards the grass a few
steps before him. I looked, and saw a bear not
five yards from us. I immediately fired, and we
retired to a short distance to reload, but on our
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 43
return found the animal expiring. It was a female,
with three small cubs in her bed, about two yards
from where she was killed. She had heard us ap-
proach, and was advancing to defend them. I took
one of the cubs in my arms. It seemed sensible
of its misfortune, and cried at intervals. It was
evident that whenever it uttered a cry, the con-
vulsions of the dying mother increased, and I really
felt regret that we had so suddenly cut the ties of
so powerful an affection.* Whilst we breakfasted
the bear was cut up, and, with the young ones,
taken on board. We encamped this night about
twelve miles below Fort Osage.
8th. — About ten o'clock we came in sight of the
fort, about six miles distant. We had not been long
in sight before we saw the flag was hoisted, and at
noon we arrived, when we were saluted with a vol-
ley as we passed on to the landing place, where we
met Mr. Crooks, who had come down from the
* The great attachment which the she bear has for her young
is well known to the American hunter. No danger can induce
her to abandon them. Even when they are sufficientl3- grown
to be able to climb a tree, her anxiety for their safety is but
little diminished. At that lime, if hunted and attacked by dogs,
her first care is to make her young climb to a place of safety.
If they show any reluctance, she beats them, and having suc-
ceeded, turns fearlessly on her pursuers. Perhaps in animal
economy maternal affection is almost always commensurate with
the helplessness of the young.
"i^ TRAVELS IN THE
wintering station at the mouth of the river Naduet
to meet us. There were also collected at the
landuig place about 200 Indians, men, women, and
children, of the Petit Osage nation, whose village
was then about 300 yards from the fort. We
passed through them to pay our respects to Lieu-
tenant Brownson, who then commanded in the ab-
sence of Captain Clemson. He received us very
politely, and insisted that we should eat at his table
during our stay. I had with me an introductory
letter to Dr. Murray, physician to the garrison,
whom I found disposed to give me every informa-
tion relative to the customs and manners of the
Osage nation, and from him also I received a vo-
cabulary of a considerable number of words in that
language.* He walked with me down to the boats,
where we found several squaws assembled, as Dr.
Murray assured me, for the same purpose as fe-
males of a certain class in the maritime towns of
Eu''ope crowd round vessels lately arrived from a
long voyage, and it must be admitted wuth the same
success. Towards evening an old chief came down,
and harangued the Indians assembled about the
boats, for the purpose of inviting the warriors of
the late expedition to a feast prepared for them in
the village. I was told it was intended that the
dance of the scalp should be performed, on the
- ^
* See Appendix, No. I,
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 45
occasion of the war party having brought in seven
scalps from the Ayauwais, a village belonging to
whom they had destroyed, and killed two old men
and five women and children. All the rest had
fled at their approach ; but as rain came on the
dance was not performed. At evening Dr. Mur-
ray proposed that we should walk into the village,
which I found to consist of about one hundred
lodges of an oblong form, the frame of timber, and
the covering mats, made of the leaves of flag, or
typha palustris. On our return through the town,
we called at the lodge belonging to a chief named
Waubuschon, with whom Dr. Murray was particu-
larly acquainted. The floor was covered with
mats, on which they sat ; but as I was a stranger,
I was offered a cushion. A wooden bowl was now
handed round, containing square pieces of cake,
in taste resembling gingerbread. On inquiry I
found it was made of the pulp of the persimon,
(diospyros Virginiana) mixed with pounded corn.
This bread they called staninca. Shortly after-
wards some young squaws came in, with whom the
doctor (who understood the Osage language) be-
gan to joke, and in a few minutes they seemed to
have overcome all bashfulness, or even modesty.
Some of their expressions, as interpreted to me,
were of the most obscene nature. The squaw of
our host laughed heartily, and did all in her power
to promote this kind of conversation. I expressed
46
TRAVELS IN THE
my surprise to Dr. Murray, but was informed by
him that similar conduct would have been pursued
at any other lodge in the village. We left the
lodge of Waubuschon, and went to that of the
chief. On the roof the seven scalps were placed,
tied to sticks ornamented with racoons' tails. We
were shewn to the upper end of the lodge, and sat
down on the ground. I learned that the chief was
not present ; that he was a boy of six years of age,
his name Young W^hite Hair, and that the tribe
was now governed by a regent. Immediately a
warrior came in, and made a speech, frequently
pointing to the scalps on the roof, as they were
visible through the hole by which the smoke
escaped I understood that he had distinguished
himself in the late expedition against the Ayau-
ways. After shaking hands with all round, we left
the lodge, and in our return to the boat we met the
squaw belonging to our interpreter, who being of
the Ayauway nation, appeared to be much afraid
of the Osages during our passage up the river, and
it was thought with reason, as on our first interview
with the commandant, it had been debated whether
or not it would be prudent to send a file of men to
conduct her from the boat to the fort during our
gtay. On inquiry we found that she had been in-
vited up to the village by some of the Osages, and
of course, according to Indian custom, would be
as safe with them as in the fort.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 47
I inquired of Dr. Murray concerning a practice
which I had heard prevailed among the Osages,
of rising before day to lament their dead. He in-
formed me that such was really the custom, and
that the loss of a horse or a dog was as powerful a
stimulus to their lamentations as that of a relative
or friend ; and he assured me, that if I should be
awake before day the following morning, I might
certainly hear them. Accordingly on the 9th I
heard before day that the howling had commenced;
and the better to escape observation, I wrapped a
blanket round me, tied a black handkerchief on my
head, and fastened on my belt, in which I stuck
my tomahawk, and then walked into the village.
The doors of the lodges were closed, but in the
greater part of them the women were crying and
howling in a tone that seemed to indicate exces-
sive grief. On the outside of the village I heard
the men, who. Dr. Murray had informed me,
always go out of the lodges to lament. I soon came
within twenty paces of one, and could see him
distinctly, as it was moonlight : he also saw me,
and ceased, upon which I withdrew. I was more
successful with another, whom I approached nearer
unobserved. He rested his back against the stump
of a tree, and continued for about twenty seconds
to cry out in a loud and high tone of voice, when
he suddenly lowered to a low muttering, mixed
with sobs : in a few seconds he again raised to the
48
TRAVELS IN THE
former pitch.* We breakfasted with the com-
inandant, and afterwards walked out to view some
improvements he had made in the fort. In our
walk we observed what, on the first view, appeared
to be two squaws carrying a tub of watei", suspend-
ed on a pole. Mr. Crooks desired me to notice
them, which I did, and remarked that one of them
had more the appearance of a man than of a wo-
man. He assured me that it was a man, and that
there were several others in the village, who, like
the one we saw, were condemned for life to asso-
ciate with the squaws, to wear the same dress, and
do the same drudgery. I now learned, that when
the Osages go to war, they keep a watchful eye
over the young men who are then making their
first essay in arms, and such as appear to possess
the necessary qualifications are admitted to the
tank of warriors, or, according to their own idiom,
brave men. But if any exhibit evident proofs of
cowardice, on the return of the party they are
compelled to assume the dress and character of
women, and their doom is fixed for life, as no op-
portunity is afterwards afforded them to retrieve
* J have been informed, that when the Osages were in the
habit of robbins: the white settlers, it was customary with them,
after they had entered the house, and before they proceeded to
phindtr, to blacken their faces, and cry. The reason they gave
for this was, that thfy "ere sorry for the people whom they were
going to rob.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 49
their character.* The men do not associate with
them, nor are they suffered to marry, or have any
intercourse with the women : they may be treated
with the greatest indignity by any warrior, as they
are not suffered to resent it. I found, on inquiry,
that the late war party had not been conducted by
any of the principal chiefs, a circumstance which
often liappensj as any of tlie noted warriors may
lead a party, provided he can obtain adherents, and
he finds no difficulty in procuring the sanction of
the chiefs ; but in this case he must travel without
mockasons, or even leggings. He goes the fore-
most of the party, makes the fire at night, and
stands to keep watch whilst the party lie down to
sleep, nor can he lie down unless a warrior rises
* It is customary amongst the Missouri Indians to register
every exploit in war, by making a notch for each on the handle
of their tomahawks, and they are estimated as being rich or poor
in proportion to the number of notches. At their war dances,
any warrior who chuses may recount his exploits. This is done
by pointing to each notch, and describing the particular act that
entitled him to it. The Nodowessies, or Sioux, fix up a post
near the war fire, to represent the enemy of each warrior in suc-
cession whilst he is recounting his deeds. During his harangue,
he strikes the post when in the act of describing how he struck
his enemy, and, like Alexander, " fights his battles o'er again."
Mr. Crooks informed me, that the day before our arrival at the
fort, he saw an Osage beating and kicking another, who suffered
it patiently. Mr. Crooks asked him why he did not defend him-
self? " Oh!" said he, shewing the handle of his tomahawk,
" / am too poor ; he is richer than I am.''
O
^0 TRAVELS IN THE
and takes his place. This indulgence he must not
require, but may accept, if voluntarily offered. In
pursuing the object of the expedition, his com-
mands are absolute, and he is obeyed without a
murmur. The Osages are so tall and robust as
almost to warrant the application of the term gi-
gantic : few of them appear to be under six feet,
and many are above it. Their shoulders and vi-
sages are broad, which tend to strengthen the idea
of their being giants. On our return from viewing
the improvements in the fort, I was introduced to
Mr. Sibly, the Indian agent there, who is the son
of Dr. Sibly of Natchitoches. He informed me
that he purposed shortly to attend the Petits Osages
in their annual journey for salt, and invited me
to accompany him, offering as an inducement,
to procure two horses from the Indians for my
own use. Learning that the place where the salt
is procured is that which has occasioned the report
of a salt mountain existing in Upper Louisiana, I
was very much inclined to accept his invitation ;
but finding Mr. Hunt unwilling to release me from
my promise to attend him, I declined it. I accom-
panied Mr. Sibly and Dr. Murray in the evening,
to see the dance of the scalp. The ceremony
consisted in carrying the scalps elevated on sticks
through the village, followed by the warriors who
had composed the war party, dressed in all their
ornaments, and painted as for war.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 51
1
On the 10th we ilgain embarked on the river,
although it rained very hard. Our number was
now augmented to twenty-six by the addition of
Mr. Crooks and his party. We had not proceeded
more than two miles, when our interpreter, Dorion,
beat his squaw severely ; and on Mr. Hunt inquir-
ing the cause, he told him that she had taken a
fancy to remain at the Osages in preference to pro-
ceeding with us, and because he had opposed it,
she had continued sulky ever since. We were
obliged to encamp early this day, as the rain be-
came excessive.
11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th.— We had a fair wind,
and employed our sail, wherefore I could not go
ashore without danger of being left behind. Dur-
ing these days the bread was examined, and being
found wholly unfit for use, it was thrown overboard.
15th.— We passed the scite of a village which
formerly belonged to the Kansas Indians. I had
an opportunity of going ashore, and founJ the soil
to have the appearance of the greatest fertility.
On the sides of the hills I noticed abundance of the
hop plant, (hiimidm lupuliis.J
l6th.— We began to notice more particularly the
great number of drowned buffaloes that were float-
ing on the river ; vast numbers of them were also
52 TRAVELS IN THE
thrown ashore, and upon the rafts, on the points
of the islands. The carcases had attracted an im-
mense number of turkey buzzards, (viiltur aura)
and as the preceding night had been rainy, multi-
tudes of them were sitting on the trees, with their
backs towards the sun, and their wings spread out
to dry, a common practice with these birds after
rain.
17th.— Arrived at the wintering houses, near the
Naduet River, and joined the rest of the party.
18th. — I proceeded to examine the neighbour-
ing country, and soon discovered that pigeons
(columbamtgratoria) were in the woods. I return-
ed, and exchanged my rifle for a fowling-piece, and
in a few hours shot two hundred and seventy-one,
when I desisted. I had an opportunity this day of
observing the manner in whidi they feed : it affords
a most singular spectacle, and is also an example
of the rigid discipline maintained by gregarious
animals. This species of pigeon associates in pro-
digious flocks : one of these flocks, when on the
ground, will cover an area of several acres in ex-
tent, and the birds are so close to each other that
the ground can scarcely be seen. This phalanx
moves through the woods with considerable cele-
rity, picking up, as it passes along, every thing that
will serve for food. It is evident that the foremost
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 5S
ranks must be the most successful, and that nothhig
will remain for the hindermost. But that all may
have an equal chance, the instant that any rank
becomes the last, it rises, and flying over the whole
flock, alights exactly ahead of the foremost. They
succeed each other with so much rapidity, that
there is a continued stream of them in the air ; and
a side view of them exhibits the appearance of the
segment of a large circle, moving through the
woods. I observed that they cease to look for
food a considerable time before they become the
last rank, but strictly adhere to their regulations,
and never rise until there is none behind them.
19th. — On the bluffs* under which the winter-
* As the term blulF may not be understood, an explanation
will render the application more intelligible. The alluvion of
the great rivers west of the AUeohanuies is considerabl}' lower
than the surrounding- country, and is of a breadth nearly in ihe
ratio of the magnitude of the river ; that of the Missouri is from
two to six or eight miles in breadth, and is for the most part
from a hundred and tifty to three hundred feet below the general
level of the country. The ascent from (his valley into the coun-
try is precipitous, and is called "the Bluff;" it may consist
of rock or clay. Betwixt these bluffs. the river runs in a Tery
crooked channel, and is perpetually changing its bed, as the
only permanent bounds are the bluffs. It may here be remarked,
that a view of the vast channel bounded by thes« bluffs, connect-
ed with the idea that all which it contained has been carried
away by the river, would induce us to believe that this globe
has existed longer than some people imagine.
54i TRAVELS IN THE
ing house was placed, there is a considerable num-
ber of flat stones. On examining one, I found
beneath it several snakes, in a half torpid state,
arising probably from the cold state of the weather,
and I found on further examination, that the num-
ber of snakes under these stones was astonishing.
I selected this day eleven species, and killed a great
number.
20th. — It was this day arranged, by the desire of
Mr. Donald M'Kenzie, that I should travel in his
boat/ and preparations were made for our depar-
ture the succeeding morning. I was employed in
continuing my researches, and had a narrow escape
from a rattle-snake ; it darted at me from the top
of a small rock, at the base of whicli I was gather-
ing plants. The noise of its rattle just gave me
sufficient notice to withdraw my head.
21st. — We again embarked in four boats. Our
party amounted to nearly sixty persons: forty
were Canadian boatmen, such as are employed by
the North West Company, and are termed in Ca-
nada Engages or Voyageiirs. Our boats were all
furnished with masts and sails, and as the wind
blew pretty strong from the south-east, we availed
ourselves of it during the greater part of the day.
2i2d, 23d, 2ith. — The wind continuing favoura-
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 55
ble, we sailed almost the whole of these three days,
and made considerable progress.
25th. — Went ashore with the hunters, and col-
lected a new species of rattle-snake, and a bird of
the genus reciirvirostra. The hunters killed two
elks, but they were so lean that we left them for the
vultures : at all times their flesh is much inferior to
that of deer.
g6th. — The wind had changed to the north-west,
and blew so strong, that we were obHged to stop
during the whole day. When I found this mea-
sure determined on, I resolved to avail myself of
the opportunity to quit the valley of the Missouri,
and examine the surrounding country. After
travelling about three miles, I ascended the
bluffs, and found that the face of the country,
soil, &c. were entirely changed. As far as the
eye could reach, not a single tree or shrub was
visible. The whole of the stratum immediately be-
low the vegetable mould, is a vast bed of exceed-
ingly hard yellow clay. In the valleys, the land
floods, during the rainy season, have worn channels
so deep, and with the sides so precipitous, that a
traveller is often under the necessity of proceeding
a mile or two along one of these ravines before he
can cross it. In the bottoms of several I observed
evident indications of coal.
56 TRAVELS IN THE
Syth. — The night had been very cold, and before
"we had been long on the river, the sides of the
boats and the oars were covered with ice, although
we were not farther north than 40". After break-
fast, I went out with the hunters, and found my
hopes of a change in the vegetation reahzed. The
bluffs forming the bounds of the river are no longer
in part rocks, but a continued chain of rounded
knobs of stiff clay : under these is a fine bed of
bituminous coal, rendered visible wherever the
river has washed away the base. This day I col-
lected several new species of plants.
28th. — We breakfasted on one of the islands
formed by La Platte Riviere, the largest river that
falls into the Missouri. It empties itself into three
channels, except in the time of its annual flood,
when the intervening land is overflowed ; it is then
about a mile in breadth. We noticed this day the
skeleton or frame of a skin canoe, in which the
river had been crossed by Indians : we saw also
other indications of war parties having been re-
cently in the neighbourhood, and observed in the
night the reflection of immense fires, occasioned
by burning the prairies. At this late season, the
fires are not made by the hunters to facihtate their
hunting, but by war parties ; and more particu-
larly when returning unsuccessful, or after a de-
feat, to prevent their enemies from tracing their
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 57
Steps. As the asli discontinues to grow on the
Missouri above this place, it was thought expedi-
ent to lay in a stock of oars and poles ; and for
that purpose, we stopped in the forenoon, about
a league above the mouth of Papillon Creek, and
I availed myself of this opportunity to visit the
bhiffs four or five miles distant from us, on the
north-east side. On approaching them I found an
extensive lake running along their base, across
which I waded, the water in no part reaching
higher than my breast. This lake had evidently
been in former times the course of the river : its
surface was much covered with aquatic plants,
amongst which were nelumhium luteuju and hydrO'
pdtis purpurea : on the broad leaves of the former
^ great number of water snakes were basking, which
on my approach darted into the water. On gaining
the summit of the bluffs, I was amply repaid by the
grandeur of the scene that suddenly opened to my
view, and also by the acquisition of a number of new
plants. On looking into the valley of the Missouri
from an elevation of about two hundred and fifty feet,
the view was magnificent : the bluffs can be seen
for more than thirty miles, stretching to the north-
eastward in a right line, their summits varied by an
infinity of undulations. The flat valley of the river,
about six or seven miles in breadth, is partly prai-
rie, but interspersed with clumps of the finest
trees, through the intervals of which could be seen
58 TRAVELS IN THE
the majestic but muddy Missouri. The scene to-
wards the interior of the country was extremely
singular : it presents to the view a countless num-
ber of dittle green hilis, apparently sixty or eighty
feet in perpendicular height, and so steep, that it
was with much difficulty I could ascend them ;
some were so acutely pointed, that two people
would have found it difficult to stand on the top
at the same time. I wandered among these moun-
tains in miniature until late in the afternoon, when
I re-crossed the lake, and arrived at the boats soon
after sun-set.
29th. — Being informed that the oars and poles
would not be finished before noon, Mr. M'Kenzie
obliged me by sending his boat to carry me across
the river. I found the bluffs to be of a nature simi-
lar to those on the north-east side. I met the boats
in the afternoon, and we encamped about fourteen
mile below the wintering house belonging to Mr.
Crooks, who proposed to me that we should walk
to it the following morning, along the bluffs ; as
the distance was much less by that route than by
the course of the river.
30th. — I set out with Mr. Crooks at sunrise, for
the wintering house, and travelled nearly a mile
on a low piece of ground, covered with long grass :
at its termination we ascended a small elevation.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 59
and entered on a plain of about eight miles in
length, and from two and a half to three miles in
breadth. As the old grass had been burned in the
autumn, it was now covered with the most beauti-
ful verdure, intermixed with flowers. It v/as also
adorned with clumps of trees, sufficient for orna-
ment, but too few to intercept the sight : in the in-
tervals we counted nine flocks of elk and deer
feeding, some of which we attempted to approach
near enough to fire at, but without success. On
arriving at the termination of the plain, our route
lay along a series of the most rugged clay bluffs :
some of them were in part washed away by the
river, and exhibited perpendicular faces at least a
hundred feet in height. At noon w^e arrived at
the wintering house, and dined on dried buflTaloe.
In the evening the boats came up.
May 1st. — This day was employed in embarking
some articles necessary for the voyage, together
with Indian goods, and in the evening Mr. Crooks
informed me that he intended to set out the next
morning on foot, for the Ottoes, a nation of In-
dians on the Platte River, who owed him some bea-
ver. From the Ottoes he pui-posed travelhng to
the Maha nation, about two hundred miles above us
on the Missouri, where he should again meet the
boats. I immediately offered to accom})any him ;
he seemed much pleased, and we proceeded to cast
60 TRAVELS IN THE
bullets, and make other arrangements necessary for
our journey.
2d. — At day.break we were preparing to de-
part, as also were tlie rest of the party, when an
occurrence took place that delayed us until sun-
rise, and created a considerable degree of confu-
sion. Amongst our hunters were two brothers of
the name of Harrington, one of whom, Samuel
Harrington, had been hunting on the Missouri for
two years, and had joined the party in autumn :
the other, William Harrington, had engaged at
St. Louis, in the following March, and accom-
panied us from thence. The latter now avowed
that he had engaged at the command of his mo-
ther, for the purpose of bringing back his brother,
and they both declared their intention of abandon-
ing the party immediately. As it had already been
intimated to us at the Osage nation, that the No-
dowessie, or Sioux Indians, intended to oppose
our progress up the river, and as no great de-
pendence was placed on our Canadians in case of
an attack, the loss of two good riflemen was a
matter of regret to us all. Mr. Hunt, although a
gentleman of the mildest disposition, was ex-
tremely exasperated ; and when it was found that
all arguments and entreaties were unavailing, they
were left, as it was then imagined, without a sin-
gle bullet or a load of powder, four hundred
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 6l
miles at least from any white man's house, and
six hundred and fifty from the mouth of the
river. As soon as the final issue of this affair
was known, Mr. Crooks and myself set out for
the Otto village, attended by two of the Canadi-
ans, one named Guardepee, the other La Li-
berte. Our equipments were, a blanket, a rifle,
eighty bullets, a full powder horn, a knife, and to-
mahawk, for each. Besides these, I had a large
inflexible port-folio, containing several quires of
paper, for the purpose of laying down specimens of
plants; we had also a small camp-kettle, and a httle
jerked buffaloe meat. In half an hour we left the
vallev of the Missouri, and entered on the vast plain.
We took our course S. S. E. w^hich w^e held for some
hours, and travelled at a great rate, hoping to reach
the Platte that night, although estimated at forty-
five miles from the place of our departure. A little
before noon we saw four large animals at a great
distance, which we supposed to be elk, but on
crossing their footsteps some time afterwards, we
found to our great satisfaction that they were buffa-
loe. In the afternoon we crossed two branches of
Papillon Creek, and an hour before sun-set arrived
at the Corne du Cerf River, a deep clear stream,
about eighty yards in breadth : it falls into the
Platte about tw^enty miles below. As our Cana-
dians could not swim, it was necessary to construct
a raft, and we concluded to remain here for the
62 TRAVELS IN THE
night. This arrangement was very agreeable to
me, as I was much exhausted, which Mr. Crooks
considered was, in a great measure, owing to my
having drank water too copiously during the day.
Although we had not eaten any thing from the time
of our departure, I was unable to eat at supper,
and lay down immediately.
3d. — We arose at day break. I found my-
self completely refreshed. Qur raft being ready at
sun-rise, we crossed the river, and in two hours
arrived at the Platte, exactly opposite the Otto vil-
lage. The river is here about eight hundred yards
in breadth, but appears to be shallow, as its name
indicates. The southern bank is wholly divested
of timber, and as the village is situated on a de-
clivity near the river, we could see the lodges very
distinctly, but there was no appearance of Indians.
We discharged our rifles, but the signal was not
answered from the village : in about five minutes
we heard the report of a gun down the river, and
immediately proceeded towards the place. At the
distance of half a mile, we arrived opposite to an
island, on the point of which a white man was
standing, who informed us that we could cross
over to him by wading : we did not stop to take
off our clothes, but went over immediately, the
water reaching to our arm-pits. This man proved
to be an American, of the name of Rogers, and
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 63
was employed as an interpreter by a Frenchman
from St. Louis, who was also on the island
with a few goods. They informed us that they
had been concealed for some days on the island,
having discovered a war party hovering rounf', be-
longing, as they supposed, to the Loup, or Wolf
nation, who had come in order to surprise the
Ottoes. They had nothing to give us as food, ex-
cepting some beaver flesh, which Rogers obtained
by trapping on Corne du Cerf, or Elk Horn River ;
as it was stale, and tasted fishy, I did not much relish
it, but there was no alternative but to eat it or starve.
We remained all day concealed on the island, and
on the morning of the 4th, before daylight, Rogers
set out to look at his traps, on Elk Horn River,
distant to the eastward not more than five miles.
I accompanied him, and on crossing the channel
of the Platte, found that in the same place w^here
the day before it reached to our arm-pits, it did
not now reach to our waists, although the river
had not fallen. Such changes in the bottom of
this river, Rogers told me were very frequent, as
it is composed of a moving gravel, in which our
feet sank to a considerable depth. We arrived at
the Elk Horn River about sun-rise, but found no
beaver in the traps. After our return to the island,
I expressed a wish to visit the Otto village, which
was in sight ; and Rogers, who had a canoe con-
cealed in the willows that surrounded the island.
64f TRAVELS IN THE
landed me on the other side of the river. I found
the village to consist of about fifty-four lodges, of
a circular form, and about forty feet in diameter,
with a projecting part at the entrance, of ten or
twelve feet in length, in the form of a porch. At
almost every lodge, the door or entrance was closed
after the manner which is customary with Indians
when they go on hunting parties, and take their
squaws and children with them. It consists in
putting a few sticks across, in a particular man-
ner, which they so exactly note and remem-
ber, as to be able to discover the least change in
their position. Although anxious to examine the
internal structure of the lodges, I did not violate
the injunction conveyed by this slight obstruction,
and after searching some time, found a few that
were left entirely open. On entering one, I found
the length of the porch to be an inclined plane to
the level of the floor, about two and a half or three
feet below the surface of the ground : round the
area of the lodge are placed from fifteen to eighteen
posts, forked at the top, and about seven feet high
from the floor. In the centre, a circular space of
about eight feet in diameter is dug to the depth
of two feet ; four strong posts are placed in the
form of a square, about twelve feet asunder, and
at equal distances from this space : these posts are
about twenty feet high, and cross pieces are laid
on the tops. The rafters arc laid from the forked
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 65
tops of the outside posts over these cross pieces,
and reach nearly to the centre, where a small hole
is left for the smoke to escape : across the rafters
small pieces of timber are laid ; over these, sticks
and a covering of sods, and lastly earth. The fire
is made in the middle of the central space, round
the edges of which they sit, and the beds are fixed
betwixt the outer posts. The door is placed at
the immediate entrance into the lodge : it is made
of a buffalo skin, stretched in a frame of wood,
and is suspended from the top. On entering, it
swings forward, and when let go, it falls to its for-
mer position. On my return to the island, Mr.
Crooks informed me that he had resolved to send
Rosers to find the Ottoes, who were hunting about
twenty miles from us, in order to collect his debts,
or to procure horses for us, to facilitate our journey
to the Maha nation.
5th. — In the morning early, Rogers set out on
his expedition, and returned on the 6th, without
having obtained any beaver or horses, excepting
one horse belonging to Mr. Crooks. This night
I procured from Rogers what information I could
relative to the Otto nation, and was informed
that the Missouris are incorporated with them j
that they are their descendants, and speak the
same language. They call themselves Wad-doke-
tah-tah, and can muster one hundred and thirty
£
66 TRAVELS IN THE
or one hundred and forty warriors. They are
now at war with the Loups or Wolf Indians, the
Osages, and the Sioux. He said they furnish
a considerable quantity of bear, deer, and bea-
ver skins, and are very well disposed towards
their traders, who may safely credit them. They
do not claim the property of the land on which
they live, nor any other tract. A very consi-
derable part of the surrounding country former-
ly belonged to the Missouris, who were once
the most powerful nation on the Missouri river,
but have been reduced by war and the small pox
to be dependent on the Ottoes, by whom they are
treated as inferiors. Rogers had with him a squaw
of the Maha nation, with her child, whom he wish-
ed to send with us to her father. To this Mr.
Crooks consented, and early on the morning of the
7th we set out, putting the squaw and her child on
the horse. Having crossed over from the island,
we steered a due north course, and came to the
Elk Horn River, after travelling about ten miles.
Mr. Crooks immediately stripped, to examine if
the river was fordable, and found that, excepting
about twenty yards in the middle, we nrlght wade
it. I offered to carry the child, but the squaw re-
fused, and after stripping herself, she gave me her
clothes, put the child on her neck, and swam over,
the little creature sticking to her hair. After as-
sisting our Canadians across, we continued along
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 67
the bank, in expectation of arriving at the creek,
distant about five miles, which comes in a direction
from the north. We observed, that as our dis-
tance from the island increased, the rehictaiice
of the squaw to proceed also increased, and soon
after we had crossed the river, she began to cry,
and declared she would go no farther. Mr. (rooks,
who understood the language, remonstrated with
her ; but finding it in vain, he ordered Guardepee
to take her back, and we encamped to wait his
return.
8th. — About two o'clock in the morning Guar-
depee returned with the horse, and at day-Hght we
set out. In about an hour we came to the creek,
and continued along its banks, and found ourselves
in a short time on a most beautifid prairie, along
which the creek flowed, without having a single
tree on its border, or even a shrub, excepting a few
widely scattered plum bushes. We shot this day
two prairie hens, (tetrao uxjibellus) on which we
supped, having dined on some jerked buffalo,
brought by Rogers from the Ottoes. We slept on
the border of the creek, but not so comfortably as
usual, as the dew was so copious, that before
morning our blankets were wet through.
9th. — We continued to pursue our course along
the creek, but with great trouble, as our mockas-
r>8 TRAVELS IN THE
sons, being of untanned skins, became so soft as to
render it difficult to keep them on our feet. We
shot a prairie hen, and prej)ared to breakfast, hav-
ing fiist relieved the horse from the baggage, and
turned him out to graze. Whilst we were collect-
ing some dry stalks of plants to boil our kettle, a
herd of elk, nineteen in number, appeared march-
ing towards the creek, and Guardepee immediately
ran to put himself in such a position that he might
fire at them, when the horse took fright, broke his
tie, and gallopped off. Guardepee fired, but only
wounded one so slightly that it ran off with the rest,
and escaped. The horse took the direct route back
towards the Ottoes, and was followed by Mr.
Crooks and Guardepee ; but in vain : they gave up
the chase, finding it impossible to recover him.
After we had breakfasted, we threw the saddle and
every thing belonging to the horse into the creek ;
each man took his share of the baggage, and we
again set out, and travelled without stopping until
evening, when we arrived at the head of the creek,
and came to what is called a di\dding ridge.* We
passed over it, and came to the head of a creek,
running in a N. E. direction. This we supposed
to be Blackbird Creek, which faUs into the Mis-
souri, near the monument of a famous chief of the
* A term given to any elevation that separates the head waters
yf one creek from those of another.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 69
Maha*!, named Blackbird. At the distance of
about two miles, we saw a small clump of trees on
the border of the creek, and resolved to remain
there during the night, hoping to find fuel to boil
a small portion of jerked buffalo, being all we had
left. Whilst the supper was preparing, I walked back
to an eminence, to collect some interesting plants,
having noticed them in passing. I had not been
long employed in that way, when I saw a distant
flash of lightning in the south, and soon after others
in quick succession. As these and other appear-
ances Indicated the approach of a violent storm, I
hastened back to recommend precautions for the
security of our arms and ammunition. Having
boiled our meat, which amounted to a few morsels
each, we secured our powder horns and some tow
in our camp kettle, which we inverted, and dis-
charged our rifles. Excepting the sound of distant
thunder, which was continual, an awful silence
prevailed, and the cloud which had already spread
over one half of the visible horizon, was fast shut-
ting out the little remains of day-light. As the
trees afforded us no fuel, and in a few minutes
would become no shelter, but might endanger our
safety, I recommended that we should go to the
open prairie, which we did, and lay down in our
blankets : 1 put my plants under me. For several
hours the thunder, lightning, and rain were inces-
sant, and such rain as I have seldom witnessed.
70 - TRAVELS IN THE
In half an hour after the storm commenced, we
had nothing more to fear from it, exceptmg the
cold occasioned by the torrents that fell on us.
At the approach of morning the rain ceased : we
saw a few stars, and with joy noticed the first ap-
pearances of day. We arose, and wrung the water
out of our blankets, and finding ourselves very
much benumbed, we walked about to restore' the
circulation : when it was sufficiently light, we put
our rifles in order, which was attended with consi-
derable difficulty, as our hands were almost without
sensation. Having arranged our arms, we set out,
but were extremely uncomfortable, as our clothes,
being made of dressed skins, stuck so close to our
bodies as to make our march very unpleasant. We
proceeded at a brisk pace to warm ourselves, and
in about two hours came to a small ridge, which
we ascended, and when near the top, Guardepee
preceded us, to examine if any game was in sight.
He gave the signal for us to remain quiet, and
soon afterwards fired at two buffalo cows, with their
calves. One of the cows he wounded, and they
ran off with so much speed, that the calves could
not keep up with them. Perceiving this, I imme-
diately pursued the calves, one of which I killed.
The rest of the party followed the cows for a short
distance, but finding the inutility of it, they soon
returned ; and notwithstanding my remonstrances,
Guardepee killed the other calf As we had eaten
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 71
but little the day before, we were very glad of
this supply, and taking what we thought proper,
proceeded on our journey. We soon began to per-
ceive that the face of the country was changing
in its appearance. From the Elk Horn River, our
course had hitherto been over a most beautiful
prairie, with scarcely a tree or shrub, but covered
with grass and flowers : we now began to observe
a more broken country to the eastward, and some
scattered bushes in tlie valleys. From an eminence,
we soon after perceived a hill, that had a heap of
stones on the summit : Mr. Crooks assured me that
this was the monument of Blackbird,* the famous
♦This chief, called by the French, Oiseau Noir, ruled over
Ihe Mahas with a sway the most despotic. He had nianag:ed in
such a manner as to inspire them with the belief that he was
possessed of supernatural powers : iu council no chief durst op-
pose him — in war it was death to disobey. It is related of him
at St. Louis, that a trader from that town arrived at the Mahas
with an assortment of Indian goods : he applied to Blackbird lor
liberty to trade, who ordered that he should first bring- all his
goods into his lodge, which order was obeyed. Blackbird
commanded that all the packages should be opened in his pre-
sence, and from them he selected what goods he thought proper,
amounting to nearly the fourth part of the whole: he caused
them to be placed iu a part of the lodge distinct from the rest,
and addressed the trader to this effect : — " Now, my son, the
goods which I have chosen are mine, and those iu your pos-
session are your own. Don't cry, my son ; my people shall
trade with you for your goods at your oum priceJ'^ He then
spoke to his herald, who ascended to the top of the lodge.
72 TRAVELS IN THE
Maha chief, and that it was one of the bluffs of
the Missouri : we judged it was about fifteen miles
N. E. of us. Satisfied that we were now near the
boats, and having arrived at some small timber,
where we could procure fuel, we dined on our
veal ; and although without bread or salt, it was
to us a luxury, as we had long been unaccustomed
to those articles. We halted about three hours
before sunset, at about five miles from the monu-
ment of Blackbird, to which place Mr. Crooks ,
despatched Guardepee to look for a letter, as Mr.
Hunt had promised to leave one there on passing
and commanded, in the name of the chief, that the Mahas should
bring- all their beaver, bear, otter, muskrat, and other skins to
his lodge, and not on any account to dispute the terms of ex-
change with the trader, who declartd, on his return to St. Louis,
that it was the most profitable voyage he had ever made.
Mr. Tellier, a gentleman of respectability, who resided near
St. Louis, and who had been formerly Indian agent there, in-
formed me that Blackbird obtained this influence over his nation
by the means of arsenic, a quantity of that article having been
sold to him by a trader, who instructed him in the use of it.
If afterwards any of his nation dared to oppose him in his arbi-
trary measures, he prophesied their death within a certain pe-
riod, and took good care that his predictions should be verified.
He died about the time that Louisiana was added to the United
States ; having previously made choice of a cave for his sepul-
chre, on the top of a hill near the Missouri, about eighteen miles
below the Maha village. By his order his body was placed on
the back of his favourite horse, whi<h was driven into the cave,
the mouth of which was then closed up witli stones. A large
heap was afterwards raised on the summit of the hill.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 7^
the place. At night he returned, but without a
letter, and we! concluded that the boats had not
yet arrived.
11th. — We set off early, and soon fell in with
the trace from the Maha village to the monument :
along this we travelled, and about ten o'clock
arrived at the town, where we met one of the Ca-
nadians belonging to the boats. He informed us
that they arrived the day before, and were sta-
tioned about four miles from the village. As we
were in want of food, we did not stop, but pro-
ceeded to the boats, where we found a considera-
ble number of Indians assembled to trade. They
gave jerked buffalo meat, tallow, corn, and mar-
row ; and in return they received tobacco in ca-
rottes, Vermillion, blue beads, &c. There, also,
we found Mr. James Aird, an old and respectable
trader, with whom I had become acquainted at
St. Louis. He informed me that he should go to
the United States in a few days; I therefore availed
myself of this opportunity to forward letters, and
was employed in writing until the l^th at noon.
Immediately after, I set out on an excursion to the
bluffs, and in my way passed through the village,
where the great number o£ children playing
about the lodges, entirely naked, drew my at-
tention. I goon attracted their notice also, and
they began to collect around me. Some of the
74 TRAVELS IN THE
boldest ventured to touch my hand, after which
tliey ran back a few paces, but soon again resumed
their courage. When about fitly or sixty had assem-
bled, I came to where three young squaws were
repairing one of the stages erected for the purpose
of exposing the buffalo skins to dry, whilst they
are in preparation. The squaws, seeing the chil-
dren run after me, spoke to them in a command-
ing tone, when they instantly stopped, and not
one followed me afterwards. I doubt much if such
a crowd of children, in any European city, would
have obeyed with such promptness, had such a
phenomenon appeared among them, as they must
have considered me. On arriving at the summit
of the bluffs, I had a fine view of the town below.
It had a singular appearance. The frame work of
the lodges consists of ten or twelve long poles,
placed in the periphery of a circle of about sixteen
feet in diameter, and are inclined towards each
other, so as to cross at a little more than half their
length from the bottom ; and the tops diverging
with the same angle, exhibit the appearance of one
cone inverted on the apex of another. The lower
cone is covered with dressed buffalo skins, sewed
together, and fancifully painted ; some with an
undulating red or yellow band, of ten or twelve
inches in breadth, surrounding the lodge at half
its height ; in others, rude figures of horses, buf-
faloe or deer were painted j others again with at-
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 75
tempts at the human face, in a circle, as the moon
is sometimes painted ; these were not less than
four feet in diameter. I judged there were not
fewer than eighty lodges. I did not remain long on
the summit of the bluffs, as I perceived, from
the heaps of earth, some of these recent, that it
was the burial ground, and I knew the veneration
they have for the graves of their ancestors. I pro-
ceeded along the bluffs, and was very successful
in my researches, but had not been long employed,
when I saw an old Indian galloping towards me.
He came up and sliook hands with me, and point-
ing to the plants I had collected, said, *' Bon
pour manger /"' to which I replied, " We pas bon."
He then said, " Boji jjoi/r medicine /"' I replied
"Oui.'* He again shook hands and rode away,
leaving me somewhat surprised at being addressed
in French by an Indian. On my return through the
village, I was stopped by a group of squaws, who
invited me veri/ kindly into their lodges, calling
me wakendaga, or as it is pronounced, wa-ken-
da-ga (physician.) I declined accepting their invi-
tation, showing them that the sun was near setting,
and that it would be night before I could reach
the boats. They then invited me to stay all night :
this also I declined, but suffered them to examine
my plants, for all of which I found they had names.
On my way to the boats, I met a number of In-
dians returning to the village, all of whom shook
76 TRAVELS IN THE
hands with me. Two of them informed me that
they had seen me at St. Louis, and at the same
time gave me satisfactory proofs of it.* I did not
reach the boats until it was dark.
13th. — In the forenoon of this day, Mr. Hunt was
Waited upon by two chiefs, who were contending
for the sanction of the government of the United
States, to determine their claim to kingly power.
Mr. Hunt declined interfering, not being vested
with the powers to act. The names of these two
chiefs were the Big Elk and the White Cow, the
former of whom ultimately succeeded, and has since
signalized himself by a fine specimen of Indian elo-
quence, at the funeral of a Sioux chief, in the
* The Indians are remarkable for streng'th of memory in this
particular. They will remember a man whom they have only
transiently seen, for a great number of years, and perhaps never
during- their lives forget him. I had no recollection of these In-
dians, but they pointed down the river to St. Louis : afterwards
they took up the corner of the buffalo robe, held it before their
faces, and turned it over as a man does a newspaper in reading
it. This action will be explained by relating that I frequented
the printing-office of Mr. Joseph Charless, when at St. Louis,
to read the papers from the United States, when it often happen-
ed that the Indians at that place on business came into the office
and sat down. Mr. Charless, out of pleasantry, would hand to
each a newspaper, which, out of respect for the custom of the
whites, they examined with as much attention as if they could
read it, turning it over at the same time that they saw me turn
that with which 1 wls engaged.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 77
Missouri territory.* The Mahas seem very friend-
ly to the whites, and cultivate corn, beans, melons,
squashes, and a small species of tobacco (iiicotiana
rustica.J In 181)2 they were visited by the small-
pox, which made dreadful havoc, and destroyed
at least two thirds of the whole nation. At present
they muster nearly two hundred warriors, and from
the great number of children, I judge that they are
again increasing. In stature they are much in-
ferior to the Osages, although I noticed several
whom I thouffht would reach to six feet. Their
hunting ground is from iheir village to VEau qui
Courts and along that river.
14th. — This day three Sioux Indians arrived, of
the Yankton Ahna tribe, who reported that several
nations of the Sioux were assembling higher up the
river, with an intention to oppose our progress.
This news was concealed as much as possible from
the voi/ageurSy and we prepared for our departure
on the following morning.
15th. — We embarked early, and passed Floyd's
Bluffs, so named from a person of the name of Floyd
(one of Messrs. Lewis and Clarke's party) having
been buried there. In the course of this day, I was
informed by Mr. M'Kenzie, that in the night of the
* See Appendix, No. II.
78 TRAVELS IN THE
7th instant, during our journey to the Ottoes,
eleven Sioux Indians, who had given or devoted
their clothes to the medicine^* ran into the camp
with their tomahawks in their hands, and were in-
stantly surrounded and taken prisoners. The
leader, finding the party on their guard, and much
stronger probably than he expected, immediately
cried out to his followers in their language, ** My
children, do not hurt the white people.*' As the
party were fully apprized of the murderous inten-
tions of these miscreants, the general voice was
for putting them to death ; but Mr. Hunt would
not consent to it, and ordered that they should be
conveyed over the river in one of the boats, at the
same time informing them, that if they were again
caught by the party, every man should be sacri-
ficed. From a coincidence of time and circum-
stances, it appeared almost certain that it was this
party that had crossed the Missouri, near the
mouth of the river Platte, in the canoe of which
we saw the skeleton on the 28th of April ; and that
it was also this party that was discovered by Rogers
* V/hen a party on a war excursion are entirely foiled in their
object, a dread of the scoffs which may be expected from their
tribe, renders them furious ; and it often happens in such cases,
that they throw away their clothes, or devote them to the Great
Spirit, with an intention to do some desperate act. Any white
man, or any party of whites, whom they meet and can overcome,
is almost certain to be sacrificed in this case.
/
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 79
hovering about the Otto village, as the Sioux are
at war with the Ottoes : it therefore appeared that
Mr. Crooks and myself had run a greater risk than
we were sensible of at the time.
I6th, 17th, and 18th. — We had a fair wind, and
made considerable progress up the river ; few op-
portunities were therefore afforded for walking. I
regretted this circumstance, as the bluffs had a
very interesting appearance. During a short ex-
cursion, I was enabled to ascertain that the lower
part of the bluffs was impregnated with sulphur,
mixed with sulphate of iron and selenite crystals.
19th. — About nine o'clock we observed three
buffalo cows and a calf swimming across the river.
Two of them and the calf were killed j but we
found them to be so poor that we only preserved
the calf.
20th. — We were stopped all day by a strong head
wind. I availed myself of this circumstance, and
was very successful in my researches. We found
that the river was rising rapidly ; it rose during
this day more than three feet : we therefore con-
eluded that this was the commencement of the
annual flood of the Missouri, occasioned by the
melting of the snow on the Rocky Mountains.
80 TRAVELS IN THE
2 1 St. — The river continued to rise, and the cur-
rent to increase in rapidity : the navigation was
therefore rendered very difficult. I walked the
greatest part of the day, chiefly on the bluffs, and
found the summits for the most part covered with
gravel, containing tumblers of feltspar, granite,
and some porphyry.
22d. — In the morning our hunters killed three
buffaloe and two elks on an island ; and as we were
now arriving at the country of our enemies, the
Sioux, it was determined that they should in a great
measure confine themselves to the islands, in their
sear-ch for game. We dined at the commencement
of a beautiful prairie ; afterwards I went to the
bluffs, and proceeded along them till near evening.
On regaining the bank of the river, I walked down
to meet the boats, but did not find them until a
considerable time after it was dark, as they had
stopped early in the afternoon, having met with a
canoe, in which were two hunters of the names of
Jones and Carson, who had been two years near
the head of the Missouri. These men agreed to
join the party, and were considered as a valuable
acquisition ; any accession of strength being now
desirable. This day, for the first time, I was
much annoyed by the abundance of the prickly
pear. Against the thorns of this plant I found that
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 81
mockasons are but a slight defence. I observed
two species, cactus opimtia and mamillaris,
23d. — When on the bluffs yesterday, I observed
in the river an extensive bend, and determined to
travel across the neck, I therefore did not embark
with the boats, but filled my shot pouch with
parched corn, and set out, but not without being
reminded by Mr. Hunt that we were now in an en-
emy's country. In about two hours I had entirely
passed the range of hills forming the boundary
of the Missouri ; and as I had before experienced,
I found the soil and face of the country to improve
very much as we proceed from the river. The
hills here are only gentle swellings, and, together
with the intervening valleys, were covered with
the most beautiful verdure. At a small distance
from my route I noticed a space, of several acres
in extent, of a more vivid green than the surround-
ing prairie, and on my nearer approach it had the
appearance of a rabbit burrow. From the previous
descriptions given by the hunters, I immediately
conceived it to be, what it proved, a colony of the
prairie dog.* The little animals had taken the
alarm before I reached their settlement, and were
sitting singly on the small hillocks of earth at the
* A species of tchirus or squirrel, not described in the Syst.
Natiira.
82 TRAVELS IN THE
mouth of their holes. They were very clamoroiTS>
uttering a cry which had some resemblance to a
shrill barking. I fired at several, but at the instant
of the flash, they darted with surprising quickness
into their holes, before the shot could reach them.
I soon found the impossibility of procuring one
with shot only, as unless they are instantaneously
killed, they are certain to get into their holes, from
the edges of which they never wander if a man is
in sight. I continued to travel through this charm-
ing country till near the middle of the afternoon,
when I again came to the bluffs of the Missouri*
where, amongst a number of new plants, I found a
fine species of rihes, or currant. As it was now
time to look for the boats, I went to the river and
proceeded down the bank, in the expectation of
meeting them. I had probably travelled about two
miles, when suddenly I felt a hand laid upon my
shoulder, and turning round, saw a naked Indian
with his bow bent, and the arrow pointed towards
me. As I had no expectation of meeting any Indi-
ans exoepting the Sioux, and as with them the idea
of danger was associated, I took my gun from my
shoulder, and by a kind of spontaneous movement
put my hand towards the lock, when I perceived
that the Indian drew his bow still farther. I now
found myself completely in his power ; but recol-
lecting that if an enemy, he would have shot me
before I saw him, I held out my hand, which he
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. fiS
took, and afterwards laid his hand on my breast,
and in the Osage language said " Moi-he ton-ga
de-ah," literally in English, " Big Knife you ?"*
which I luckily understoodand answered, *' Hoya^^*
(Yes) and laying my hand on his breast, said, " A'o-
do-ivessie de-ah^^ (Sioux you.) He replied, " Hon-
keska ponca we ah^" (No, Poncarme.) He then
pointed up the river, and I saw two other Indians
running towards us, and not more than fifty yards
distant. They soon came up, and all the three laid
hold of me, pointing over the bluffs, and making
signs that I should go with them. I resisted and
pushed off their hands. As the river had overflowed
where we stood, I pointed to a sand-hill a small dis-
tance from us, to which we went and sat down. I
amused them with my pocket compass for some
time, when they again seized me, and I still resist-
ed, and took out a small microscope. This amused
them for some time longer, when on a sudden one
of them leaped up and gave the war whoop. I laid
hold of my gun, with an intention to defend my-
self, but was instantly relieved from apprehension
by his pointing down the river, and I perceived
the mast of one of the boats appear over the wil-
lows. The Indians seemed very much inclined to
run away, but I invited them to accompany me to
* The Americans are called " the Bijf Knives " by the Indians
ftf the Missouri.
8-1 TRAVELS IN THE
the boats, and shewed them by signs that I would
give them something to drink, which they com-
plied with, but soon after disappeared. We tra-
velled very late this evening, and encamped above
the mouth of a small creek. It appeared that the
three Indians went to inform their nation, as in the
morning a number of them came to our c-amp, and
also a white man, with a letter to Mr. Hunt from
Mr. Lisa, one of the Missouri Fur Company, for
whom he was agent. Mr. Lisa had arrived at the
Mahas some days after we left, and had dispatched
this man by land. It appeared he had been ap-
prised of the hostile intentions of the Sioux, and
the purport of the letter was to prevail on Mr.
Hunt to wait for him, that they might, for mutual
safety, travel together on that part of the river
which those blood thirsty savages frequent. It was
judged expedient to trade with the Indians for
some jerked buffalo meat, and more than 1000 lbs.
was obtained for as much tobacco as cost two dol-
lars. About noon we set out, and at the distance
of a league passed the mouth of the river called
L*Eau qi|i Court, or Rapid River.
25th. — It was discovered early this morning,
that two men who had engaged at the Mahas, and
had received equipments to a considerable value,
had deserted in the night. As it was known that
one of them could not swim, and we had passed a
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 85
large creek about a league below, our party went
in pursuit of them, but without success.
^26th. — Whilst at breakfast on a beautiful part of
the river, we observed two canoes descending on
the opposite side. In one, by the help of our glasses,
we ascertained there were two white men, and in
the other only one. A gun was discharged, when
they discovered us, and crossed over. We found
them to be three men belonging to Kentucky,
whose names were Robinson, Hauberk, and Ree-
soner. They had been several years hunting on
and beyond the Rocky Mountains, until they ima'
gined they were tired of the hunting life ; and
having families and good plantations in Kentucky,
were returning to them ; but on seing us, families,
plantations, and all vanished ; they agreed to join
us, and turned their canoes adrift. We were glad
of this addition to our number, as the Poncars had
confirmed all that we had heard respecting the hos-
tile disposition of the Nodowessies, or Sioux, to^
wards us, with the additional information, that five
nations or tribes had already assembled, with a
determination to cut us off. Robinson was sixty-
six years of age, and was one of the first settlers in
Kentucky. He had been in several engagements
with the Indians there, who really made it to the
first settlers, what its name imports, " The Bloody
Ground." In one of these engagements he was
86 TRAVELS IN THE
scalped, and has since been obliged to wear a hand-
J^rchief on his head to protect the part. The wind
being fair, we this day made considerable progress,
and had many fine views of the bluffs, along which,
from the L*Eau qui Court, we observed excellent
roads made by the buffaloes. These roads I had
frequent opportunities of examining, and am of
opinion that no engineer could have laid them out
more judiciously.
27th. — The weather continues fine, as it has
been for the last fortnight, and is delightful. For
some days past it has been very warm, and the car-
cases of drowned buffaloes on the islands and
shores of the river become extremely offensive. We
had a fine breeze from the S. E. and made all the
sail the extreme cowardice of our Canadians would
permit, in order to reach Little Cedar Island,* as
it was intended that we should stop there to pro-
cure new masts, some of our old ones being defec-
tive. Late in the evening we accomplished our
purpose to the joy ©four voyageurs, who frequently
in the course of the day, when the boats heeled,
cried out in agony, ** 0 mon Dieu ! abattez
•voile.** As we had now in our party five men who
had traversed the Rocky Mountains in various di-
* One thousand and seventy-five miles from the mouth of the
Missouri.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. §7
rectlons, the best possible route in which to cross
them became a subject of anxious enquiry. They
all agreed that the route followed by Lewis and
Clarke was very far from being the best, and that to
the southward, where the head waters of the Platte
and Roche Jaune rivers rise, they had discovered
a route much less difficult. This information in-
duced Mr. Hunt to change his plan, which had
originally been to ascend the Missouri to the Roche
Jaune river, one thousand eight hundred and eighty
miles from the mouth, and at that place to com-
mence his journey by land. It was now concluded
that it would be more adviseable to abandon the
Missouri at the Aricara Town, four hundred and
fifty miles lower down the riv«r.
2Sth. — We arose at day-break, and the men soon
found trees suitable for masts. Whilst they were
preparing them, I employed myself in examining
this delightful spot. The island is about three
quarters of a mile in length, and five hundred
yards in width. The middle part is covered
with the finest cedar, round which there is a
border from sixty to eighty yards in width, in
which were innumerable clumps of rose and
currant bushes, mixed with grape vines, all
in flower, and extremely fragrant. The cur-
rant is a new and elegant species, and is described
8S TRAVELS IN THE
by Pursh* as ribes aureum. Betwixt the clumps
and amongst the cedars, the buffaloes, elks, and
antelopes had made paths, which were covered with
grass and flowers. I have never seen a place, how-
ever embellished by art, equal to this in beauty. In
a few hours the masts were completed, and we pro-
ceeded on our voyage with a fine breeze in our
favour. Since our departure from L*Eau qui
Court, I noticed that the bluffs had gradually
continued to change in appearance. The quantity
of alluvion on the border of the river decreased as
we proceeded, and has now entirely vanished. The
bluffs continue in a regular declivity from their
summits to the edge of the river, and the narrow-
ness of the valley indicates a country formed of
such hard materials as to oppose considerable re-
sistance to the abrasion of the river. On these bluffs,
and at about half the distance from the summit to
the river, I began to notice a number of places of
a deep brown colour, apparently divested of vege-
tation. They occurred on both sides of the river,
with an exact correspondence in altitude and
breadth, and exhibited the appearance of two in-
terrupted lines running as far as the bluffs could be
seen. As we were now in an enemy's country, it
* This man has been suffered to examine the collection of
speciiiieus which I sent to Liverpool, and to describe almost the
whole, thereby depriving me both of the credit and profit of
what was justly due to me.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 89
was with reluctance Mr. Hunt suffered me to land
a little before dinner, when I proceeded to examine
one of these spots. I found it almost entirely co-
A'ered with iron ore, of that species called by Kir-
wan compact iron stone ; in Waller Syst. 2, p. 1 44,
hcemat'itis solidus. Its specific gravity is 3.482.
The oxidation of the ore had so changed the earth,
that it resembled Spanish brown, and nothing
grew on it but a few scattered shrubs of a species
of artemisia, apparently a non-descript. I hasten-
ed to the boats, in which we kept our sails up the
rest of the day, the bodies of ore becoming longer
and more frequent as we proceeded. We travelled
eighteen miles, and encamped one hour after sunset.
29th. — Some arrangements being necessary, the
boats did not set out so early as usual, and day-
light opened to our view one of the most interest-
ing prospects I had ever seen. We had encamped
a,t the commencement of a stretch of the river,
about fifteen miles in length, as we judged, and
nearly in a right line. The bluffs on both sides
formed, as before, a gentle slope to the river, and
not a single tree was visible. The body of iron ore
had now become continuous on both sides of the
river, and exhibited the appearance of two dark
brown stripes, about one hundred yards in breadth,
and fifteen miles long. The exact conformity of
the two lir.es, and the contrast of colour produced
90 TRAVELS IN THE
by the vivid green which bounded them, formed a
coup d'oeil which I have never seen paralleled. I
lamented much that the wind was fair, but availed
myself of the short delay, and hastened up the bluff
to the vein of ore, where, although the soil was so
strongly impregnated with iron as to resemble rust,
I observed a number of large white flowers on the
ground, belonging to a new species of cenothera^
having neither stem nor scape, the flower sitting
immediately on the root. On a signal being given
from the boats, I was obliged to return, and had no
further opportunity to examine this enormous body
of ore, without doubt sufficient to supply the whole
of North America with iron for thousands of years :
and if we combine in the same view the abundance
of coal on the Missouri, it warrants a presumption
that in some future age it will become an object of
vast national importance.
SOth. — We set out this morning with a favoura-
ble wind, which continued during the whole of
the day ; and the course of the river being less
crooked than usual, we made thirty miles, and slept
on an island^^
31st. — Before breakfast this morning we dis-
covered two Indians on a bluff on the north-east
side of the river : we stopped opposite to them to
breakfast, during which they frequently harangued
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 91
US in a loud tone of voice. After we had break-
fasted, Mr. Hunt crossed the river to speak to them,
and took with him Dorion, the interpreter. We
noticed, that when he landed, one of the Indians
went away, but immediately after re-appeared on
horseback, and went at full speed over the bluffs.
Mr. Hunt informed us on his return, that these In-
dians belonged to the Sioux nations ; that three
tribes were encamped about a league from us, and
had two hundred and eighty lodges. They were
the Yangtons Ahnah, the Tetons Bois Brule, and
the Tetons Min-na-kine-azzo. The Indian inform-
ed Mr. Hunt that they had been waiting for us
eleven days, with a decided intention of opposing
our progress, as they would suffer no one to trade
with the Ricaras, Mandans, and Minaterees, being
at war with those nations. It is usual to reckon
two warriors to each lodge ; we therefore found that
we had to oppose near six hundred savages, with
the character of whom we were well acquainted j*
* In the statistical account of the Missouri, by Lewis, read
before Congress in February, 1806, the character of these In-
dians is thus described : — " These are the vilest miscreants of
thesavasi^e race, and must ever remain the pirates of the Missouri,
until such measures are pursued by our £fovernment as will make
them feel a dependence on its will for their supply of merchan-
dize. Unless these people are reduced to order by coercive
measures, I am ready to pronounce that the citizens of the Unit-
ed States can never enjoy, but partially, the advantages which the
Missouri presents. Uelying on a regular supply of merchandize
92 TRAVELS IN THE
and it had also been stated by the Indian that they
were in daily expectation of being joined by two
other tribes, Tetons Okandandas and Tetons Sa-
hone. We proceeded up the river, and passed
along an island, which for about half an hour in-
tercepted our view of the north-east side of the
river. On reaching the upper point we had a view
of the bluffs, and saw the Indians pouring down
in great numbers, some on horseback, and others
on foot. They soon took possession of a point
a little above us, and ranged themselves along the
bank of the river. By the help of our glasses, we
could perceive that they were all armed and paint-
ed for war. Their arms consisted chiefly of bows
and arrows, but a few had short carbines : they
were also provided with round shields. We had an
ample sufficiency of arms for the whole party, which
through the channel of the river St. Peters, they view with con-
tempt the merrhants of the Missouri, whom they never fail to
plunder when in their power. Persuasion or advice with them
is viewed as supplication, and only tends to inspire them with
contempt for those who otter either. The tanieness with whi'^h
the traders of the Missouri have heretofore submitted to their
rapacity, has tended not a little to inspire them with a poor opi-
nion of the white persons who visit them throug-h that channel.
A prevalent idea, and one which they make the rule of their con-
duct, is, that the more harshly they behave towards the traders,
the greater the quantity of merchandize they will brittg them,
and that they will obtain the articles they wish on better terms.
They have endeavoured to inspire ihe Aricsras with similar sen-
timents, but happily without ettect."
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 93
now consisted of sixty men ; and besides our small
arms, we had a swivel and two howitzers. Any
attempt to avoid the Indians would have been
abortive, as a boat, in ascending the Missouri,
can only effect it by going along the edges of the
river, it being wholly impossible to stem the mid-
dle current ; and as the banks are in many places
high and perpendicular, we must inevitably be
frequently in their power, as they might several
times in the course of a day shower a volley of
arrows upon us, and retire unseen. Our alter-
native, therefore, was, as we supposed, either to
fijrht them or return. The former was immediately
decided on, and we landed nearly opposite to the
main body. Our first care was to put all the arms
in complete order : afterwards the swivel and the
howitzers were loaded with powder only, and fired
to impress them with an idea that we were well
prepared. They were then heavily loaded, and
with as many bullets as it was supposed they would
bear, after which we crossed the river. When we
arrived within about one hundred yards of them,
the boats were stationed, and all seized their
arms. Tlie Indians now seemed to be in confu«
sion, and when we rose up to fire, they spread
their buffaloe robes before them, and moved them
from side to side. Our intei*preter called out, and
desired us not to fire, as the action indicated, on
their part, a wish to avoid an engagement, and to
94 TRAVELS IN THE
come to a parley. We accordingly desisted, and
saw about fourteen of the chiefs separate them-
selves from the crowd who were on the summit of
the bank, and descend to the edge of the river,
where they sat down on the sand, forming them-
selves into a portion of a circle, in the centre of
which we could see preparations making to kindle
a tire, evidently with a design to smoke the calu-
met with us, and signs were made, inviting us to
land. Mr. Hunt requested that Messrs. Crooks,
M'Kenzie, Miller, and M'Clellan would attend
him in his boat, and I accompanied Mr. M'Ken-
zie. The object was to consider whether it was
advisable to put so much coniidence in so fero-
cious and faithless a set, as to accept the invita-
tion. It did not require much dehberation, as
we found ourselves under the necessity of either
fighting or treating with them ; it was therefore
determined to hazard the experiment of going
ashore. The party who remained in the boats
were ordered to continue in readiness to fire on the
Indians instantly, in case of treachery, and Messrs.
Hunt, M'Kenzie, Crooks, Miller, and M'Clellan,
with the interpreter and myself, went ashore., ^
We found the chiefs sitting where they had first
placed themselves, as motionless as statues ; and
without any hesitation or delay, we sat down on
the sand in such a manner as to complete the
circle.^ When we were all seated, the4)ipe was
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 95
brought by an Indian, who seemed to act as priest
on this occasion : he stepped within the circle, and
lighted the pipe. The head was made of a red
stone, known by mineralogists under the term
of killas, and is often found to accompany copper
ore : it is procured on the river St. Peter*s, one of
the principal branches of the Mississippi. The
stem of the pipe was at least six feet in length,
and highly decorated with tufts of horse hair, dyed
red. After the pipe was lighted, he held it up to-
wards the sun, and afterwards pointed it towards
the sky in different directions. He then handed
it to the great chief, who smoked a few whiffs,
and taking the head of the pipe in his hand, com-
menced by applying the other end to the lips of
Mr. Hunt, and afterwards did the same to every
one in the circle. ^\n;ien this ceremony was end-
ed, Mr. Hunt rose, and made a speech in French,
which was translated as he proceeded into the Sioux
language, by Dorion. The purport of the speech
was to state, that the object of our voyage up the
Missouri was not to trade ; that several of our
brothers had gone to the great salt lake in the west,
whom we had not seen for eleven moons ; that
we had come from the great salt lake in the east,
on our way to see our brothers, for whom we had
been crying ever since they left us ; and our lives
were now become so miserable for the want of our
brothers, that we would rather die tlian not go to
90 TRAVELS IN THE
them, and would kill every man that should op-
pose our passage : that we liad heard of their
design to prevent our passage up the river, but we
did not wish to believe it, as we were determined
to persist, and were, as they might see, well pre-
pared to effect our purpose ; but as a proof of our
pacific intentions, we had brought them a present
of tobacco and corn. About fifteen carrottes of
tobacco, and as many bags of corn, were now
brought from the boat, and laid in a heap near the
great chief, who then rose and began a speech,
which was repeated in French by Dorion, He
commenced by stating that they w^ere at war with
the Ricaras, Mandans, and Gros Ventres or Mi-
naterees, and that it would be an injury to them
if these nations were furnished with arms and am-
munition ; but as they found we were only going
to our brothers, they would not attempt to stop us :
that he also had brothers at a considerable distance
northward, whom he had not seen for a great ma-
ny moons, and for whom he also had been crying.
He professed himself satisfied with our present,
and advised us to encamp on the other side of the
river, for fear his young men should be trouble-
some. When the speech was ended, we all rose,
shook hands, and returned to the boats. During
the conference, I had an opportunity of noticing
these Indians, a great number of whom were as-
sembled on the bank above us, and observed that
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 9?
they are in stature considerably below the Osages,
Mahas, and Poncars, and much less robust. They
are also more deficient in clothing and ornaments,
a considerable number being entirely naked, but all
armed. Several of our party were acquainted with
these tribes, and represent them much as described
by Lewis. Although the squaws are very ill treat-
ed by all Indians, it is said they are treated much
worse by the Sioux than any other tribe, whence it
follows that mothers frequently destroy their female
children, alleging as a reason, that it is better
they should die than contiime a life so miserable as
that to which they are doomed. Amongst the
Sioux women, it is also said, suicide is not unfre-
quent, and the mode which they adopt to put an
end to their existence, is, by hanging themselves.
They are of opinion that suicide is displeasing to
the Father of LifCy and believe it will be punished
in the land of sinrits by their ghosts being doomed
for ever to drag tlie tree on which they hung them-
selves : for this reason they always suspend them-
selves to as small a tree as can possibly sustain their
weight. In the course of the afternoon we met a
chief who belonged to a party of Teton Okandandas,
which consisted, he said, of thirty lodges. He
requested to have a passage in the boats for the
remainder of the day. It was granted to him, and
he remained with us during the night.
G
9S TRAVELS IN THE
June 1. — This morning the old chief was con-
veyed over the river, and landed on the opposite
side, as he said he expected to meet his people,
but we did not see him again. In the afternoon
we entered upon the Great Bend, or, as the Frencli
call it, the Grand Detour, and encamped about
five miles above tlie lower entrance. This bend is-
said to be twenty-one miles in circuit by the course
of the river, and only nineteen hundred yards
across the neck.
2d. — In the morning early we discovered twa
Indians standing on the bluffs, who upon discover-
ing us, spread their buffalo robes to denote that
they were amicably inclined towards us. We
crossed over the river, and when we approached
them, they extended their arms in a horizontal
position. This action, I was informed, was an
appeal to our clemency. When we landed they
showed evident symptoms of alarm.. This was
soon accounted for by Messrs. Crooks, M'Clellan,
and Miller, who informed us that they knew these
fellows, and that they were chiefs of the Sahonies
and Okanandans, who the year preceding had
behaved extremely ill, by plundering and other-
wise maltreating them, in such a manner as to
render it necessary for their safety to escape down
the river in the night, and abandon the trade with
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. QO
the upper Indians for that year, whicli had been a
great loss to them. They seemed very apprehen-
sive that Mr. Crooks would now resent their con-
duct ; but after we had smoked with them they
became more tranquil. During the smoking, Mr.
Hunt asked them why they killed white men, as
he heard that they had killed three during the last
summer ? They replied, because the white men
kill us : that man (pointing to Carson) killed one
of our brothers last summer. This was tiue. Car-
son, who was at that time among the Ricaras,
fired across the Missouri at a war party of Sioux,
and it was by a very extraordinary chance he killed
one of them, as the river is full half a mile in
breadth, and in retaliation the Sioux killed three
white men. I observed that, as before, in smoking
the pipe they did not make use of tobacco, but the
bark of comus sangimiea^ or red dog wood, mixed
with the leaves of rims glabrum, or smooth sumach.
This mixture tliey call kinnikineck. After we had
smoked, they spoke of the poverty of their tribes,
and concluded by saying they expected a present.
A few carrottes of tobacco and bags of corn were
laid at their feet, with which they appeared satisfied.
As these were the last of the Sioux tribes we ex-
pected to meet, I now determined to walk all day,
and was much pleased that the restraint imposed
on me by the proximity of these vagabonds was
100 TRAVELS IN THE
removed. I therefore proceeded up the bluffs
nearly abreast of the boats. In about a quarter
of an hour afterwards two other Indians rode
hastily past nie, and overtook the boats. I obser-
ved that they had a short conference with Mr.
Hunt, when they turned their horses about, and
again rode past me, seemingly in a rage. Mr.
Hunt called to me, and requested that I would
come on board instantly, when he informed me
that these fellows were also chiefs, and had seen
our presents, with which they were much dissatis-
fied, and in consequence had followed the boats
to extort more. In reply to their insolent demands,
Mr. Hunt informed them that *' he had given all
he intended to gWey and would give no more,'*
adding, "that he was much displeased by their
importunity, and if they or any of their nation
again followed us with similar demands, he would
consider them as enemies, and treat them as such."
As we were not exactly acquainted with the
strength of these two tribes, and expected that,
in consequence of the disappointment in their rapa-
cious demands, they would attack us, it was ar-
ranged that the large boat should ascend on the
N. E. side of the river, and the three small boats on
the S. W. as the bluffs on either side of the river can
be seen much better from the opposite side ; and
it was agreed that the signal on seeing Indians
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 101
should be two shots fired in quick succession. As
we had not much apprehension of being attacked
on the S. W. side, 1 went ashore after dinner, and
continued along the river nearly on a line with the
boats, and about four o'clock heard the signal given
of Indians being seen. I instantly ran towards the
boats, and arrived as they were preparing to quit
the shore to aid Mr. Hunt and his party in the
large boat, w^ho were then apparently in the most
imminent danger. They had passed betwixt a
large sand bar and the shore, and it was evident to
us that at that juncture they found the water too
shallow at the upper end, and were under the
necessity of turning back. The sand bar prevented
the possibility of putting out into the river, and we
saw with horror that at least a hundred Indians had
arrived on the bank at the lower end of the bar :
we could also perceive that they were a w'ar party,
as they were painted with black and white sti'ipes,
and all had shields* We had every reason to con-
clude that these were the Teton Okandandas and
the Teton Sahonies, and our anxiety for the safety
* It may be observed here, that all the Indians who inhabit
the prairie use shields in war ; but to those who inhabit a woody
region they are wholly unknown: as in action, excepting- in
close fight, each man conceals himself behind a tree. The shields
made use of are circular, and are nearly thirty inches in diame-
ter. They are covered with three or four folds of buffalo skin,
dried hard in the sun, and are proof ag-ainst arrows, but ndt
against a bullets
10^ TRAVELS IN THE
of Mr. Hunt and the party in the large boat was
indescribable when we saw large bodies of Indians
every moment arrive at the point near which he
must unavoidably pass, before we could possibly
give him any assistance : but our anxiety was
changed to surprise on seeing the boat pass within
a short distance of them unmolested ; soon after
which the Indians ran along the bank to the upper
end of the sand bar, threw down their arms, their
shields, and their buffalo robes, and plunged into
the river in crowds to meet us ; and before we
could reach the sand bar, they were round our
boats, holding up their hands in such numbers,
that it became tiresome to shake hands with so
many. We now found that this was a war party,
consisting of Aricaras, Mandans, and Minetarees,
or Gros Ventres, who were coming against the
Sioux, and having discovered us, had determined
for the present to abandon the enterprise, expecting
that on our arrival at the Aricara Town they
should obtain a supply of fire arms and ammunition,
which would give them a superiority over their
enemies. During the ceremony of shaking hands
we were joined by the large boat^ audit was agreed
that we should encamp at the first convenient place.
We soon found one that was suitable, and the In-
dians fixed their camp about one hundred yards
from ours. I now ascertained that the party con-
sisted of nearly three hundred warriors. As we
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 1 OS
liad plenty of provisions, a supply was given to the
Indians, who prepared their supper, after which
the chiefs and principal warriors came to our tents.
In Mr. M'Kenzie's tent there were seven of them>
none of whom appeared to me to be lower than five
feet ten inches, and some were more than six feet.
Most of them had very good countenances, differing
from the heavy face of the Osage, and the keen
visage of the Sioux. One of them who had an
aquiline nose, had a scarified line running along
each arm, which met on his stcwnach. This our
inteipreter informed us was done to show his grief
for the death of his father. Whilst I was endea-
vouring to converse with him, an Indian boy came
into the tent, and handed water round to the chiefs
in a gourd shell tied to the end of a stick. He
spoke to the boy, who went out, but soon returned
with a new pair of ornamented mockasons, and
banded them to the wai'rior, who it tlien appeared
had observed that mine were dirty and much worn,
as he took them off my feet, and put on the new
pair, which he tied himself. Observing that he
had a short carbine and powder fiask, I begged to
look at the latter, and finding it only contained a
very small quantity of powder, I immediately filled
it from my own flask. He was greatly pleased with
the acquisition of so much powder, and informed
me that he was a Ricara, and should meet me at
their town, where we should be brothers. We
104 TRAVELS IN THE
were interrupted by one of the chiefs crying
*' How," which signifies among the Indians, "Come
on," or " let us begin." Tliis occasioned silence,
and he began to strike on one hand with a war club
which he held in the other. It had a globular
head, on one side of which was fixed the blade of
a knife, five or six inches in length. The head
was hollow, and contained small bits of metal,
which made a jingling noise as he struck it in quick
time. The singing now commenced, and conti-
nued at intervals until past midnight. The song
is very rude, and it does not appear that they com-
bine the expression of ideas with music, the whole
of their singing consisting in the repetition of the
word ha six or seven times in one tone, after
which they rise or fall a third, fourth, or fifth, and
the same in quick time. I observed that their
voices were in perfect unison, and although, ac-
cording to our ideas of music, there was neither
harmony nor melody, yet the effect was pleasing,
as there was evidently system, all the changes of
tone being as exactly conformable in point of time,
as if only one voice had been heard. Whenever
their performance ceased, the termination was
extremely abrupt, by pronouncing the word hoxi) in
a quick and elevated tone.
On the morning of the Sd, the chiefs declared
to Mr. Hunt their intention of immediately return-
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 105
ing to their nation, where they expected to arrive
in three days, although they had been sixteen days
in coming out. They also demanded some arms and
ammunition. This demand, being conformable
to the custom of war parties, had been foreseen,
but was not complied with, Mr. Hunt informing
them, that when we arrived at their nation, w^e
should furnish abundance. After we had left them,
the chief overtook us on horseback, and said that
his people were not satisfied to go home without
some proof of their having seen the white men.
Mr. Hunt could not now resist, and gave him a
cask of powder, a bag of balls, and three dozen of
knives, with which he was much pleased. Whilst
the articles were delivering to him, an Indian came
running up, and informed us that there was a boat
in sight, coming up the river. We immediately
concluded that it was the boat belonging to Manuel
Lisa, and after proceeding five or six miles, we
waited for it. I was much pleased on the boat's
joining us, to find that Mr. Henry Brackenridge
was along with Mr. Lisa ; I became acquainted
with him at St. Louis, and found him a very ami-
able and interesting young man. Mr. Lisa had
made the greatest possible exertions to overtake
us, being well apprised of the hostile disposition
of the Sioux. He had met a boat, which, it ap-
peared, had passed us in the night, and the people
mformed him that they had been fired upon by the
106 TRAVELS IN THE
Indians. As the conjunct party now consisted of
ninety men, and we were approaching the nations
that were at war with the Sioux, our fears ahnost
subsided ; for myself, I was much gratified on
finding the restraints removed which had so long
circumscribed my motions. In the early part of
this day the wind was fair, but after we had pro-
ceeded some miles, it changed to north-east, and
blew so strong, that we could not stem the torrent,
which was increased by the rising of the river. I
went to the bluffs, which in this part are of consi-
derable elevation, but rise in a gentle slope from
the river : near the summit is a stratum of deep
brown-coloured earth, from two to three hundred
feet in breadth, on the declivity of the hill. This
earth appears mostly to consist of decomposed iron
ore, and is evidently a continuation of that seen
near Little Cedar Island, although distant from it
near a hundred miles in a right line. I observed,
that uniformly the flat tops of the hills were almost
covered with masses of stone, chiefly breccia. There
was something so singularly constant in this appear-
ance, that I was tempted to attend to a particular
examination, and became convinced that these
groupes of stone were the passive cause of the hills.
If the group was of an oblong form, the hill was
a ridge ; if it was nearly circular, the hill was a
cone. It would be difficult to describe the sensa-
tions occasioned by a view at once of these hills
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 107
and the valley of the Missouri. The mind is irre-
sistibly impressed with the belief that the v/hole
surface of the surrounding country was once at least
on a level with the tops of these hills ; and that all
below has been carried away by the erosion of wa-
ter, from which it has been protected in the parts
where these stones were collected.* I remarked
this day, that the wolves were more numerous and
more daring than in any former part of our voyage.
Within the last week we frequently saw a few every
day, but now, some of them were almost constant-
ly in sight, and so fearless, as frequently to stand
at no great distance to gaze. For the present, they
were protected by their worthlessness, their skins
being out of season. It appears that in a natural
state, the wolf is a diurnal animal j but in the
neighbourhood of condensed and stationary popu-
lation its habits change, and it becomes nocturnal^
On my route this day I saw numerous colonies of
the prairie dog ; and from the frequency of the
occurrence, I noticed that my approach to their
* An enquiry into the length of time which it has required to
produce this effect, might be a matter of great interest to
the Chinese philosophers.
f During the autumn, whilst the Indians are employed in
killing game for their winter's stock, the wolves associate in
flocks, and follow them at a distance to feed on the refuse of the
carcasses ; and will often sit within view, waiting until the Indians
have taken what they chuse, and abandon the rest.
108 TRAVELS IN THE
burrows was announced by the screams of a species
of curlew. I shot one, and ascertained it to be a
variety of scolopaa: arquata ; and perceived, after
I noticed the fact, that the alarm was invariably
given. On my return to the boats, I found that
some of the leaders of our party were extremely
apprehensive of treachery on the part of Mr. Lisa,
who being now no longer in fear of the Sioux,
they suspected had an intention of quitting us
shortly, and of doing us an injury with the Ari-
caras. Independent of this feeling, it had re-
quired all the address of Mr. Hunt to prevent Mr.
M'Clellan or Mr. Crooks from calling him to
account for instigating the Sioux to treat them ill
the preceding year. Besides, it was believed by
all, that although apparently friendly, he was
anxiously desirous that the expedition should fail.
Lisa had twenty oars, and made much greater ex-
pedition than we could ; it was evident, therefore,
that he had it in his power to leave us, and it was
determined to watch his conduct narrowly.
4th. — The boats did not make much way, and I
walked chiefly on and beyond the bluffs, which I
found of the same description as those observed
yesterday, and on still farther examination, became
more confirmed in my opinion regarding the origin
of the hills. On the summit of one I found some
fragments of bones in a petrified state, apparently
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 109
belonging to the buffalo. I had for some thne past
noticed on the declivities circular spaces of about
six or seven feet in diameter, wholly divested of
every kind of vegetation, and covered with small
gravel. The frequent occurrence of these this day
attracted my more particular attention, and I found
that they were caused by a large species of black
ant, hundreds of which were running in every
direction within the area with astonishing activity.
On finding a large beetle, I put it in the centre of
one of these areas, when it was instantly seized by
those nearest to it. For a short time the ants were
dragged along with ease ; but by some unknown
and surprising faculty the intelligence was imme-
diately spread throughout the whole space : the
ants ran from every direction towards the centre,
and in a few seconds the poor beetle became com-
pletely covered, and escape was impossible.
5th. — We had not proceeded more than four
miles before a very heavy rain commenced, and
we were compelled to stop and fix up the tents.
I went as usual to the bluffs, and on my return to
secure some interesting specimens of plants, found
tli9t Lisa had encamped about one hundred yards
above us. After I had dried my clothes, I again
visited the bluffs in company with Mr. Bracken-
ridge. We discovered on the bank of a small creek
the remains of an Indian encampment, which had
no TRAVELS IN THE
apparently been occupied by a considerable num-
ber, and for some time, as there was a great quan-
tity of bones spread on the ground, and the marks
where the wigwams stood were numerous. We
agreed that the situation was judiciously chosen to
prevent surprise. On ascending the hills, and look-
ing over the summit, we observed near us a small
herd of buffaloes, consisting of two cows and three
bulls. We immediately drew back, and taking
advantage of a ravine, approached williin thirty or
forty yards, and fired. We wounded one of the
cows, which Mr. Brackenridge pursued. Several
other herds of buffaloes were in view, and some
antelopes or cabri. I found the hills all capped
with stones, and was still more confirmed in my
opinion respecting their formation by observing
some largQ detached blocks, each lying on a small
pyramid of clay. Atler Mr. Brackenridge joined
me, we saw a large hare, lepus variabiliSy the first
I had noticed, and also a number of wolves in
several directions, and returning through an ex-
tensive colony of prairie dogs, we regained the
boats. Immediately on my return to our camp, a
circumstance happened that for some time threat-
ened to produce tragical consequences. We learn-
ed that, during our absence, Mr. Lisa had invited
Dorion, our interpreter, to his boat, where he had
given him some whiskey, and took that opportunity
of avowing his intention to take him away from
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. Ill
Mr. Hunt, in consequence of a debt due by Do-
rion to the Missouri Fur Company, for whom Lisa
was agent. Dorion had often spoken to us of this
debt, and in terms of great indignation at the man-
ner in which it had been incurred, alleging that he
had been charged the most exorbitant prices for
articles had at Fort Mandan, and in particular ten
dollars per quart for whiskey. Some harsh words
having passed betwixt him and Lisa, he returned
to our camp. On the instant of my arrival, Mr.
Lisa came to borrow a cordeau^ or towing-line,
from Mr. Hunt, and being perceived by Dorion,
he instantly sprang out of his tent, and struck
him. Lisa flew into the most violent rage, crying
out, " 0 mon Dieu ! ou est mon couteau /'* and ran
precipitately to his boat. As it was expected he
would return armed, Dorion got a pair of pistols,
and took his ground, the party ranging themselves
in order to witness the event. Soon after Mr.
Lisa appeared without pistols ; but it was observed
that he had his knife in his girdle. As Dorion had
disclosed what had passed in Lisa's boat, Messrs.
Crooks and M'Clellan were each very eager to
take up the quarrel, but were restrained by Mr.
Hunt, until an expression from Lisa, conveying
an imputation upon himself, made him equally
desirous of fighting. He told Lisa that the matter
should be settled by themselves, and desired him
to fetch his pistols. I followed Lisa to his boat,
112 TRAVELS IN THE
accompanied by Mr. Brackenridge, and we with
difficulty prevented a meeting, wliich, in the pre-
sent temper of the parties, would certainly have
been a bloody one.
The river had risen considerably during the
night, and we were now convinced that the floods
we had before encountered, and which were of
short duration, were only partial, and caused by
the rising of the tributary streams that have their
sources in the lower regions. The periodical flood
is occasioned by the melting of the snows on the
Rocky Mountains, and the plains at their feet.
The boats ascended with difficulty, which gave
opportunities for walking the whole of the day. In
the early part, we passed the remains of an old
Aricara village. The scite was indicated by an
embankment, on which tliere had been palHsadoes,
as the remains were still visible. Within the area,
the vestiges of the lodges were very apparent, and
great quantities of bones and fragments of earth-
enware were scattered in every part. The wolves
are still numerous, and are mostly of a light grey
colour, with a few black hairs intermixed on the
hind part of the back : they are seen singly, and
although not timid, show no disposition to attack.
Happening to come on one this day suddenly and
unperceived, I shot him. He was large, and ap-
peared to be old, as his teeth were much worn.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 1 IS
The country beyond the bluffs continues still very
fine, but cut up in many places by deep ravines,
occasioned by torrents during heavy rains. The
sides of these ravines uniformly exhibited an under
stratum of hard yellow clay, of an indeterminate
depth.
7th. — Went out early on the S. W. side, with
some of the hunters, and on reaching the summit
of the bluffs, observed, in a westvvardly direction,
a range of high hills, apparently at the distance
of thirty or forty miles. These, I was informed
by the hunters, bounded the Chien or Chayenne
River. Two buffaloes were killed, and one cabri,
or antelope. The hunter who killed the last assur-
ed me that he had allured it by putting a hand-
kerchief at the end of his ramrod, knd lying down,
continued to wave it, whilst he remained conceal-
ed. The animal, it seems, after a long contest
betwixt curiosity and fear, approached near enough
to become a sacrifice to the forjncr.
8th. — Since the affair of the 5th, our party have
had no intercourse with that of Mr. Lisa, as he
kept at a distance from us, and mostly on the op-
posite side of the river. This deprived me of the
society of my friend Brackenridge. I regretted
this circumstance, and purposed to join him
this morning, but was prevented by our stop-
H
Jlh TRAVELS IN THE
ping on an Island to breakfast, where our hunters
killed two buffaloe and two elks. Of the former we
had for some days past seen a great number of
herds, consisting of from fifty to a hundred in each.
On expressing my surprise at seeing so many, the
hunters assured me, that so far from its being ex-
traordinary, they had been in the expectation of
seeing them in much greater numbers^ Some of
the hunters, who had been six or eight years about
the head of the ^lissouri, said they had seen them
during their annual migrations from north to south
in autumn, and to the northward in spring; and
agreed in stating, that at these times tliey assemble
in vast herds, and march in regular order. Some
asserted that they had been able to distinguish
where the herds were even when beyond the
bounds of the visible horizon, by the vapour which
arose from their bodies. Others stated that they
had seen herds extending many miles in length.
It appeared also to be a well known fact among
them, that in these periodical migrations, they are
much less fearful of the hunter. I must observe
of the hunters, that any accounts which I heard
from them, and afterwards had an opportunity to
prove, I found to be correct ;* and when the great
* During' our voyage, I often associated with the hunters, to
collect infonnation from their united testimony, concerning the
nature and habits of animals, with which no men are so well
INTEIIIPR OF AMERICA. 11.5
extent of this plain,_ and its fertility in grass are
considered, we cannot but admit that; the number
of animals it is capable of containing must be ini»
acquainted. This knowledge is absolutely necessary to thetn,
that they may be able to circumvent or surprise those which are
the objects of chase, and to avoid such as are dangerous ; and
likewise to prevent being surprised by them. They can imitate
the cry or note of any animal found in the American Wilds, so
exactly, as to deceive the animals themselves. I shall here state
a few of what I certainly believe to be facts ; some I know to
be so, and of others 1 have seen strong presumptive proofs. The
opinion of the hunters, respecting the sagacity of the beaver,
goes much beyond the statements of any author whom 1 have
read. They state that an old beaver, who has escaped from a
trap, can scarcely ever afterwards be caught, as travelling in
situations where traps are usually placed, he carries a stick in
his mouth, with which he probes the sides of the river, that
the slick may be caught in the trap, and thus saves himself.
They say also of this animal, that the young are educated by
the old ones. It is well known that in constructing their dams,
the first step the beaver takes, is to cut down a tree that shall
fall across the stream intended to be dammed up. The hunters
in the early part of our voyage informed me, that they had often
found trees near the. edge of a creek, in part cut through and
abandoned ; and always observed that those trees would not have
fallen across the creek, and that by comparing the marks left by
the teeth on those trees, with others, they found them much
smaller ; and therefore not only concluded that they were made
by young beavers, but that the old ones, perceiving their error,
had caused them to desist. They promised to show me proofs
of this, and during our voyage 1 saw several, and in no instance
would the trees, thus abandoned, have fallen across the creek.
I have myself witn(?ssed an instance of a doe, when pursued,
although not many secQnds out of sight, so effectually hide hep
116 TRAVELS IN THE
mense. In the forenoon we passed the mouth of
Chayenne River, where it is four hundred yards in
width. It is described by the hunters as being a
very fine river, and navigable for several hundred
miles. We encamped this night in a beautiful
grove, ornamented with a number of rose and
currant bushes, entwined with grape vines, now
in bloom.
9th. — Mr. M'Clellan, with two of our men, and
three belonging to Lisa, were despatched to the
Aricaras, to apprise them of our coming, and to
see how far it was practicable to procure horses for
the journey by land. Soon after we set out, we
Saw a great number of buffaloe on both sides of the
river, over which several herds were swimming.
Notwithstanding all the efforts made by these poor
animals, the rapidity of the current brought num-
bers of them within a few yards of our boats, and
three were killed. We might have obtained a
fawn, that we could not find it although assisted by a dog. I
mentioned this fact to the hunters, who assured me that no doer,
nor perhaps any beast of prey, can follow a fawn by the scent,
and showed me in a full ^own deer, a gland and a tuft of red
hair, situated a little above the hind part of the fore foot, which
had a very strong smell of musk. This tuft they call the scent,
and belitve that the route of the animal is betrayed by the efflu-
via procpedins from it. This tuft is mercifully withheld until
the animal haa acquired strength. What a benevolent ar-
rangement !
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 1 17
great many more, but for once we did not kill
becaicse it was in our power to do so ; but several
were killed from Lisa's boat. In the evening Mr.
Lisa encamped a little above us, and we were in-
formed by his party, that about sun-set they had
seen six Indians.
10th. — A fine breeze sprang up early in the
day, and we proceeded rapidly. About noon Mr.
M'Clellan and his party appeared on the bank of
the river, having found that they could not reach
the Aricara nation before the boats. About the
middle of the afternoon, we met a canoe with three
Indians. They had come from the Aricaras, where
intelligence of our approach had been brought by
the war paity that met us on the 1st. They had
made a great parade of the presents which they
received from us, and of the exploit which they
had achieved in discovering the white men coming.
They reported that the Mandans, who were of the
party, had urged an attack on Mr. Hunt's boat,
when it was in the situation already described,
which they (the Aricaras) had prevented. They
also stated, that ihe Minetarees, or Gros Ventres
Indians, had killed two white men on the river
above the Missouri Fur Company's fort. We en-
camped three miles above the mouth of the river
Cer-wer-cer-nat after travelling thirty 'five miles.
118 ■ TRAVELS IN THE
11th. — We hoped this day to arrive at the Ari-
faras, but did not derive so much benefit from the
wind as we expected ; and after passing the river
Ma-ra-pa, encamped about six miles below the
town, near an island on which they were formerly
settled.
12th. — During this night we had a severe thun-
der storm, accompanied by torrents of rain, so that
our beds were completely wet. We set out early,
and about half way to the town, met a canoe with
two chiefs, and an interpreter, who is a Frenchman,
and has lived with this tribe more than twenty
years. He married a squaw, and has several chil-
dren. The chiefs were good looking men : one of
them is called the head chief, or king, and is named
by the French Le GaucJie, being left-handed ; the
other is the w^ar chief, and called the Big Man.
The interpreter informed us that the chiefs had
come to a resolution to oppose our fai'ther progress
up the river, unless a boat was left to trade with
them. Mr. Hunt explained to the chiefs the object
of his voyage, and that he would willingly trade
for horses. About ten o'clock we landed on the
north side, opposite the town, or rather towns, as
there are two distinct bands, and their villages are
about eighty yards apart. Our first care was to
spread out the beds and baggage to dry. Whilst
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 119
the men were occupied in this business, the chief
i^iformed us, from the other side of the river, that
he would be ready to meet us in council when we
should chuse to come over. As the river is here
at least eight or nine hundred yards in breadth, it
may appear surprising that he could make himself
understood at so great a distance ; but to those
who have heard the Indian languages spoken, and
who are acquainted with the Indians, it will appear
very credible. In all the Indian languages which
I have heard, every syllable of the compound
words is accented ; as, for instance, the primitive
name of this nation, Starrahe, they pronounce
Star-ra-he. In addition to this construction of
their languages, the Indians have remarkably loud
voices. The leaders of our two parties had not yet
spoken to each other since the affair of the 5th ;
nor had any communication, except through the
medium of Mr. Brackenridge or myself It was
evident that Lisa was still suspected j and M'Clel-
Ian, in particular, carefully watched his motions,
determined to shoot him if he attempted to cross
the river before us, to attend the council of the
Indians, contrary to what had been previously
agreed upon with Mr. Brackenridge on his behalf.
Soon after noon Mr. Hunt manned the large boat,
and with Messrs. M'Kenzie and M'Clellan, went
over the river ; Lisa also attended in his barge.
Mr. Brackenridge and myself were of the party.
120 TRAVELS IN THE
On landing, amongst a crowd of Indians, we were
conducted to the council lodge by some chiefs who
met us ; where we sat down on buffaloe skins pre-
pared for us, and spread on the ground. I noticed
that this lodge was constructed in a manner simi-
lar to those already described, belonging to the
Ottoes. An old Indian lighted the pipe, and hand-
ed it to the chief j after which he squatted himself
on his hams, near the entrance of the lodge. Al-
though there were nearly twenty present, I learned
from Dorion, (near whom I had placed myself)
that several of the chiefs were not yet assembled.
After we had smoked for a short time, Le Gauche,
the chief, spoke to the old Indian at the door, who
went out of the lodge : he soon after appeared on
the top, and was visible to us through the hole
left for the smoke. What the chief dictated to
him from within, he bawled out aloud, with the
lungs of a stentor. I understood that his object
•was to summon the chiefs to council, and it was
promptly obeyed, as in ten minutes all were assem-
bled. I learned that although we had smoked, the
council pipe had not yet been lighted : this was
now done by the same old Indian, who it seems
was both priest and herald. Le Gauche made the
customary appeal to the Great Spirit, by puffing
the smoke in different directions towards heaven
and earth ; after which the pipe was applied to
the lips of each assembled, the chief still holding
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 121
it. He then opened the council by a short speech :
in the first place he spoke of their poverty, but
said that they were very glad to see us, and would
be still more glad to trade with us. Lisa replied,
and expressed his intention to trade, if they did
not rate their bufFaloe and beaver too highly. He
then mentioned Mr. Hunt and his party as his
friends, and said he should join them in resenting
and repelling any injury or insult. Mr. Hunt de-
clared that the object of his journey was not to
trade, but to see our brothers, at the great salt
lake in the west ; for that undertaking he should
now want horses, as he purposed to go thence by
land, and that he had plenty of goods to exchange,
if they would spare the horses. Mr. Lisa and Mr.
Hunt accompanied their speeches by suitable pre-
sents of tobacco. Le Gauche spoke, and expressed
the satisfaction of his people at our coming, and
their attachment to the white men. In respect to
the trade with Mr. Lisa, he wished for more time
to fix the price of dried bufFaloe skins, (usually
called buffaloe robes) being an article they had
most of: his present idea of the price was thirty
loads of powder and ball for each robe. Respect-
ing Mr. Hunt's proposition, he was certain they
could not spare the number of horses that he
understood he wanted ; and that he did not think
they ought to sell any horses. Les YeiLX GriSy
another chief, replied to the latter part of his
IS^ TRAVELS IN THE
s])eech, by stating that they might easily spare
Mr, Hunt a considerable number of horses, as they
could readily replace them by stealing or by
smoking.* These arguments governed the opi-
nions of the chiefs, and it was determined to open
a trade for horses, when they were satisfied with
the price Mr. Hunt purposed to give. The coun-
cil now broke up, and Messrs. Hunt, M'Kenzie,
M*Clellan, Dorion, and myself were conducted
to the lodge of one of their chiefs, where there was
a feast of sweet corn, prepared by boiling, and
mixing it with buffaloe grease. Accustomed as
I now was to the privation of bread and salt, I
thought it very palatable. Sweet cofm is corn ga-
thered before it is ripe, and dried in the sun : it is
called by the Americans green coniy or corn in
the milk. I quitted the feast, in order to examine
the town, which 1 found to be fortified all round
with a ditch, and with pickets or pallisadoes, of
about nine feet high. The lodges are placed
* It was not difficult 1o comprehend that horses might be ob-
tained by slealing, but how they could be procured by suiokins;'
I did not then understand. On the first opportunity, I enquired
from Mr, Crooks, who is remarkably well acquainted with In-
dian customs : from him I Itarued, that it is a practice with
tribes in amity to apply to each other in cases of necessity. When
one tribe is deficient in any article of which the other has abun-
dance, they send a deputation, who smoke with them, and inform
them of their wants. It would be a breach of Indian courtesy
lo send them away without the expe< ted supply.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 123
without any regard to regularity, which renders it
difficult to count them, but there appears to be
from a hundred and fifty to a hundred and sixty
of them. They are constructed in the same manner
as those of the Ottoes, with the additional con-
venience of a railing on the eaves : behind this
railing they sit at their ease and smoke. There
is scarcely any declivity in the scite of the town ;
and as little regard is paid to cleanliness, it is very
dirty in wet weather. I spent the remainder of
the day in examining the bluffs, to ascertain what
new plants might be collected in the neighbour-
hood ; having now, for the first time in the course
of our voyage, an opportunity to preserve living
specimens. During this time the rest of the boats
crossed over the river, and a camp was formed
about two hundred yards below the town. Lisa's
party was nearer to it than our*3.
13th. — The morning being rainy, no business
was done in the village until the afternoon, when
Mr. Hunt exhibited the kind and quantity of goods
he purposed to give for each horse. These were
placed in the lodge of Le GaucfWy for general in-
spection, and proved to be satisfactory. This day
I employed myself in forming a place for the re-
ception of living specimens, a little distance below
our camp, and near the river, for the convenience
of water.
131. TRAVELS IN THE
14th. — 1 understood that Lisa and the chiefs
hud agreed that the price of a buffalo robe should
be twenty balls, and twenty loads of powder. He
removed a part of his goods to the lodge of Le
Gauche^ and Mr. Hunt began to trade at the lodge
of the Big Man. The trade for horses soon com-
menced : the species of goods most in demand
were carbines, powder, ball, tomahawks, knives,
&c. as another expedition against the Sioux was
meditated. During this traffic, I walked with Mr.
Brackenridge to the upper village, which is sepa-
rated from the lower one by a small stream. In
our walk through the town, I was accosted by the
Medicine Many or doctor, who was standing at
the entrance of a lodge into which we went. It
appeared that one of his patients, a boy, was with-
in, for whom he was preparing some medicine.
He made me understand that he had seen me col-
lecting plants, and that he knew me to be a Medi-
cine Man. He frequently shook hands with us,
and took down his medicine bag, made of deer
skin, to show me its contents. As I supposed this
bag contained the whole materia medica of the na-
tion, I examined it with some attention. There
was a considerable quantity of the down of reed-
mace, Oj/pha palustrisj which I understood was
used in cases of burns or scalds : there was also a
quantity of a species of artemisiay common on the
prairies, and known to the hunters by the name of
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 125
hyssop ; but the ingredient which was in the great-
est abundance, was a species of wall-flower: in
character it agrees with cheiranthus erysimoides :
besides these, I found two new species of astragalus,
and some roots of rudbecJda pwyurea. After exa-
mining the contents of the bag, I assured the doctor
it was all very good, and we again shook hands
with him, and went into several other lodges,
where we were very hospitably received. Although
they sit on the ground round the fire, buffalo robes
were always spread for us, and the pipe was inva-
riably brought out, whilst the squaw prepared
something for us to eat : this consisted of dried
buffalo meat, mixed with pounded corn, warmed
on the fire in an earthen vessel of their owm manu-
facture. Some offered us sweet corn, mixed with
beans fphaseolus.J The squaws were particularly
attentive to us, and took eveiy opportunity to exa-
mine such parts of our dress as were manufactured,
and not of skins. After our return, I went to the
trading house, and found that the trade for horses
went on very briskly. The instant a horse was
bought, his tail was cropped, to render him more
easily distinguished fi'om those belonging to the
Indians, which are in all respects as nature formed
them. On ray return to our camp, I found the
warrior there with whom I had become acquainted
on the 1st instant. He insisted so much on my
going to his lodge, that I went with him ; where
i'26 TRAVELS IN THE
he spread a very finely painted buffalo robe for me
to sit on, and shewed me by signs that it was now
mine. In return I gave him a pair of silver brace-
lets, with ornaments for the ears and hair, having
brought a considerable quantity of those articles
from St. Louis. With these he was so much
pleased, that he requested me to sleep at his lodge
during our stay, and informed me that his sister
should be my bedfellow. This offer J declined, al-
leging as an excuse, that I had voluntarily engaged
to assist in keeping guard round our camp. I
found, on my return, that the principals of our
party were engaged in a very serious consultation
6n our present situation. All our fresh provisions
were exhausted, and of the dried buffaloe bought
from the Poncars, not more remained than was
thought necessary to reserve for the journey by
land : of Indian corn we had left only a few bags,
which it was thought expedient to parch, grind,
and mix with sugar, in order to apply it to the same
object. It had been this day ascertained that the
Aricaras could not spare us any provisions, as the
excessive rains had penetrated into their cacheSy*
and spoiled the whole of their reserved stock, so
* The nations on the Missouri, always liable to be surprised
and plundered by the Teton villains, annually conceal a quantity
of corn, beans, &c. after harvest, in holes in the ground, which
are artfully covered up. These hoards are called by the French
caches, from the verb cacher, to hide.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. l!27
that they expected to be in want themselves before
the harvest would come in. In addition to our
difficulties, a rumour had been spread this afternoon,
and it was believed, that the Sioux had folio v/ed
us, and were now in the neighbourhood, to the
amount of four or five hundred. Whether this was
true or not, the consequences were the same to us,
as our hunters could not, with any degree of pru-
dence, be suffered to go out ; nor indeed were they
willing. In this dilemma, no means could be
thought of for the removal of our difficulties, but
to purchase from the Indians some of their spare
dogs, particularly those employed in dragging their
sledges, and this measure was resolved on. It may
here be remarked, that horses and dogs are the
only animals which the Indians domesticate : of
the latter they have two varieties : one of these
they employ in hunting ; the other appears to be
of a stupid and lazy nature, always remaining about
the village, and employed as above mentioned.
15th. — In conformity with the measure deter-
mined upon last evening, a number of dogs were
purchased this morning, brought to the camp, and
shot for breakfast. I went out to collect, accompa-
nied by Mr. Brackenridge, and proceeded farther
into the interior than I had before done. I was
rewarded by finding several new species of plants,
and by an additional confirmation of the geological
128 TRAVELS IN THE
formations, as the hills situated at a distance from
the river have uniformly flat summits, covered with
fragments of rock, mixed with smaller stones and
gravel. On our return, when about three miles
from the camp, we saw Indians pouring out from
the village, some on horseback, others on foot, and
all at full speed. They went in a direction to our
right, towards some hills, five or six miles distant
down the river. A young Indian, soon after, in
passing, us at some distance, changed his course,
and came up to me. He spoke with great earnest-
ness, frequently pointing to the hills, on the tops
of which I observed some horsemen apparently
meeting each other, and after passing, turn back,
and continue gallopping. I at length comprehend-
ed that enemies were near, and that seeing me only
armed with a pistol, he wished me to hasten to the
camp. When we came nearer the town, I observed
that the tops of the lodges were crowded with
women, children, and old men, all looking earnestly
towards the hills, and considerable numbers were
still running past our camp. I now enquired the
cause of the tumult, and found that a signal had
been given, indicating the appearance of a wai*
party of the Sioux. The noise and confusion were
such as I have not often witnessed : the war whoop
■was heard in every direction, and even the old
men in the village were busily employed in ani-
mating tlie warriors. Some aged Nestors tottered
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 1^29
along with the crowd, raising their shrill voices to
encourage the young and vigorous to exert them-
selves in repelling the foe. If any enemy really
appeared, they had immediately fled on being dis-
covered ; a thing not at all unlikely, as it is con-
formable to their customs, and in this instance the
more probable, as the Sioux would naturally expect
that our party would jom their adversaries. At all
events, the party soon returned in as much disorder
as they went out. I observed, that amongst the
warriors of this and the other nations, several had
foxes* tails attached to the heels of their mockasons,
and I am informed by Captain Winter, who resided
some time at Michillimakinac, that the same cus-
tom prevails among the tribes in Upper Canada,
and that this honour is only permitted to such
warriors as have killed an enemy on his own
ground.
l6th. — I went into the village, and found that
the chiefs were assembled to hear from the warriors
an account of what had passed the preceding day.
As they weie not ifi the habit of printing newspapers^
the news was carried through the village by he-
ralds, who attend at the door of the council-lodge,
and from time to time go through the village to
give information. On my return to the camp, I
found that Mr. Hunt and Mr. Lisa were negociat-
ing respecting the boats belonging to our party,
I
130 TRAVELS IN THE
which were no longer of any use to us. Mr. Hunt
was wiUing to exchange them with Mr. Lisa for
horses, who had a considerable number of them at
the Fort belonging to the Missouri Fur Company,
about two hundred miles higher up the river. Mr.
Hunt, some days previous to this, presented to me
the smallest boat, which was a barge built at
Michillimakinac ; and three American hunters,
whom we found at the Aricara nation, agreed to
assist me in navigating it down the river, when I
should be disposed to return. The three other
boats, and some Indian goods, were finally ex-
changed with Mr. Lisa. In consequence of this
arrangement, I found that a party were to be dis-
patched in a few days to the Fori for the horses,
and I resolved to accompany them, if permitted.
After an excursion to collect plants, I walked inta
the village in the evening, and found that a party
had arrived, who had been on an expedition ta
steal horses, in which they were successful. This
event, and the return of the war party, caused am
unusual bustle : the tops of the lodges were crowd-
ed with men, women, and childien. Several of the
old men harangued them in a loud voice. The
subject I understood to be an exhortation to behave
well towards the white people, and stating the
advantages they derived by an intercourse with
them. Notwithstanding all this tumult, some of the
women continued their employment in - dressing
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 131
buffiiloe skins, which are stretched on frames, and
placed on stages, erected both for this purpose,
and to dry or jerk the flesh of animals cut into thin
slices.
17th. — It was arranged that Mr. Crooks should
go to the Company's Fort for the horses ; and as
more than thirty had been bought from the Arica
ras, the men who were to accompany him began to
select from amongst them such as they thought the
best able to perform the journey. Notwithstanding
I had resolved to accompany them, I neglected
taking the same precaution, which occasioned me
afterwards much vexation. I had already express-
ed my wish to undertake the journey, and although
Mr. Hunt had not absolutely refused to permit
me, yet he tried by arguments to dissuade me f^om
it, in representing the danger which the party ran
of being cut off by th"e Sioux, the fatigue of riding
on an Indian saddle, &c. I therefore did not for
the present press the subject, and spoke of it only
to Mr. Crooks, who, knowing my determination,
was much pleased with it. After devoting the
greatest part of the day to the increasing of my
collection, I went into the village, and found that
some Indians had arrived from the Chayenne na-
tion, where they had been sent to inform the Ari-
caras of their intention to visit them in fifteen days.
One of these Indians was covered with a buffalo
132 TRAVELS IX THE
robe, curiously ornamented with figures worked
with split quills, stained red and yellow, intermixed
with much taste, and the border of the robe entire-
ly hung round with the hoofs of young fawns, which
at every movement made a noise much resembling
that of the rattlesnake when that animal is irritated.
I understood that this robe had been purchased
from the Arapahoes, or Big Bead Indians, a remote
tribe, who frequent the Rocky Mountains. I wish-
ed much to purchase the robe, and offered him
such articles in exchange as I thought most likely
to induce him to part with it j but he refused.
The day following it was purchased by Mr. M'Clel-
lan, who gave it to me for silver ornaments and
other articles, which amounted to about ten dollars.
As these Indians could not speak the Aricara lan-
guage, they had need of an interpreter, whose place
was supplied by one of the Aricaras that could
speak their language. Tliey were tall ard well
proportioned men, but of a darker complexion than
the Aricaras. This nation has no fixed place of
residence, but resort chiefly about the Black Hills,
near the head of Chayenne River, having been dri-
ven by the Sioux from their former place of resi-
dence, near the Red River of Lake Winnipic.
Their number is now inconsiderable, as they scarce-
ly muster one hundred warriors. On my return to
the camp, I found it crowded with Indians and
squaws, as it had been for the two preceding even-
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 133
ings. Travellers who have been acquainted with
savages, have remarked that they are either very
liberal of their women to strangers, or extremely
jealous. In this species of liberality no nation can
exceed the Aricaras, who flocked down every even-
ing with their wives, sisters, and daughters, anxious
to meet with a market for them. The Canadians
were very good customers, and Mr. Hunt was kept
in full employ during the evening, in delivering out
to tfiem Hlue beads and vermillion, the articles in
use for this kind of traffic. This evening I judged
that there were not fewer than eighty squaws, and
I observed several instances wherein the squaw was
consulted by her husband as to the quantum sujfficit
of price ; a mark of consideration which, from some
knowledge of Indians, and the estimation in which
their women are held, I had not expected.
ISth. — Went early to the bluffs to the south-west-
ward (^ the town, on one of which I observed
fourteen buffalo skulls placed in a row. The cavi-
ties of the eyes and the nostrils were filled with a
species of artemisia common on the prairie, which
appears to be a non-descript. On my return, I
told our interpreter to inquire into the reason of
this, and learned that it was an honour conferred
by the Indians on the buffaloes which they had kill-
ed, in order to appease their spirits, and prevent
134 TRAVELS IN THE
them from apprising the living buffaloes of the
danger they run in approaching the neighbourhood.
After my return, I walked into the village with
Mr. Donald M'Kenzie, who wore a green surtout.
This attracted very much the attention of the
squaws, and from the surprise they shewed, I be-
lieve it is a colour \Yith which they were unacquaint-
ed. They were so anxious to obtain a part of it,
that several offered him jaxmiirs as an equivalent
for a piece which they marked out. This occa-
sioned much mirth betwixt us, and on my part a
pretended alarm lest his coat should become a S'pen-
cer. We amused ourselves sometime by watching
a party who were engaged in play. A place was
neatly formed, resembling a skittle alley, about
nine feet in breadth and ninety feet long : a ring
of wood, about five inches in diameter, was trun-
dled along from one end, and when it had run some
distance, two Indians, who stood ready, threw
after it, in a sliding manner, each a piece of wood,
about three feet long and four inches in breadth,
made smooth on one edge, and kept from turning
by a cross piece passing through it, and bent back-
wards so as to resemble a cross bow. The standers
by kept an account of the game, and he whose
piece, in a given number of throws, more fre-
quently came nearest the ring after it had fallen,
won the game.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 135
igth. — We breakfasted early, having killed the^
dogs the night before, and ten horses were brought
into the camp for the party appointed to go to
the Fort, beyond the Mandans, to escort the horses
agreed for with Mr. Lisa, and I now declared to
Mr. Hunt that, unless he absolutely refused me
the privilege, I was determined to accompany
them. With his accustomed kindness he consent-
ed, and a man was dispatched to catch a horse for
me on the prairie. As the party had cast their
bullets, and made every other preparation the pre-
ceding night, we were all ready, when the man
returned with a very bad horse. He was small, and
apparently weak ; but being unwilling to delay
the party, I fixed my saddle, and we set out, hav-
ing previously agreed with one of the men to take
care of my plants in my absence. We had for our
guide a person of the name of Jones, who was ac-
quainted with the whole of the country betwixt the
Mandans and Aricai'as j and after passing the villa-
ges, kept as much as possible in the ravines and
valleys, to avoid being seen by the Sioux Indians,
who we had reason to think were still lurking about
the country ; as we knew that if they discovered
us, they would, almost to a certainty, cut us of!.
There being no provisions to spare in the camp,
except a Httle dog's flesh, we took nothing with us
to eat, nor made the least attempt to look for game,
as our safety perhaps depended on the celerity and
136 TRAVELS IN THE
silence of our march. We continued at a smart
trot until near eight o'clock in the evening, having
only stopped once to give the horses an opportu-
nity to feed. Our course lay nearly north, and we
kept the river in sight the v^hole of the day, being
sometimes very near it, and at other times five or
six miles distant. We encamped on the border of
a creek, not more than a mile from the Missouri,
on the open prairie. We found this p'ace so much
infested with mosquitoes, that scarcely any of us
slept. In the latter part of the day I discovered
the insufficiency of my horse, as it was with diffi-
culty I could keep up with the rest. The reflec-
tions on my situation, combined with the pain oc-
casioned by mosquitoes, kept me from closing my
eyes ; in addition to this, I had already painfully
experienced the effects of an Indian saddle, which
I shall describe. It consists of six pieces of wood:
two of these are strong forked sticks, one of which
is formed to fix on the shoulders of the horse ; the
other is adapted to the lower part of the back :
they are connected by four flat pieces, each about
four inches in breadth : two of these are so placed
as to lie on each side of the backbone of the horse,
which rises above them j the two others are fast-
ened to the extremities of the forked sticks, and
the whole is firmly tied by thongs. Two strong
slips of buffalo hide are doubled over each of the
upper connecting pieces, for the purpose of holding
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 137
the stirrup, which is formed of a stick about two
feet long, and cut half way through in two places,
so as to divide it into three equal parts : at these
places it is bent, and when the two ends are
strongly tied, it forms an equilateral triangle. The
conjunct end of the foremost forked stick rises to
the height of eight or ten inches above the back of
the horse, and serves to fasten on it the coiled end
of the long sHp of dried skin intended to serve as
a bridle : this slip is also made use of to fasten the
horse at night, to allow him sufficient space where-
in to graze, and is mostly fifty or sixty feet long.
Under the saddle is laid a square piece of buffalo
skin, dressed with the hair upon it, and doubled
four-fold, and on the saddle the rider fixes his
blanket.
20th. — We were on horseback on the first ap-
pearance of day, and immediately abandoned the
river, passed over the bluffs, and struck into the
interior of the country. Besides my rifle and other
equipments, similar to those of the rest of the party,
I had a portfolio for securing specimens of plants.
I had contrived already to collect some interesting
specimens, by frequently alighting to pluck them,
and put them into my hat. For these opportuni-
ties, and to ease my horse, I ran many miles along-
side of him. Notwithstanding this, about noon he
seemed inclined to give up, and I proposed to Mr.
lo8 TRAVELS IN THE
Crooks that I should turn back : this he would by
no means agree to, but prevailed on the lightest
man in company to exchange horses with me for
the rest of the day. Soon after noon, we observed
some deer grazing at a distance j we therefore
halted in a small valley, suffered the horses to graze,
and dispatched one of the men to look after the
deer, who soon returned, having killed one. As
we had not eaten any thing from the morning of
the preceding day, this news was very acceptable,
and some were sent to fetch the meat, whilst others
gathered dry bufFaloe dung to boil our kettle. This
opportunity afforded me the pleasure of adding to
my little collection, besides securing in my portfolio
what I had before gathered. It is perhaps needless
to observe that the men were not slow in bringing
the meat, nor that we were equally expeditious in
our cooking. We were so confident of finding
game, that we did not take any part of the remains
of our feast, but proceeded, in the hope of being
able to reach Cannon-ball River,* intending to
encamp on its banks. In the course of the after-
noon we perceived innumerable herds of bufialoe ;
and had we wished to hunt, we might have killed
* Cannon-ball River derives its name from the singularly round
form of the stones which are found in its bed. These are of all
sizes, from one to twelve inches io diameter, or sometimes more :
they are of a brownish sand-stone, and before they were rounded
by attrition, must have been formed in cubes.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 139
great numbers ; but we avoided them as much as
possible, for fear of disturbing them, as it might
have been the means of enabling some lurking war
party to discover us. It is well known to the hunt-
ers and the Indians, that a herd of buffaloe, when
frightened, will often run ten, fifteen, or even
twenty miles before they stop. About five o^clock
we perceived before us the valley of Cannon-ball
River, bounded on each side by a range of small
hills, visible as far as the eye can reach ; and as
they appear to diminish regularly, in the proportion
of their distance, they produce a singular and pleas-
ing effect. In the evening, as we considered the
danger from the Sioux much decreased, we ven-
tured to kill a buffalo: each man cut what he
thought proper, and the remainder was left for the
wolves, who doubtless picked the bones before the
morning. On descending into the valley of the
river, some deer were observed, feeding near the
bank, whilst others were lying down near them.
Some of our men stole cautiously round a grove,
and shot two of the poor animals, although we had
no great occasion for them. The Cannon-ball
River was muddy at this time ; but whether it is
constantly so or not, I could not learn. It is here
about one hundred and sixty yards wide, but so
shallow that we crossed it without swimming, but
not without wetting some of the blankets on our
saddles. We encamped on a very fine prairie, near
140 TRAVELS IN THE
the river, affording grass in abmidance, nearly a
yard l)igh, in whicii we stationed our horses. The
alJuvion of the river is about a mile in breadth from
bluff to bluff, and is very beautiful, being prairie,
interspersed with groves of trees, and ornamented
with beautiful plants, now in flower. Amongst
others which I did not observe before, I found a
species of flax, resembling that which is cultivated :
I think it is the species known as Unum peremie.
I rambled until it was quite dark, and found my
way to the camp by observing the fire.
21st. — We arose before day. Each man cooked
his own breakfast, cutting what suited him from
the venison, and fixing it on a stick set in the
ground, which inclined over the fire. At break of
day we were on horseback, and soon after ascended
the bluffs, and proceeded on our route. I noticed
a sensible change in the face of the country after
we had left the river. We now found some of the
more elevated places covered with small stones,
and divested of herbage, and throughout the soil
was of less depth, and the grass shorter and more
scanty. About ten o'clock we again found the
country to assume the same fertile appearance as
on the preceding day, and saw herds of buffaloe in
every direction : before mid-day two were killed,
but very Httle was taken, except the marrow-bones:
each man who chose to take one, hung it to his
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. Ill
•saddle. In the course of this forenoon we observed
three rattlesnakes, of an entirely new and unde-
scribed species : one of them I killed, and carried
in my shot-pouch, and during the time we stopped
to feed our horses, T secured the skin. "We passed
very close to several herds of bnifaloe during the
afternoon, near which we always observed a num-
ber of wolves lurking. I perceived that those
herds which had wolves in their vicinity, were almost
wholly females with their calves ; but noticed also,
that there were a few bulls with them, at.d that
these were always stationed on the outside of the
herd, inclosing the cows with their calves within.
We came suddenly on one of these herds, contain-
ing, as we judged, from six to eight hundred buf-
faloes : they immediately gallopped off. One of
our party rode after them, and overtook a calf
which could not keep pace with the rest : he in-
stantly dismounted, caught it by the hind leg, and
plunged his knife into its body. We took what we
wanted, and rode on. This afternoon I noticed a
singularly formed hill on our right, in the direction
of the Missouri, apparently about ten miles from
us. It is of an oblong shape, nearly perpendicular
at the ends, and level at the top, so as to resemble
a regular building : near the centre there rises a
pic, very steep, which seems to be elevated at least
one hundred feet above the hill on which it stands.
We rode this day almost without intermission, and
112 TRAVELS IN THE
late in the evening arrived at Riviere de Coeur^ or
Heart River, and encamped on its banks, or, more
properly, lay down in our blankets. I found that
my horse did not get worse, although he showed a
great disposition to lag behind ; a certain proof of
his being very much tired, as the Indian horses,
when on a journey, have an aversion to be separat-
ed fi"om their companions.
22nd. — Although the distance from this place to
the Missouri Fur Company's Fort was estimated
at about sixty miles, we determined if possible to
reach it this day, and were, as usual, on horseback
at day -break, having previously breakfasted on veal.
I observed the preceding days a sufficient number
of buffaloes to induce me to credit the hunters in
their reports of the vast numbers they had seen ;
but this day afforded me ample confirmation.
Scarcely had we ascended the bluffs of Heart River,
when we discerned herds in every direction ; and
had we been disposed to devote the day to hunting,
we might have killed a great number, as the coun-
try north of Heart River is not so uniform in its
surface as that we had passed. It consists of ridges,
of small elevation, separated by narrow valleys.
This renders it much more favourable for hunting,
and although we did not materially deviate from
pur course, five were killed before noon. Mr.
Crooks joined me in remonstrating against this
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 143
waste ; but it is impossible to restrain the hunters,
as they scarcely ever lose an opportunity of killing,
if it offers, even although not in want of food.
About two o'clock we arrived on the summit of a
ridge more elevated than any we had yet passed.
From thence we saw before ns a beautiful plain, as
we judged, about four miles across, in the direction
of our course, and of similar dimension from east
to west. It was bounded on all sides by long ridges,
similar to that which we had ascended. The scene
exhibited in this valley was sufficiently interesting
to excite even in our Canadians a wish to stop a few^
minutes and contemplate it. The whole of the
plain was perfectly level, and, like the rest of the
country, without a single shrub. It was covered
with the finest verdure, and in every part herds of
buffaloe were feeding. I counted seventeen herds j
but the aggregate number of the animals it was
difficult even to guess at : some thought upwards
of ten thousand. We descended mto the plain,
and each having two marrow bones hung to his
saddle, we resolved to dine wherever we could first
find water. In descending into the plain, we came
upon a small herd feeding in a valley. One buffiilo
was shot by our party before we could possibly re-
strain them. At about half the distance across the
plain we reached a small pond, where we halted,
and having collected a sufficient quantity of dry
buifaloe's dung, we made a fire, in which we dis-
H4 TRAVELS IN THE
posed our bones, and although the water was stag-
nant, we made free use of it. During our stay here
a very large herd of buffaloe continued to feed
within a quarter of a mile of us. Some of them I
observed gazing at us; but as they were to the
windward, they had not the power of discovering
what we were by the sense of smelling. I found,
on inquiry from some of our party who were well
acquainted with the habits of these animals, that
they seem to rely chiefly on that sense for their
safety. Around this herd we counted fifteen
w^olves, several of which stood for some minutes
looking at us, without exhibiting any signs of fear:
and as we did not think them worth shooting, we
left them unmolested. On gaining the summit of
tlie ridge forming the northern boundary of the
plain, we noticed a chain of hills on our right hand,
at the distance of about six miles. Jones, our
guide, assured us they were the bluffs of the Mis-
souri, and although we might not arrive at the
Fort that night, yet he was certain of our being
able to go to the Mandan- village. About four
o'clock we fell into a trace that Jones said was one
of the roads which the Mandans usually followed
when they went out to hunt. We resolved to keep
along it, as we found it led towards the bluffs, at
which we arrived in about an hour, and passed
through a narrow valley, bounded on each side by
some small rocks of secondary limestone. On
INTIERIOR OF AMERICA. 1 15
turning an angle in the valley, we came suddenly
in view of the Missouri, at no great distance from
us. The sight of the river caused much joy in our
party ; but no one had so much occasion as myself
to be pleased with it, as it was with the greatest
difficulty I could keep up with the party, my horse
being so tired, that Dorion and others of the party
occasionally rode after me, to beat him forward.
The trace turned up a long and very fine plain,
betwixt the bluffs and the river. The plain conti-
nued to increase in breadth as we advanced, and
had on it a sufficiency of clumps of cotton wood,
so interspersed as to prevent our seeing its upper
termination. We had not been on this plain more
than half an hour, when we suddenly saw an In-
dian on horseback, gallopping down the bluffij at
full speed, and in a few minutes he was out of
sight, having proceeded nearly in the same direction
we were pursuing. We considered this as a cer-
tain proof that we were not far from the Mandan
town, and shortly after, on turning round the point
of a large grove, we came in full view of it. We
could perceive that the Indian had already given
notice of our approach, as the tops of the lodges
were crowded with people ; and as we advanced,
we saw crowds coming from the town to meet us.
From the time the first of the Indians met us till
we arrived in the town, we were continually em-
ployed in shaking hands, as every one was eager to
K
KG TRAVELS IN THE
pcifoim that ceremony' with the whole pajty, and
several made us understand that they had seen us
before, having been of the war party which we had
met at the Great Bend. They conducted us ta
the lodge of She-he-ke, the chief, where we alight-
ed. He met us at the door, and after shaking
hands with us, said, to my great surprise in Eng-
lish, " Come in house.** I was again surprised,
on entering the lodge, to see a fine dunghill cock.
On inquiry I found that She-he-ke had brought it
with him from the United States, at the time he
accompanied Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, where ako
he learnt his English. It appeared that immedi-
ately on the centinel announcing our approach,
the squaw had set on the pot. The victuals being
ready before we had done smoking, and Mr. Crooks
expressing a determination to proceed to the Mis-
souri Fur Company's Fort this evening, we soon
finished our meal, which consisted of jerked flesh
of buifaloe and pounded corn. The sun was set-
ting when we mounted, and several of our horses
appeared much jaded, but mine in particular. I
therefore proposed to remain at the Mandans ; but
the party, and in particular Mr. Crooks, wished
me to go on. With some reluctance I consented,
and we pushed on our horses, in order to reach
Knife River before it was quite dark, which by
much exertion we effected, and arrived opposite to
the tliird village of the Minetaree, or Gros Ventres
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 14?
Indians, as the night was closing in. On hallooing,
some Indians came down to the bank on the other
side of the river, and immediately ran back to the
village. In a few minutes we saw them returning
along with six squaws, each of whom had a skin
canoe on her back, and a paddle in her hand.
Whilst we unsaddled our horses they crossed the
river in their canoes, and the Indians swam over,
and all shook hands with us. The squaws put our
saddles in their canoes, where we also placed our-
selves, and left the Indians to drive our horses
over the river, which they managed with much
address, by placing themselves in such a way as to
keep them in a compact body. This river is not
rapid, but it has the appearance of being deep, and
is about eighty yards wide at this place. After
saddling our horses, and giving the squaws three
balls and three loads of powder for each man, be-
ing the price of ferriage, we passed through the
village, having seven miles still to travel in order
to reach the Fort. We could not now make our
horses exceed a walk. On the hill above the town
I imperfectly distinguished something that had the
appearance of cavalry, which Jones told me were
the stages whereon the Indians deposit the bodies
of their dead. About eleven o'clock we reached
the Fort, after having travelled this day more than
eighteen hours, with very little intermission. We
were received in a very friendly manner by Mr.
i is TUAVELo IN THE
lleubeii Lewis, brother to Captain Lewis, who
travelled to the Pacific Ocean : the mosquitoes
were much less friendly, and were in such num-
bers, and so troublesome, tliat notwithstanding our
excessive fatigue, it was next to impossible to sleep.
2Srd. — We went early to look at the horses. The
greater part were lying down, and appeared to have
scarcely moved from the place where they had
been left tlie preceding night, seeming to prefer
rest to food. In consequence of their jaded state,
]\Ir. Crooks resolved to remain at the Fort four or
iive days, that they might recruit themselves. On
our return to breakfast, we found that the Fort was
but ill supplied with provisions, having little of any
thmg but jerked meat ; but as that, or any other
accommodation the place afforded, was accompa-
nied by kindness and the most polite attention from
Mr. Lewis, we were much pleased with our recep-
tion. The bluffs here have a very romantic ap-
j)earance, and I was preparing to examine them
after breakfast, when some squaws came in be-
longing to the uppermost village of the Minetarees,
with a quantity of roots to sell. Being informed
that they were dug on the prairie, my curiosity was
excited, and on tasting found them very palatable,
even in a raw state. They were- of the shape of
an egg : some of tliem were nearly as large as those
of a goose; others were smaller. Mr. Lewis
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. liO
obligingly caused a few to be boiled. Their taste
most resembled that of a parsnip, but I thought
them much better. I found no vestige of the plant
attached to them, and anxious to ascertain the
species, I succeeded in obtaining information from
the squav.'s of the route by which they came to the
Fort, and immediately set out on the search. Af-
ter much pains I found one of the places where
they had dug the plants, and to my surprise disco-
vered, from the tops broken off, that the plant w as
one I was well acquainted with, having found it
even in the vicinity of St. Louis, where 1 had first
discovered it, and determined it to be a new species
of psora/ea, which is now known as psoralea escu-
lenta. On enquiry I was infoimed that this root is
of the greatest importance, not only to the Indians,
but to the hunters, who, in case of the failure of
other food, from the want of success in hunting,
can always support life by resorting to it ; and even
when not impelled by want, it cannot but be ex-
tremely grateful to those who otherwise must exist
on animal food alone, without bread or salt ; at
least I then thought it so. I found the country
about the Fort, and especially the bluffs, extremely
interesting. It chiefly consists of argillaceous
schistus, and a very tenacious and indurated yellow
clay, exhibiting in many places the appearance of
coal. The land floods from the country behind
the bluffs had cut through them, and left large
150 TRAVELS IN THE
bodies of clay standing up, with the sides perpen-
dicular, and resembling in appearance towers, or
large square buildings, which it was impossible to
ascend. The incumbent soil appears to be of ex-
cellent quality, and was at this time covered with
fine grass and a number of beautiful plants. The
roots and specimens of these I collected with the
greatest assiduity, not having yet determined to
remain any longer than until our party returned.
I soon found the number to increase so much, as I
lengthened my excursions, that I resolved to re-
main at the Fort until Mr. Lisa came up with his
boat, and obtain a passage with him down to the
Aricaras, and this resolution I announced to Mr.
Crooks. The Missouri had overflowed its banks
some time before our arrival, and on receding had
left numberless pools in the alluvion. In these the
mosquitoes had been generated in numbers incon-
ceivably great. In walking it was necessary to
have one hand constantly employed to keep them
out of the eyes ; and although a person killed hun-
dreds, thousands were ready to take their place.
At evening the horses collected in a body round
the Fort, waiting until fires were made, to produce
smoke, in which they might stand for protection.
This was regularly done, and a quantity of green
weeds thrown on each fire to increase the smoke.
These fires caused much quarrelling and fighting,
each horse contending for the centre of the smoke,
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 161
and the place nearest the fire. In the afternoon
%ve were visited by She-he-ke, the Mandan chief,
who came dressed in a suit of clothes brought with
him from the United States. He informed us that
he had a great wish to go Hve with the whites, and
that several of his people, induced by the repre-
sentations he had made of the white people's mode
of living, had the same intentions. We were able
to converse with She-he-ke through the medium of
Jussum, the interpreter for the Fort, who was a
Frenchman, and had married a squaw belonging
to the second village of the Minetarees, or Gros
Ventres Indians. As I expressed a wish to visit
the villages, I spoke to Jussum on that subject, who
readily consented to accompany me, but informed
me that in a day or two there would be a dance of
the squaws, to celebrate the exploits of their hus-
bands, when it was agreed we should go. The
Fort consisted of a square block-house, the lower
part of which was a room for furs : the upper part
was inhabited by Mr. Lewis and some of the hur.t-
ers belonging to the establishment. There were
some small outhouses, and the whole was surround-
ed by a pallisado, or piquet, about fifteen feet high.
T found attached to it a very pretty garden, in
which were peas, beans, sallad, radishes, and other
vegetables, under the care of a gardener, an Irish-
man, who shewed it to me with much self-import-
ance. I praised his management, but expressed
1.52 TRAVELS IlV THE
my regret that he had no potatoes. " Oh !" said
he, " that does not signify ; we can soon have
them ; there is plenty just over the way." I did
not think the man was serious ; but on mentioning
the circumstance to Mr. Lewis, he told me that
there really were potatoes at an English Fort on
the river St. Peter's, distant only from two to three
hundred miles.
24th. — This morning I was informed by Jussum
that the squaw dance would be performed in the
afternoon, and he promised to have horses ready
for us by mid-day. I packed up a few beads for
presents, and spent the fore part of the day in my
usual way, but took a more extended range into
the interior from the river, as the air was calm,
having discovered that the mosquitoes remain al-
most entirely in the valley of the river, where
during calm weather it was nearly impossible to
collect. On the top of a hill, about four miles
from the Fort, I had a fine view of a beautiful
valley, caused by a rivulet, being a branch of Knife
River, the declivities of which abound in a new
species of eleagmiSj intermixed with a singular
procumbent species of cedar Cjumperus.J The
branches are entirely prostrate on the ground, and
never rise above the height of a few inches. The
beautiful silvery hue of the first, contrasted with
the dark green of the latter, had a most pleasing
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 153
effect ; and to render the scene more Intere?;ting,
the small alluvion of the rivulet was so plentifully
covered with a species of lily, (lilium cateshai) as
to make it resemble a scarlet stripe as far as the
eye could trace it. I returned to the Fort much
gratified, and prepared to accompany Jussum to
the dance. On our approach some fields of Indian
corn lay betwixt us and the village, which I wished
to avoid, and proposed that we should change our
route, as the corn was now nearly a yard high.*
This proposal was absolutely refused by Jussum,
and we rode on through the corn till we came to
where some squaws were at work, who called out
to us to make us change our route, but were soon
silenced by Jussum. I suspected that he commit-
* This is about the full height to which the maize grows in
the Upper Missouri, and when this circuiustance is connected
with thf quickness with which it grows and is matured, it is a
wonderful instance of the power given to some plants to accom-
modate themselves to climate. The latitude of this place is
about forty-seven degrees geographically, but geologically many
degrees colder, arising from its elevation, which must be admit-
ted to be very considerable, when we consider that it is at a
distance of more than three thousand miles from the ocean by
the course of a rapid river. This plant is certainly the same
species of zta that is cultivated within the tropics, where it
usually requires four nionlhs to ripen, and rises to the height of
twelve feet. Here ten weeks is sufficient, with a much less de-
gree of heat. Whether or not this property is more peculi;ir
to plants useful to men, and given for wise and benovelent pur-
poses, 1 will not attempt to determine.
15 1 TRAVELS IN THE
tetl this aggression to show his authority or im-
portance. On our arrival at the village we went
into several of the lodges, which were constructed
exactly in the same form as those of the Aricaras.
We smoked at every lodge, and I found by the
bustle among the women that they were preparing
for the dance, as some of them were putting on
their husbands* clothes, for which purpose they
did not retire into a corner, nor seem in the least
discomposed by our presence. In about half an
hour the dance began, which was performed in a
circle, the dancers moving round, with tomahawks
in their hands. At intervals they turned their
faces all at once towards the middle of the circle,
and brandished their weapons. After some time
one of them stepped into the centre of the ring,
and made an harangue, frequently brandishing her
weapon, whilst the rest moved round her. I found
that the nature of all the speeches was the same,
which was to boast of the actions of their hus-
bands. One which made Jussum smile I requested
he would interpret. He briefly informed me, that
she had said her husband had travelled south-west
to a country inhabited by white people, which
journey took him twenty days to perform : that he
went to steal horses, and when he came to the
white people's houses, he found one where the men
were gone out, and in which he killed two women,
and stole from them a number of horses. She cor-
INTERIOR OF A:vrERICA. 155
rected herself, by denying that they were women
whom her husband had killed, and the reasons she
assigned to prove they were not, was what caused
Jussum to smile. The dance did not last more
than an hour, and I was informed by Jussum that
it would be followed by a feast of dog's flesh, of
which it was expected I should partake. I excused
myself by saying I wished to collect some plants,
and set out alone. In my way to the Fort I passed
through a small wood, where I discovered a stage
constructed betwixt four trees, standing very near
each other, and to which the stage was attached,
about ten feet from the ground. On this stage
was laid the body of an Indian, wrapt in a buffalo
robe. As the stage was very narrow, I could see
all that was upon it without much trouble. It was
the body of a man, and beside it there lay a bow
and quiver with arrows, a tomahawk, and a scalp-
ing knife. There were a great number of stages
erected about a quarter of a mile from the village,
on which the dead bodies were deposited, which,
for fear of giving offence, I avoided ; as I found,
that although it is the custom of these people thus
to expose the dead bodies of their ancestors, yet
they have in a very high degree that veneration for
their remains which is a characteristic of the
the American Indians. I arrived at the Fort about
sunset. Soon afterwards we heard the report of a
swivel down the river, which caused us all to run
156 TRAVELS IN THE
out, and soon saw the boat belonging to Mr. Lisa
turning a point about two miles below us. We
returned the salute, but lie did not arrive that
night, as the side on which we were, to within
half a mile of the Fort, consisted of high perpen-
dicular bluffs, and his men were too much exhausted
to reach us by the river.
25th. — This morning I had the pleasure of again
meeting Mr. Brackenridge, and of finding that it
was the intention of Mr. Lisa to stay at least a fort-
night at the Fort. I was very glad to have so good
an opportunity of examining this interesting coun-
try. I received by the hands of Mr. Brackenridge
some small articles for trade, which I had delivered
to him at the Aricaras. This enabled me to re-
v/ard the gardener for his civility in offering me a
place in the garden where I could deposit my liv-
ing plant^ and of this I availed myself during my
stay.
27th. — The business relative to the horses hav-
ing been arranged betwixt Mr. Lisa and Mr.
Crooks, he set out early this morning on his return
to the Aricara nation ; and as he w^as not without
liis fears that the Gros Ventres Tndians, headed by
Le Borgne, or One Eyed, would attempt to rob
him of his horses, he determined to proceed with
as much celerity as we had travelled to the Fort,
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 157
and kept his departure as secret as possible. I was
much pleased to see this chief at the Fort in a few
hours afterwards, being satisfied that Mr. Crooks
was now out of his reach. As it may give some
idea of the tyrannic sway with which the chiefs
sometimes govern these children of nature, I shall
relate an instance of cruelty and oppression prac-
tised by this villain. He had a wish to possess the
wife of a young warrior of his tribe, who was es-
teemed beautiful. She resisted his offers, and
avoided him. He took the opportunity of the ab-
sence of her husband, and carried her off forcibly.
The husband was informed on his return of the
transaction, and went to the lodge of Le Borgne to
claim his wife. The monster killed him. The
young man had no father : his mother only was
living, and he was her only son. The shock de-
prived her of reason, and she reviles the wretch
whenever she meets him, and often seeks him to pro-
cure the opportunity of doing so. Even amongst
those we term savages, the horror which the deed
has occasioned is so great, and the pity which the
situation of the poor maniac has excited so prevail-
ing, that he dares not kill her. How nmch then
ought Christians to detest a similar deed. He has
a most savage and ferocious aspect, and is of large
stature. He is chief of one ot the villages of the
Minetarees, or, as the French call them, Gros
Ventres, and assumes a dominion over both, al-
158 TRAVELS IN THE
though there are several other chiefs. It is stated
by Mr. Lewis that the two villages or bands cau
raise six hundred warriors, but the number at this
time is probably much less. The object of this
wretch in visiting the Fort was to make professions
of friendship, and to obtain a present. Mr. Lisa
knew very well the value of his professions, but,
notwithstanding, he gave him some, with which he
appeared satisfied.
28th. — Having selected some silver ornaments
which I purposed presenting to She-he-ke, Mr.
Bracken ridge agreed to accompany me to the Man-
dan village. We obtained horses from Mr. Lewis
for the journey, and about ten o'clock set off. We
crossed Knife River at the lower of the Minetaree
villages, and paid the accustomed price to the squaw^
who ferried us over ; which was, for each of us,
three balls and three charges of powder. Before
"we left the village, we were invited into the lodge
belonging to the Jiliite IVolf, one of the chiefs of
this village, with whom we smoked. I was sur-
prised to observe that his squaw and one of his chil-
dren had brown hair, although their skins did not
appear to be lighter coloured than the rest of the
tribe. As the woman appeared to be above forty
years of age, it is almost certain that no intercourse
had taken place betwixt these people and the whites
at the time she was born. I should have been less
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 159
surprised at the circumstance had they been one of
those tribes who change their places of residence ;
but they have not even a tradition of having resid-
ed in any other place than where the present vil-
lage stands. The White IFol/ appeared to be much
pleased with our visit, and by signs invited us to
call at his lodge whenever we came that way. He
shook hands very cordially with us at parting. In
our way to the Mandans we passed through the
small village belonging to the Ahwahhaways, con-
sisting of not more than eighteen or twenty lodges.
This nation can scarcely muster fifty warriors, and
yet they carry on an offensive war against the Snake
and Flathead Indians. On our arrival at the Man-
dans, She-he-ke, as before, came to the door of his
lodge, and said, *' come in house." We had scarce-
ly entered when he looked earnestly at us, and said,
** whiskey." In this we could not gratify him, as
we had not thought of bringing any. I presented
the silver ornaments to him, with which he seemed
much pleased, and after smoking we were feasted
with a dish consisting of jerked buffalo meat, corn,
and beans boiled together. I mentioned to him
my wish to purchase some mockasons, and he sent
out into the village to inform the squaws, who
flocked into the lodge in such numbers, and with
so plentiful a supply, that I could not buy a tenth
part of them. I furnished myself with a dozen pair
at a cheap rate, for which I gave a little vermillion.
loo TRAVELS IN THE
or railier red lead, and a few strings of blue beads-
During our stay, She-he-ke pointed to a little boy
in the lodge, whom we had not before noticed, and
gave us to understand that his father was one of the
party that accompanied Mr. Lewis, and also indi-
cated the individual. On our return we crossed
Knife River at the upper village of the Minetarees.
The old squaw who brought tlie canoe to the op-
posite side of the river, to fetch us over, was ac-
companied by three young squaws, apparently
about fourteen or fifteen years of age, who came
over in the canoe, and were followed by an Indian,
who swam over to take care of our hor?es. When
our saddles were taken off, and put into the canoe,
Mr. Brackenridge and myself stepped in, and were
followed by the old squaw, when the three young
ones instantly stripped, threw their clothes into the
canoe, and jumped into the river. We had scarce-
ly embarked before they began to practice on us a
number of mischievous tricks. The slow progress
which the canoe made enabled them to swim round
us frequently, sometimes splashing us, then seizing
hold of the old squaw's paddle, who tried in vain
to strike them with it; at other times they would
pull the canoe in such a manner as to change the
direction of its course j at length they all seized
hold of the hind part, and hung to it. The old
squaw called out to the Indian that was following
our horses, who immediately swam down to our
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. l6l
^issistance, and soon relieved us from our frolick-
soiiae tormentors, by plunging them successively
over head, and holding them for a considerable
time under water. After some time they all made
their escape from him, by diving and swimming hi
different directions. On landing, by way of reta-
liation, we seized their clothes, which caused much
laughing betwixt the squaw and the Indian. We
had many invitations to stay and smoke ; but as
it was near sunset, and we had seven mil^es to rid^
they excused lis.
29th and 80th. — I continued adding to my stock,
and the latter day observed a vein of iine coal,
about eighteen inches thick, in the perpendicular
bluff below the Fort. On shewing specimens of it
to some of the hunters in the Fort, they assured
me that higher up the river it was a very common
substance, and that there were places in which it
was on fire. As pumice is often found floating
down the Missouri, I made frequent inquiries of
the hunters if any volcano existed on the river or
its branches, but could not procure from them any
information that would warrant such a conclusion.
It is probable, therefore, that this pumice stone
proceeds from these burning coal beds.
ist July. — I extended my researclies up tlie
river, along the foot of the bluffs j and when at
L
162 TRAVELS IN THE
the distance of three or four miles from the Fort>
and in the act of digging up some roots, I was
surprised by an Indian, who was within a few yards
of me before I perceived him. He had a short
gun on his shoulder, and came close to me. He
shewed me by signs that he knew very well I was
collecting those roots and^plants for medicine, and
laying hold of my shirt, made the motion usual
when traffic or exchange is proposed. It consists
in crossing the two fore fingers one over the other
alternately. On his pointing to a little distance
from us, I perceived a squaw coming up, followed
by two dogs, each of which drew a sledge, contain-
ing some mockasons and other small articles. The
signs which he afterwards made were of a nature
not to be misunderstood, and implied a wish to
make a certain exchange for my shirt, wherein the
squaw would have been the temporary object of
barter. To this proposition I did not accede, but
replied, in the Osage language, honkoska, (no)
which he seemed to understand, and immediately
took hold of my belt, which was of scarlet worsted,
worked with blue and white beads, and repeated
his proposition, but with the same success. After
looking at me fiercely for a few moments, he took
his gun from his shoulder, and said in French,
sacre crapaudy which was also repeated by the
squaw. As I had foreseen that he would be offend-
ed at my refusal, I took care, on the first movement
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. l63
^hicli he made with his gun, to be beforehand
with him, by placing my hand on the lock of mine,
which I held presented to him. In this situation
we gradually withdrew from each other, until he
disappeared with his squaw and the dogs.
2nd. — Mr. Brackenr-idge and I made an excur-
sion into the interior from the river, and found no-
thing interesting but what has already been noticed,
excepting some bodies of argillaceous schist, parts
of which had a columnar appearance. They were
lying in a horizontal position, and resembled in
some degree the bodies of trees.
4th. — This day being the anniversary of the in-
dependence of the United States, Mr. Lisa invited
us to dine on board of his boat, which was accepted
by Messrs. Brackenridge, Lewis, Nuttall, and my-
self; and as Le Borgne and the Black Shoe, the two
Minetaree chiefs, called at the Fort before dinner,
they were invited also. They ate with moderation,
and behaved with much propriety, seeming studi-
ously to imitate the manners of white people. Af-
ter dinner Mr. Lisa gave to each of them a glass
of whiskey, which they drank without any hesita-
tion ; but on having swallowed it, they laid their
hands on their stomachs, and exhibited such dis-
tortion of features, as to render it impossible to
forbear laughing. As Jussum was present, I asked
W4,
TRAVELS IN' TM£
him the meaning of some words which lliey apoke
to each other, who informed me that they called
the whiskey fire water.
Mr. Lisa having announced to us his intention
to depart on the 6th for the Aricaras, I employed
myself during the 5th in packing up carefully my
collection, and on the morning of the 6th we set
out. Our progress down the river was very rapid,
as it was still in a high state. We did not land
until evening, after making in the course of the
day more than one hundred miles. In the evening
and during the night the mosquitoes were exceed-
ingly troublesome, which rendered it almost impos-
sible to sleep.
7th. — We passed Cannon-ball River about ten
o'clock, and stopped a short time at its mouth,
where I noticed and procured some additional
specimens. In the evening I had the pleasure
of meeting my former companions, and was re-
joiced to find that Mr. Crooks arrived safely with
the horses, and that Mr. Hunt had now obtained
nearly eighty in all. Soon after my arrival, Mr.
Hunt informed me of his intention to depart from
the Aricaras shortly. I therefore purposed return-
ing down the river ; and as the Canadians Would
not be permitted to take their trunks, or, as they
termed them, their cahvtteSy by land, I purchased
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. l60
froiTi tliera seventeen, in which I intended to ar-
range nfiy living specimens, having now collected
several thousands. It had been a custom with us
r
to keep a guard round our camp during the night,
since our arrival at the Aricaras. Four of the party
were stationed for this purpose until midnight,
and were then relieved by four others, who re-
mained on guard until morning. On the morning
of the 10th, at day-break, some Indians came to
our camp from the village, among whom was my
friend the young warrior. As I happened to be
on guard, he came to me, and by signs invited me
to go and breakfast with him. Whilst we were
sitting together, he suddenly jumped up, and point-
ed to the bluffs, at the distance of three or four
miles down the river. On looking, I observed a
numerous crowd of Indians. He gave me to un-
derstand that it was a war party on their return,
and immediately ran to the villa2;e. In a few
minutes the tops of the lodges were crowded with
Indians, who appeared much agitated. Soon after
an Indian gallopped paRt our camp, who I under-
stood was a chief. In a few minutes afterwards
parties began to come out of the village, on theii*
way to meet the warriors, or rather to join them,
as it is the custom for a war party to wait at a dis-
tance from the village, when a victory has been
gained, that their friends may join in the parade of
a triumphal entry ; and on such occasions all their
166 TRAVELS IN THE
finery and decorations are displayed : some time
also is requisite to enable the warriors at home and
their friends to paint themselves, so as to appear
with proper eclat-. During the time that elapsed
before the arrival of the procession, I walked into
the village, where a universal stillness prevailed.
No business seemed to be going on, excepting the
preparing of something for the warriors to eat on
their return. The squaws were thus employed ia
all the lodges into which I entered,* and I noticed
that not one of the poor creatures seemed in the
least solicitous about her own person j as they are
* 1 noticed over their fires much larg^er vessels of earthenware
than any I had before seen, and was permitted to examine them.
They were sufficiently hardened by the fire to cause them to
emit a sonorous tone on being struck, and in all I observed im-
pressions on the outside, seemingly made by wicker work. This
led me to enquire of them by signs how they were made ? when
a squaw brought a basket, and took some clay, which she began
to spread very evenly within it, shewing me at the same time
that they were made in that way. From the shape of these ves-
sels, they must be under the necessity of burning the basket to
disengage them, as they are wider at the bottom than at the top.
I must here remark, that at the Great Salt Lick, or Saline, about
twenty miles from the mouth of the Wabash, vast quantities
of Indian earthenware are found, on which I have observed im-
pressions exactly similar to those here mentioned. From the
situation of these heaps of fragments, and their proximity to the
salt works, I am decidedly of opinion that the Indians practised
the art of evaporating the brine, to make salt, before the disco-
very of America.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. iG'J
too insignificant to be thought an appendage to a
triumph. It was near the middle of the day be-
fore the procession came in sight, when I went to
meet it, in order that my view might be prolonged.
A number of the old men and squaws were abo
moving down from the town to meet it. At the
head of the procession were four standard bearers,
followed by a band of warriors on foot ; after
which came a party on horseback : to these suc-
ceeded two of the principal chiefs, betwixt whom
was a young warrior, who I understood had been
severely wounded. Then came two other standard
bearers, who were succeeded bv another band of
foot and horse ; this order was observed until the
four bands of which the party consisted had passed.
They were about three hundred in number : each
man carried a shield ; a few were armed with guns,
some with bows,* and others with war clubs.
* The bows are short, but strong'. Those which are esteemed
the best, are inade of the horas of the animal called by the
French gros come. This animal inhabits the Rocky Mountains,
and is gregarious. All who have seen it, represent its agility in
leaping from rock to rock as one of the most surprising things
they ever beheld. The Americans call it the mountain sheep ;
but the probability is that it belongs to the genus antelope. The
horns are exceedingly large for the size of the animal. The
bows are made of three pieces, very neatly joined together by a
long splice, and wound round with sinew in a very exact nianiitr.
The next in value, and but little inferior, are made of a yellow
wood, from a tre« which grows on Red River, and perhaps on
l6S TRAVELS IN THE
They were painted in a manner that seemed as if
they had studied to mkke themselves hideous.
Many of them h^d th6 mark which indicates that
they had drunk the blood of an enemy. This mark
is made by rubbing the hand all over with Vermil-
lion, and by laying it on the mouth, it leaves a
complete impression on the face, which is designed
to resemble and indicate a bloody hand. With
every band some scalps were carried, elevated on
long sticks ; but it was easy to perceive, on a close
examination, that the scalps had been divided, to
increase the apparent number. The enemy that
were killed we supposed did not exceed in number
seven or eight, and they had themselves lost two,
90 that this engagement had not been a veiy bloody
one. As the body approached the tow^n, the squa^ws
and old men met them, and, excepting the lamenta-
the Arkansas. This wood is called boisjaune, or bois d^arc,
I do not think the ti*ee has yet been described, unless it has
been found lately in Mexico. I have seen two trees of this spe-
cies in the g-arden of Pierre Chouteau, in St. Louis, and found
that it belongs to the class dioecia ; but both of the trees beings
females, I could not determine the g'^nus. The fruit is as large
as an apple, and is rough on the outside. It bleeds an acrid
milky juice when wounded, and is caUed by the hunters the
Osage orange. The price of a bow made from this wood at the
Aricaras is a horse and a blanket. Many of the war clubs are
made of the same kind of wood, and have the blade of a kuife,
or some sharp instrument, fastened at the end, and projecting
from four to six inches, forming a right angle with the club.
INTEtllOR OF AMERICA. l60
tions of those whose relatives had been killed or
woimded, the expressions of joy became general,
but without disturbing in the least tiie order of the
procession. I walked into the village, which as-
sumed a busy air. On the entrance of the party,
the warriors were conducted to the different loclges,
tliat they might refresh themselves; and the old men
went among them, shaking hands with some, and
seemingly bestowing praises on others, who had con-
ducted themselves well in the battle. As the time
fixed on for the departure of Mr. Hunt and his party
by land was now approaching, I quitted this scene of
festivity, in order to resume my emplo}TBent, and
returned to the camp, where I found tlie party
busily employed in preparing for tlieir departure,
by parching and grinding corn, mixing it with
sugar, and putting it in bags. I now learned that
the three men who had promised to accompany me
down the river had changed their minds and on
account of the now determined and inveterate hos-
tility of the Sioux, they could not be prevailed on
to venture, although I made them liberal offers.
Two of them had determined to join the expedition;
the other, Amos Richardson, was very anxious to
descend the river, four years having elapsed since
he had seen the house of a white man ; but we
two would not have been sufficient to navigate the
boat. Notwithstanding this I commenced filHng
the caisettes with plants, and placed them in my
lyO TllAVELS IN THE
boat, and in the evening again walked up to the
village, where I met Mr. Brackenridge, who had
amused himself during the afternoon by attending
to the proceedings consequent on the return of
the war party. I was also met by my friend the
young warrior, who invited me into his lodge,
and repeated his request that I would be his
guest during my stay. I gave him a few yards
of printed calico and some gunpowder. In return
he pressed me to accept a bow and a quiver full of
arrows. Whilst we were smoking, his sister pre-
pared some buffalo meat with hominy, of which
we ate, and after shaking hands with him, I joined
Mr. Brackenridge. In the village all kind of la-
bour among the women was suspended: the old
men were going from lodge to lodge, probably
enquiring the particulars of the engagement, and
bestowing praises on those who had behaved well.
The tops and entrances of the lodges were adorned
with the shields and arms of the warriors, and all
seemed joy and festivity, with the exception of
those squaws who were mourning the loss of the
killed. It may not be amiss to observe that these
people had more reason to rejoice for this victory,
than many European nations have had for those of
infinitely more importance in appearance. For
although it had not been attended with so much
bloodshed as some battles in Europe have, yet it
had for the present driven away an enemy, who
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 1 71
for two or three weeks had been hovering round,
and threatened us all with starvation. This enemy
is the oldest and the most implacable they have,
and has already succeeded so far in effecting their
extermination, that they are reduced from com-
posing ten large tribes to their present number.
These miscreants have been constantly their op-
pressors, and rob and murder them sometimes
with impunity. The present number which the
two viDages contain is estimated at two thousand,
and the warriors at five hundred, but I think it
overrated. They are derived from the Panics,
and are stout and well built. The men go mostly
naked in summer, and when disposed to make use
of a covering, it consists of only a part of a buf-
falo skin thrown over the shoulders, with a hole
for the right arm to pass through. This can be
thrown oH" in an instant. 'I hey scarcely ever ap-
pear without arms beyond the limits of the to\Mi.
As the nature of the country renders it necessary
that they should pursue their game on horseback,
frequent practice renders them not only good horse-
men, but also teaches them to handle their bows
and strike an object with precision with their ar-
rows, when at full speed. They chiefly subsist on
the buffalo, and when a herd is discovered, a con-
siderable number of the hunters dispose themselves
in a manner so as to approach as near as possible
unperceived by them. This must always be done
172 TRAVELS IN THE
with due regard to tlie directian of the wind, on
account of the exquisite degree in which this ani-
mal possesses the sense of smelHng. The instant
they are perceived by the herd, they dash in
amongst tliem, each singling out one. The horse
is taught to understand and obey the wishes of his
rider, although conveyed to him by the slightest
movement. When he has overtaken a buffalo, he
does not offer to pass it, but continues at an even
pace until the arrow is discharged, when the rider
singles out another immediately, if he thinks the
first arrow has effected his purpose. If the horse
has sufficient strength and wind to enable his rider
to kill three buffaloes, he is held in great estima-
tion. None of these would be sold by the Aricaras
to Mr. Hunt. After the horses are out of breath,
they pursue the wounded animals at leisure, as
they separate from the herd on being wounded, and
are soon left behind from weakness, occasioned by
loss of blood. To produce a more copious dis-
diarge, the heads of the arrows designed to he used
in hunting are much broader than those intended
for war. The heads of both are flat, and of the
form of an isosceles triangle ; the length of the
two equal sides is three times that of the base.*
* Before the Indians had airy ititercourae with the whites,
tbey made the heads of trlieir arrows of flint or horn stone.
They now purchase them from the traders, who cut then-, from
rolled iron or from hoops.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 173
In neither does the shaft of the arrow fill up the
wound which the head has made ; but the shaft of
the hunting arrow is fluted, to promote a still
greater discharge of blood. On these occasions
they often kill many more than they can possibly
dispose of, and it has already been observed that
hunting parties are frequently followed by wolves,
W'hich profit by this wanton destruction.
The Aricaras do not provide for their horses any
better than the other nations of the Missouri.
They cut down the cotton wood, (populus angu-
losa) and the horses feed on the bark and smaller
branches. I have seen instances exhibiting proofs
that these poor animals have eaten branches two
inches in diameter. The women, as is the custom
with Indians, do all the drudgery, and are excel-
lent cullivators. I have not seen, even in the
United States, any crop of Indian corn in finer or-
der, or better managed, than the corn about these
villages. They also cultivate squashes, beans, and
the small species of tobacco (nicotiana rustica.)
The only implement of husbandry used by them is
the hoe. Of tliese implements they were so desti-
tute before our arrival, that I saw several of the
squaws hoeing their corn with the blade bone of a
buflalo, ingeniously fixed in a stick for that purpose.
I am not acquainted with any customs peculiar
174^ TRAVELS IN THE
to this nation, except that of having a sacred lodgfe
in the centre of the largest village. This is called
the Medicine Lodge, and in one particular corres-
ponds w th the sanctuary of the Jews, as no blood
is on any account whatsoever to be spilled within
it, not even that of an enemy ; nor is any one,
having taken refuge there, to be forced from it.
This lodge is also the general place of deposit for
such things as they devote to the Father 0/ life :
but it does not seem absolutely necessary that every
thing devoted shall be deposited here ; for one of
the chiefs, avaihng himself of this regulation, de-
voted his horse, or, in their mode of expressing it,
" gave it to his medicine,*' after which he could
not, according to their rules, give him away. This
exempted him, in respect to that particular object,
from the tax which custom lays on the chiefs of
this nation and most of the other nations. This
will be explained by stating that generosity, or
rather an indifference for self, forms here a neces-
sary qualification in a chief. The desire to acquire
and possess more than others, is thought a passion
too ignoble for a brave man : it often happens,
therefore, that a chief is the poorest man in the
community.
In respect to their general policy as regards
property, they seem to have correct ideas amongst
themselves of the meiim and tuum ; and when the
INTERIOR OF AIVIERICA. 175
generally thievish character of those we call sa-
vages is considered, the Indians of the Missouri are
superlatively honest towards strangers. I never
heard of a single instance of a white man being
robbed, or having any thing stolen from him in an
Indian village. It is true, that when they find
white men trapping for beaver on the grounds
which they claim, they often take from them the
furs they have collected, and beat them severely
with their uiping sticks ; but so far is this from
being surprising, that it is a wonder they do not
kill them, or take away their rifles.
The chief part of their riches consists in horses,
many of which are obtained from the nations south-
west of them, as the Chayennes, Poncars, Panics,
&c. who make predatory excursions into Mexico,
and steal horses from the Spaniards, A consider-
able number of those bought from the Aricaras
were branded, and were doubtless brought from
Mexico, as the Indians do not practice branding.
There is nothing relating to the Indians so dif-
ficult to understand as their religion. They be-
lieve in a Supreme Being, in a future state, and in
supernatural agency. Of the Great Spirit they do
not pretend to give any account, but believe him
to be the author and giver of all good. They be-
lieve in bad spirits, but seem to consider them ra-
176 ..'J TRAVELS IN THE
ther as little wicked beings, who can only gratify
their malignity by driving away the game, pre-
venting the etficacy of medicine, or such petty mis-
chief. The belief in a future state seems to be
geiiejai, as il extends even to the Nodowessies or
Sioux, who are the furthest removed from civiliza-
tion, and who do not even cultivate the soil. It is
kiiown, that frequently when an Indian has shot
down his enemy, and is preparing to scalp him,
with the tomahawk uplifted to give the fatal stroke,
he will address him in words to this effect : ** My
name is Cashegra. I am a famous warrior, and
am now going to kill you. When you arrive at the
land of spirits, you will see the ghostof my father;
tell him it was Cashegra that sent you there." He
then gives the blow.
In respect to laws, I could never find that any
code is established, or that any crime against so-
ciety becomes a subject of inquiry amongst the
chiefs, excepting cowardice or murder. The last
is, for the most part, punished with death, and the
nearest of kin is deputed by the council to act the
part of executioner. In some tribes, I am told,
this crime may be commuted. It scarcely requires
to be observed, that chastity in females is not a
virtue, nor that a deviation from it is considered a
crime, when sanctioned by the consent of their
husbands, fathers, or brothers : but in some tribes.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 177
as the Potowatomies, Saukies, Foxes, &c. the
breach of it, without the consent of the husband,
is punished severely, as he may bite off the nose of
his squaw if she is found guilty.
No people on earth discharge the duties of hos-
pitality with more cordial good-will than the In-
dians. On entering a lodge I was always met by
the master, who first shook hands with me, and
immediately looked for his pipe: before he had
time to light it, a bear-skin, or that of a buffalo,
was spread for me to sit on, although they sat on
the bare ground. When the pipe was lighted, he
smoked a few whiffs, and then handed it to me ;
after which it went round to all the men in the
lodge. Whilst this was going on, the squaw pre-
pared something to eat, which, when ready^ was
placed before me on the ground. The squaw, in
some instances, examined my dress, and in parti-
cular my mockasons : if any repair was waiting,
she brought a small leather bag, in which she kept
her awls and split sinew, and put it to rights. Af-
ter conversing as well as we could by signs, if it
was near night, I was made to understand that a
bed was at my service ; and in general this offer
was accompanied by that of a bedjellow.
The two men, Jones and Carson, whom we met
descending the Missouri on the 22nd of May, had
M
1?^ TRAVELS IN THE
re«)alned with the Aiicaras during the winter, and
qp.opr feturn, Carson was desirqus of rewarding
thp^P^ia" with whom he had boarded during that
period. For that purpose he obtained some articles
from Mr. Hunt, and offered them to the savage^
who refused to accept them, and as a reason for it,
observed, that " Carson was poorer than himself J*
I breakfasted with Mr. Lisa the day following, and
found that he intended to send two of the boat$
purchased from ^r. Hunt to St. Louis, with skins
and furs, and th^t Mr. Brackenridge purposed to
descen4 vyith them. I knew also that in a week
pur party would take their departure for the Pacific
Ogean. Messrs. Hunt, Crooks, and M'Kenzie in-
vited me to go to the Pacific, and in the first instance
I was inclined to accept the invitation j but finding
that they could not assure me of a passage from
thence to the United States by sea, or even to
(^hina, and considering also that I must sacrifice
X^y present coUeption by adopting that measure,
antd that in, passing over the Rocky Mountains, \
should probably be unable to preserve or carry my
specimens, I declined. There was now something
of uncertainty whether Mr. Lisa would return to
St. Louis in autumn, or remain during the winter.
On duly weighing all these circumstances, I re-
solved to return in the boats which were intende4
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 179
to be dispatched down the river, although it did
not exactly suit my views, as I had noticed a great
numberof species of plants on the river, that, from
the early state of the season, could not then be col-
lected advantageously. These I had reserved for
my descent ; but as no man would accompany me
but Richardson, I applied to Mr. Lisa, informing
him of my wish to descend in his boats j and on
consideration of being permitted to land at certain
places which I pointed out, I offered to give him
my boat as a compensation. To this he readily
agreed, and I commenced preparing for my depar-
ture.
It had been a matter of surprise to me on my
return from Fort Mandan, to find plenty of fresh
buffalo meat in our camp, although the fear of the
Sioux had not yet subsided. On enquiry, I found
that Mr. Hunt had hit upon an expedient which
proved successful. This was to dispatch a boat
up the river in the night to some miles distant,
which afforded an opportunity to the hunters to
procure food. This boat returned with a plentiful
supply, and secured the party from starving, as a
considerable portion of the Indian dogs were aU
ready consumed. I was not less surprised on learn*
ing that at least two-thirds of our Canadians had
experienced unpleasant consequences from their
intercourse with the squaws, notwithstanding which
180 TRAVELS IN THE
the traffic before mentioned continued. I had
been informed by Jones and Carson of the exist-
ence of this evil, but found it was of the mildest
description, and that here, where the natives do
not use spirituous liquors nor salt, it is not feared.
I found some of the Canadians digging up roots,
with which I understood they made a decoction,
and used it as a drink. They mostly preferred the
roots of rudheclda purpitreay and sometimes they
used those of hoicstonia longifolia.
This morning a circumstance came to our know-
ledge which gave serious alarm to Mr. Hunt and the
leaders of the party. During the night a cask of
gunpowder belonging to me had been stolen from
amongst the baggage, and from the security of our
situation, and the precautions we had taken, it was
impossible the Indians could have stolen it. Our
camp was situated immediately on the bank of the
river ; the tents, together with the men sleeping
in their blankets, surrounded the baggage, and four
men were constantly on guard during the night,
walking round the camp in sight of each other.
I had been on guard in the fore part of the night,
and Mr. Crooks on the latter watch. No collusion
could therefore be suspected ; these and other cir-
cumstances concurred in producing a belief that
some of the party intended to desert, and on ex-
amination I found that one of my trunks had been
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 181
opened, aind a pistol, some flints, my belt, and a
few shirts, taken out. In confirmation of our
opinions, John Day, one of the hunters, informed
Mr. Hunt of his having overheard some of the Ca-
nadians murmuring at the fatigues they had already
undergone, and expressing an opinion that they
should all be murdered in the journey they were
going to undertake. As the safety of the party
depended, in a great measure, on its strength, a
diminution in the number, if considerable, might
therefore defeat the enterprize ; a search was made
in all the neighbourhood of the camp, and even in
the bank of the river, but without effect. As my
boat might facilitate a desertion, I caused it to be
removed to Mr. Lisa's camp, who moored it in
safety with his own boats ; and I employed myself^
for the remainder of the day, in filling some boxes.
On account of my constant attention to plants,
and being regularly employed in collecting, I was
considered as the physician of the party by all the
nations we saw ; and generally the medicine men
amongst them sought my acquaintance. This day,
the doctor, whom Mr. Brackenridge and I saw in
the upper village, and who showed me his medicine
bag, came to examine my plants. I found he un-
derstood a few French words, such as bo7i, mal^
&c. I presented him with some small ornaments
of silver, with which he appeared to be very much
182 TRAVELS IN THE
pleased, and requested me to go to his lodge and
smoke with him. When I entered, he spread a
fine new buffalo robe for me to sit on, and showed
me that it was a present, which he wished me to
accept. I smoked with him, and regretted much,
that we could only converse by signs, and he seem-
ed also to feel the same regret. He showed me a
quantity of a plant lately gathered, and by signs
informed me tliat it cuied the cholic. It was a
new species of amorpha. I returned to the camp,
accompanied by the doctor, who very politely car-
ried the buffalo robe for me.
On the 17th I took leave of my worthy friends,
Messrs. Hunt, Crooks, and M'Kenzie, whose kind-
ness and attention to me had been such as to ren-
der the parting painful ; and I am happy in having
this opportunity of testifying my gratitude and res-
pect for them : throughout the whole voyage, every
indulgence was given me, that was consistent with
their duty, and the general safety. Mr. Lisa had
loaded two boats with skins and furs, in each of
which were six men. Mr. Brackenridge, Amos
Richardson, and myself were passengers. On
passing our camp, Mr. Hunt caused the men to
draw up in a line, and give three cheers, which
we returned ; and we soon lost sight of them, as we
moved at the rate of about nine miles per hour.
I now found, to my great surprise, that Mr. Lisa
JQ
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 18
had instructed Mr. Brackenridge not, on any ac*
count, to stop iti the day, but if possible, to gd
night and day. As this measure would deprive
me of all hopes of adding to my collection any of
the plaMs lower down the river, and was directly
contrary to our agreement, I was greatly mortified
and chagrined ; and although I found that Mr.
Brackenridge felt sensibly for my disappointment,
yet I could not expect that he would act con-
trary to the directions given by Lisa : 1 had in
consequence the mortification during the day, of
passing a number of plants that may probably re-
main unknown for ages.
Our descent was very rapid, and the day re-
markably fine ; we had an opportunity, therefore,
of considering the river more in its tout ensemble
than in our ascent, and the changes of scenery
came upon us with a succession so quick, as to
keep the eye and the mind continually employed.
We soon came in sight of the bluffs which border
the Chayenne River, stretching as far as the eye
could reach, and visible only through the low in-
tervals in those bordering the Missouri. Before
night we passed the Chayenne, and during a few
moments had a view of its stream, for two or three
miles above its junction with the Missouri. It is
one of the largest rivers that falls into it, being at
least four hundred vards wide at its mouth, and
28 i TRAVELS IN THE
navigable to a great distance. The banks appear
to be more steep than those of the Missouri, and
are clothed with trees to the water's edge. On
both sides of the river we saw numberless herds of
buffaloes, grazing in tranquillity, some of them not
a quarter of a mile from us when we passed them*
We continued under way until late in the evening,
and encamped on an island ; a measure we deter-^ -
mined to pursue when practicable, as we knew
that to fall into the hands of the Sioux would be
certain death.
18th. — We set out early, and continued under
way during the whole of the day without interrup-
tion, and encamped on Great Cedar Island, where
a French trader, named L*Oiselle, formerly had a
post or trading house. This island is about two
miles in length, and chiefly covered with very fine
cedar, and some rose and currant bushes, consider-
ably overrun with vines, on which some of the
grapes were already changing colour.
19th — In the early part of the day we arrived
at the upper part of the Great Bend, and continued
to see innumerable herds of buftkloes on both sides
of the river. I now found that although our pat-
roTiy or steersman, who conducted the first boat,
and directed our motions, was determined to obey
strictly the orders of Lisa as regarded expedition.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 185
yet from his timidity I had some hope of oppor-
tunities to collect.
Before we entirely passed the Great Bend a
breeze arose, which ruffled the surface of the river :
He put ashore, not daring to proceed, and we lay
to during the remainder of the day, having descend-
ed about two hundred and eighty miles in two
days and a half I determined not to lose this op-
portunity to add a few species to my collection,
and was accompanied in my excursion by Mr.
Brackenridge, who employed himself in keeping
a good look out for fear of a surprise by the Sioux,
a precaution necessary to my safety, as the nature
of my employment kept me for the most part in a
stooping posture. The track of land which is
inclosed in the Bend probably contains about forty
square miles, nearly level, and the soil excellent.
It was at this time covered with fine grass and
scattered groves of trees, betwixt which many
herds of buffaloes were quietly grazing : we did
not wish to disturb them, for fear of thereby ena-
bling the Sioux to discover us.
20th. — About nine o'clock we discovered some
buffaloes grazing near the edge of the river, about
half a mile below us, and in such a position that
we might apparently approach very near them with-
out being discovered. We landed a little above
18G TRAVELS IN THE
them, and approached within about sixty yards,
when four of the party fired. It appeared that two
were wounded, one of which fled towards the river,
into which it phmged, and was immediately pur-
sued by one of the boats, whilst the party ashoi e
followed the other, among whom I ran, but I was
much less intent on obtaining the buffalo, than on
procuring some plants which I knew were to be
had on the bluffs, and actually succeeded. In
about half an hour the party gave up the pursuit,
being unsuccessful, and returned discouraged to
the place where they had left me. But as I had
not gone over the bluffs, and had observed w^hat
had passed in the river, I gave them the pleasing
intelligence that the boat had overtaken the other
buffalo, and that the men were now employed in
dragging the carcase ashore. We soon joined
them, and in a few minutes the animal was skinned
and cut up. It was by much the iiittest we had
seen, and the tallow it contained waifr very con-
siderable.*
* I am informed by the hunters, that in autumn the quantity
of tallow or fat in the buffalo is very great. It of course dimi-
nishes whea food becomes" scarce. As the same thing obtains
in a number of animals, by climate and habit ordained to pro-
cure abundance of food in summer, and to sufff-r great privation
in winter, this collection of fat seems to be a kind of reservoir,
containing the means of existence, which is drained by absor-
bent vessels, and returned into the system when necessary.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 187
vVe soon passed White River, which is inferior
both in magnitude and beauty to the Chayenne, if
if we may judge from its mouth, where it is not
more than three hundred yards wide. Soon after
we passed the river, we saw a buffalo ininning over
the bluff towards the Missouri, which put us on
our guard, as we considered it a certain indication
of Indians being near. Immediately below the
river the vast vein of iron ore commences which
has been before mentioned. I again noticed its
exact conformitv on both sides of the river, in
point of elevation and thickness of the vein.
As the evening approached we noticed a succes-
sion of flashes of lightning, just appearing over the
bluffs, on the opposite side of the river. This did
not for some time excite much attention, as it was
by no means an uncommon occurrence ; but we
soon began to apprehend impending danger, as we
perceived that the storm advanced with great rapi-
dity, accompanied with appearances truly terrific.
The cloud was of a pitchy blackness, and so dense
as to resemble a solid body, out of which, at short
intervals, the lightning poured in a continued
stream for one or two seconds. It was too late to
cross the river, and, unfortunately for us, the side
on which we were was entirely bounded by rocks.
We looked most anxiously for some little harbour,
or jutting point, behind which we might shelter
188 TRAVELS IN THE
ourselves ; but not one appeared, and darkness
came on with a rapidity I never before witnessed.
It was not long that any choice was left us. We
plainly heard the storm coming. We stopped
and fastened our boats to some shrubs, (amorpha
frutkosa) which grew in abundance out of the clefts
of these rocks, and prepared to save ourselves and
our little barks if possible. At each end of the
boats there was a small deck : under these we stow-
ed our provisions, &c. : next to the decks were
piled the packs of skins, secured by ropes, and in
the middle a space of about twelve feet long was
left for the oarsmen. Fortunately for us, we had
some broad boards in each boat, designed as a de-
fence against arrows, in case of an attack by the
Sioux. These boards we placed on the gunwale
of the boats, and crammed our blankets into such
parts as the lightning enabled us at intervals to see
did not fit closely. Before we had time to lash
our boards the gale commenced, and in a few mi-
nutes the swell was tremendous. For nearly an
hour it required the utmost exertion of our strength
to hold the boards to their places, and before the
storm abated we were nearly exhausted, as also
were those who were occupied in baling. As the
river is in this place nearly a mile in breadth, and
being on the lee shore, the waves were of consider-
able magnitude, and frequently broke over the
boats. Had our fastenings given w^ay, we must
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 189
inevitably have perished. \Vlien the wind abated
the rain increased, and continued for the greater
part of the night, during which my friend Bracken-
ridge and myself lay on the deck, rolled up in our
wet blankets, congratulating ourselves on our es-
cape. For myself I felt but little : two years, in a
great measure spent in the wilds, had inured me
to hardships and inclemencies ; but I felt much
for my friend Brackenridge. Poor young many his
youth, and the delicacy of his frame, ill suited him
for such hardships, which, nevertheless, he support-
ed cheerfully.
In the morning the sun rose unobscured, which
was to us extremely welcome, as its heat soon ren-
dered us comparatively comfortable. We passed
the river L' Eau qui Court, and shortly afterwards
the place where we met the Poncar Indians, and
as the wind began to blow fresh, we stopped five
or six miles lower down, nearly at the place where
I met the three Indians on the 24th of May. This
enabled me to procure roots of the new species of
currant, altliough with much pain and difficulty,
having four miles at least to wade through water
and mud, as the river had recently overflowed its
banks. On my return to the boats, as the wind
had in some degree abated, we proceeded, and had
not gone more than five or six miles before we
were surprised by a dull hollow sound, the cause
190 TllAVELS fN THE
of which we could not possibly imagine. It seem-
ed to be one or two miles below us j but as our
descent was viery rapid, it increased every moment
in loudness, and before we had proceeded far, our
ears were able to catch some distinct tones, like
the bellowing of buffaloes. When opposite to the
place from whence it proceeded, we landed, as-
cended the bank, and entered a small skirting of
trees and shrubs, that separated the river from an
extensive plain. On gaining a view of it, such a
scene opened to us as will fall to the lot of few
travellers to witness. This plain was literally co-
vered with buffaloes as far as we could see, and we
soon discovered that it consisted in part of females.
The males were fighting in every direction, with a
fury which I have never seen paralleled, each hav-
ing singled out his antagonist. We judged that
the number must have amounted to some thou-
sands, and that there were many hundreds of these
battles going on at the same time, some not eighty
yards from us. It will be recollected that at this
season the females would naturallv admit the so-
ciety of the males. From attentively observing
some of the combats nearest to us, I am persuaded
that our domestic bull would almost invariably be
worsted in a contest with this animal, as he is in-
ferior to him both in strength and ferocity. A
shot was fired amongst them, which they did not
seem to notice. Mr. Rrackenridge joined me in
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 191
|Vreveuting a volley being fired, as it would have
been useless, and therefore wanton ; for if we had
killed one of these animals, I am certain the weight
of his carcase in gold would not have bribed us to
fetch him. I shall only observe farther, that the
noise occasioned by the trampling and bellowing
was far beyond description. In the evening, be-
fore we encamped, another immense herd made its
appearance, running along the bluffs at full speed,
and although at least a mile from us, we could dis-
tinctly hear the sound of their feet, which resemb-
led distant thunder.
The morning of the next day was very fine. We
saw some bufialoes swimming, at which the men
lired, contrary to our wishes, as w^e did not intend
to stop for them. The stream was very rapid. We
[>assed the Sulphur bluffs, and stopped a short time
at Floyd's grave : shortly afterwards we arrived at
the trading house opposite the Maha village, but
saw no one, nor did we wish it, as Mr. Lisa had
not called on the Big Elk when he ascended, who
might probably be offended at his neglect. We
encamped on some drift wood from necessity, not
being able to get ashore. The navigation of the ri-
ver had now become much more difficult, and we had
in the two succeeding days some very narrow es-
capes. The river was considerably higher than at
any former period, and from the Mahas to the River
1 92 • TRAVELS IN THE
Platte, is more crooked than in any other part. At
every sudden turn the momentum of the boats had
a continual tendency to throw them ashore on the
outer bank, which it required all the skill of the
steersman, and strength of the oarsmen, to prevent.
In two instances we were very near being carried
into the woods, in places where the river overflowed
its banks. We arrived at Fort Osage, now Fort
Clark, on the 27th in the afternoon, and were very
politely received by Major Brownson. I had the
pleasure to find that Mr. Sibley had returned a few
days before from his tour to the Arkansas, to ex-
amine the vast body of salt in the neighbourhood
of that river. He very politely furnished us with
extracts from his journal, which are as follow : —
** After giving a number of medals to the Pa-
nie chiefs, and having various counsels with them,
I left their villages on the 4th of June, and pro-
ceeded to the Little Osage Camp, on the Arkansas,
about seventy-five miles south, and sixteen east
from the Panics, where I safely arrived on the 11th.
I remained several days with the Osages, who had
abundance of provisions, they having killed two
hundred buffaloes within a few days. Where they
had their camp, the Arkansas was about two hun-
dred yards wide, the water shallow, rapid, and of
a red colour. On the l6th, the Indians raised their
camp, and proceeded towards the hilly country, on
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 193
the Other side of the Arkansas. I continued with
them about fifty miles west and thirty miles east,
when we fell in with some men of the Chanier's
Band, who informed us that their camp was at no
great distance, and the camp of the Big Osage
still nearer. In consequence, I determined to pass
through both on my way to the Grand Salines.
On the 2 1st I rode south forty miles, east thirty,
to the Big Osage camp ; nearly all the warriors
were at war, or abroad hunting. I was remarkably
well treated by young White Hair and family ; I
however remained but one night with them. On
the 22d I rode twenty miles south, fifteen east, to
the Chanier's camp, where we arrived about one
o'clock. We were well treated by the head men ;
and indeed, this is one of the tribes most attached
to the Americans. The chief's name is Clermont.
From hence it is forty miles to the Grand Salines,
which we reached early on the morning of the 24th.
I hasten to give you a description of this celebrated
curiosity.
*' The Grand Saline is situated about two hundred
and eighty miles south-west of Fort C)sage, be-
tween two forks of a small branch of the Arkan-
sas, one of which washes its southern extremity ;
and the other, the principal one, runs nearly par-
allel, within a mile of its opposite side. It is a
hard level plain, of reddish coloured sand, and of
N
19*1^ TRAVELS IN THE
an irregular or mixed figure. Its greatest length
is from north-west to south-east, and its circum-
ference full thirty miles. From the appearance
of drift-wood that is scattered over, it would seem
that the whole plain is at times inundated by the
overflowing of the streams that pass near it.
This plain is entirely covered in hot dry weather,
from two to six inches deep, with a crust of
beautiful clean white salt, of a quality rather su-
perior to the imported blown salt : it bears a strik-
ing resemblance to a field of brilliant snow after a
rain, with a light crust on its top. On a bright
sunny morning, the appearance of this natural cu-
riosity is highly picturesque : it possesses the qua-
lity of looming, or magnifying objects, and this
in a very striking degree, making the small billets
of wood appear as formidable as trees. Numbers
of buffaloes were on the plain. The Saline is envi-
roned by a stripe of marshy prairie, with a few
scattered trees, mostly of cotton w^ood ; behind
these is a range of sand hills, some of which are
perfectly naked, others thinly clothed with verdure
and dwarf plum bushes, not more than thirty
inches in height, from which we procured abun-
dance of the most delicious plums I ever tasted.
The distance to a navigable branch of the Ar-
kansas is about eighty miles, the country tolerably
level, and the water-courses easily passed. About
sixty miles south-west of this, I came to the Saline,
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 195
the whole of this distance lying over a country re-
markably rugged and broken, affording the most
romantic and picturesque views imaginable. It is
a tract of about seventy-five miles square, in which
nature has displayed a great variety of the most
stranaje and whimsical vagaries. It is an assem-
blage of beautiful meadows, verdant ridges, and
rude, mis-shapen piles of red clay, thrown together
in the utmost apparent confusion, yet affording
the most pleasant harmonies, and presenting us in
every direction an endless variety of curious and
interesting objects. After winding along for a few
miles on the high ridges, you suddenly descend an
almost perpendicular declivity of rocks and clay,
into a series of level, fertile meadows, watered by
some beautiful rivulets, and here and there adorn-
ed with shrubby cotton wood trees, elms, and
cedars. These meadows are divided by chains form-
ed of red clay and huge masses of gypsum, with
here and there a pyramid of gravel : one might
imagine himself surrounded by the ruins of some
ancient city, and that the plain had sunk, by some
convulsion of nature, more than one hundred feet
below its former level ; for some of the huge co-
lumns of red clay rise to the height of two hundred
feet perpendicular, capped with rocks of gypsum,
which the hand of time is ever crumbling off, and
strewing in beautiful transparent flakes along the
190 TRAVELS IN THE
declivities of the hills, glittering, like so many mir-
rors, in the sun."
Mr. Sibly also showed me a letter from his fa-
ther, Dr. Sibly, of Natchitoches, informing him
of a mass of native iron having been brought down
the Red River, which weighed about two thousand
five hundred pounds. In the fort we saw the
young bears which we left there in passing up the
.river ; they had grown surprisingly, and were quite
tame, except whilst feeding, when all bears are
more fierce than at other times.
28th. — After breakfasting at the fort, we set off,
and encamped near where Fort Orleans formerly
was situated.
29th. — About noon we came in sight of a white
man's house, at Boon's Lick, when our boatmen
immediately set up a shout. Soon after, some men
appeared at the edge of a field of Indian corn,
elose to the river : they invited us ashore, and we
willingly complied. In passing through the com,
I was much struck with its luxuriance : I judged
it to be not less than fourteen feet high, and the
cars were far above my head. It was Sunday, and
when we arrived at the house, we found three
women there, all dressed in clean white gowns,
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 197
and being in other respects very neat, tbey formed/
a pleasing contrast to the squaws whom we had
of late been in the habit of seeing. They soon
spread the table for us, and produced bread, milk,
and preserved fruits, which I thought the most
delicious that I ever tasted. We ai'rived at St.
Louis in safety, where I had the pleasure of shaking
hands with my worthy friend, Mr. Abraham Gal-
latin, at whose house I slept. Early the next day,
I called at the post-oiiice, and found letters from
England, informing me of the welfare of my fa-
mily. This pleasing intelligence was damped by
a letter from my son, who informed me that those,
who had agreed to furnish me with the means of
prosecuting my tour, and to whom 1 had sent my
former collection, had determined to withhold any
farther supply. Early in the forenoon, my worthy
and respected friend, Mr. S. Bridge, from Man-
chester, came to St. Louis, and invited me to take
up my residence for the present with him. He
informed me that during my absence he had bought
a considerable quantity of land, on which he had
built a house. He sent his waggon for my plants,
and allotted me a piece of ground, which, with
much labour, I prepared in a few days, got it sur-
rounded by a fence, and transplanted the whole of
my collection. I found the situation of Mr. Bridge's
house extremely pleasant, and his plantation of the
first quality of land. Within a hundred and fifty
198 TRAVELS IN THE
yards of his house was a small vein of coal, from
twelve to eighteen inches in thickness, and rising
to the surface. For this land he had paid one dol-
lar, sixt}'-five cents per arpent, or French acre.*
In about ten days after my arrival I was attacked
by a bilious fever, which confined me to my bed.
Its violence left me little hope of recovery. In
about a month it became intermittent, and conti-
nued until the beginning of December.
During my illness a circumstance occurred, an
account of which will tend to show the almost un-
conquerable attachment to the hunting life in those
nccustomed to it. It will be remembered that a
man named Richardson accompanied us down the
Missouri, and that it has been related of him that
he had been several years in the wilderness. He
had there suffered more than common hardships,
having been often ill treated by the Indians, and
once severely wounded by an arrow. This man,
during our descent, seemed to look forward with
great anxiety to the time when we should arrive in
the settlements, and often declared his intention
never again to adopt the hunting Hfe. When I had
been sick about three weeks, he came to see me.
* The arpent is to the statute acre nearly * the proportion
of eighty-three to one hundred.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 199
and after some conversation, reminded me of my
havino' mentioned a design to ascend the Arkansas
River, and requested that I would admit him as
my companion, if I persisted in my intention.
1 spoke of my doubts whether I sliould ever re
cover, and expressed my surprise at so sudden a
change in his intentions. He repHed, *' I find so
much deceit and selfishness amongst white men, that
I am already tired of them. The anow head which
is not yet extracted, pains me when I chop wood,
whiskey I can't drink, and bread and salt I don't
care about : I will go again amongst the Indians."
Towards the latter end of November, I received
a remittance from those who had previously deter-
mined to withhold it, together with a letter from
the person* who managed the Botanic Garden at
Liverpool, informing me that he had received my
former collection, out of which he had secured in
pots more than one thousand plants, and that the
seeds were already vegetating in vast numbers. As
I had now so far recovered as to be able to ride
to St. Louis, I visited my friend Mr. Gallatin, and
remained with him some days, during which period
I often saw a young gentleman from Philadelphia,
Mr. H. W. Drinker, who had frequently called to
see me in my sickness, and whose talents and ami-
* This man's name is Shepherd.
200 TRAVELS IN THE
able manners had created in me a strong attach-
ment to him. In a tour through the country west
of the Alleghanies, he visited St. Louis, and pleas-
ed with the beauty of the place, had resided there
for some months. Finding that I was determined
to descend the Mississippi to New Orleans, he
invited me to take my passage with him, as he
purposed taking a boat down to that place, loaded
with lead, of which he had a sufficient quantity.
This was a very favourable opportunity, and I
made every exertion my weak state would admit
of, to be in readiness. A short time afterwards
Mr. Drinker ascertained that some debts due to
him, and contracted to be paid in lead, could not be
collected until the ensuing spring : he therefore
found himself necessitated to remain at St. Louis
vmtil that period. But aware of the impossibility
of my detaining what yet remained of my collec-
tion till that season, he offered to buy a boat, load
it with lead, and commit it to my care, with liberty
to sell the lead at Orleans, or store it for his ac-
count. This kind and generous offer I gladly
accepted, and in a few days a boat was procured,
and her cargo put on board, amounting to about
thirty thousand pounds weight of lead. Her
crew consisted of five French Creoles, four of
whom were oarsmen, and the fifth, who steered
the boat, is called the patron.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. gOl
On the evening of the 4th of December we
were in perfect readiness, when I took leave of my
friends at St. Louis, several of whom, from their
polite attention to me, I have reason to hold in
lasting remembrance ; and in addition to those I
have already mentioned, I ought not to omit Mr.
Josh. Charless, editor of the Missouri Gazette,
whose disposition and manners gain him the esteem
of all who know him : mine he will always retain.
I find that I omitted stating, that in November
Mr. Lisa arrived at St. Louis, and delivered me a
letter from Mr. Hunt, who informed me, that after
my departure from the Aricaras, whilst the men
were still assembled to watch our boats descend,
he addressed them on the subject of my cask of
powder, which was stolen, and with such effect,
that one of the Canadians came privately to his
tent the night following, and informed him where
it was buried in the bank of the river. Mr. Hunt
caused a search to be made the day after, and found
it. As Mr. Lisa was in want of powder^ he bought
it, and paid me for it on his return.
On the 5th of December I set ot from St. Louis
on the voyagje to New Orleans, a distance of about
one thousand three hundred and fifty miles. I
was accompanied by Mr. John Bridge, whom I ad-
mitted as a passenger at the request of his brother.
He purposed sailing from Orleans to the eastern
202 TRAVELS I NT THE
states. We arrived at St. Genevieve in the evening,
and slept at the mouth of Gabarie, a small creek
near the village, where boats trading to that place
usually stop. Having some business to transact at
St. Genevieve, I was detained till the afternoon
of the following day. During my stay here, I
became acquainted with a gentleman of the name
of Longprie, a native of St. Domingo, He had a
boat, in part loaded with lead, intended for Orleans.
It was much wished by both of us that we should
descend in company, as in case of an accident
happening to one, assistance might be rendered by
the other ; but as he could not be ready in less
than two days, I set out, intending to travel lei-
surely, that he might overtake me. It may be
necessary to remark in this place, that the naviga-
tion of the Mississippi is attended with considerable
danger, and in particular to boats loaded with lead.
These, by reason of the small space occupied by
the cargo, in case of striking against a planter or
a sawijer^ sink instantly. That these terms may be
understood, it must be observed that the alluvion
of the Mississippi is almost in every part covered
with timber close to the edge of the river, and that
in some part or other encroachments are continu-
ally made, and in particular during the time of the
floods, when it often happens that tracts of some
acres . in extent are carried away in a few days.
As in most instances a large body of earth is at-
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 203
tached to the roots of the trees, it sinks those parts
to the bottom of the river, whilst the upper parts,
more buoyant, rise to the surface in an inchned
posture, generally Math the heads of the trees
pointing down the river. Some of these trees are
lixed and immoveable, and are therefore termed
planters. Others, although they do not remove
from where they are placed, are constantly in mo-
tion : the whole tree is sometimes entirely submer-
ged by the pressure of the stream, and carried to
a greater depth by its momentum than the stream
can maintain. On rising, its momentum in the
other direction, causes many of its huge limbs to
be lifted above the surface of the river. The pe-
riod of this oscillatory motion is sometimes of several
minutes duration. These are the sawyerSy which
are much more dangerous than the planters, as no
care or caution can sufficiently guard against them.
The steersman this instant sees all the surface of
the river smooth and tranquil, and the next he is
struck with horror at seeing just before him the
sawfjer raising his terrific arms, and so near that
neither strength nor skill can save him from destruc-
tion. This is not figurative ; many boats have
been lost in this way, and more particularly those
descending, From these and other risks, it is
common for those carrying lead, to have a canoe
with them, in which they may save themselves in
case of any accident happening to tlie boat.
50-t TRAVELS IN THE
Until the 14th, no occurrence happened worth
noticing, excepting that we saw on the bank of
the river four Indians, who beckoned to us to stop :
we accordingly landed near them, and found they
were Choctaws, who wanted to sell some venison
and turkies. As they were acquainted with the
use of money, I bought from them three turkies
and two hind quarters of venison for three quarters
of a dollar, being the sum they asked.
In the evening of the 1 4th, we arrived at New
Madrid, and having occasion for some necessaries,
I bought them in the morning. I was much dis-
appointed in this place, as I found only a few
straggling houses, situated round a plain of from
two to three hundred acres in extent. There are
only two stores, which are very indifferently fur-
nished. We set off about nine o'clock, and passed
the Upper Chickasaw Bluffs ; these bluffs are of
soft sand-stone rock, of a yellow colour, but some
parts being highly charged with oxyd of iron, the
w^hole has a clouded appearance, and is considered
as a curiosity by the boatmen. At the lower end
of the bluffs we saw a smoke, and on a nearer ap-
proach, observed five or six Indians, and on the
opposite side of the river, but lower down, we
heard a dog howling. When the Indians perceived
us, they held up some venison, to show us that
they wished to dispose of it. Being desirous of
s
INTERIOR OF AMERICA, 205
adding to our stock of fresh meat, I hastily got
into the canoe, and took with me one of the men,
named La France, who spoke the Chickasaw lan-
guage, as I supposed the Indians to be of that
nation. We very imprudently went without arm s
an omission that gave me some uneasiness before
we reached them ; especially as the boat, by my
direction, proceeded leisurely on.
We found that the Indians had plenty of deer*s
flesh, and some turkies. I began to bargain for
them, when the people in the boat fifed a shot,
and the dog on the other side of the river instantly
ceased howling. The Indians immediately flew to
their arms, speaking all together, with much
earnestness. La France appeared much terrified,
and told me that they said our people in the boat
had shot their dog. I desired him to tell them
that we did not believe that our people had done
so, but if they had, I would pay them any price
for him. They seemed too much infuriated to
hearken to him, and surrounded us with their
weapons in their hands. They were very clamo-
rous amongst themselves, and, as I was afterwards
told by La France, could not agree whether they
should immediately put us to death, or keep us
prisoners until we could procure goods from the
boat to pay for the dog, on which it appeared they
set high value. Most fortunately for us, the dog,
206 TRAVELS IN THE
at this instant began to bark opposite to us, having
run a considerable distance up the river after the
shot was fired. The tomahawks were immediately
laid aside, and I bargained for half a deer, for
which I gave them a quarter dollar and gome gun-
powder. I was not very exact in measuring the
last, being rather anxious to get away, and could
perceive tliat La France had no desire to stay any
longer.
On reaching our canoe we seized our paddles,
and being told by La France that we were not yet
out of danger, we made every exertion to get out
of their reach. When w^e conceived ourselves
safe, we relaxed, and he told me that even when
we were leaving them, they were deliberating
whether they should detain us or not ; some of
them having remarked that the dog might be
wounded. We had been so long delayed by this
adventure, that it was more than an hour before
we overtook the boat. I blamed tlie boatmen
much for firing, and charged them with having
fired at the dog : this, however, appeared not to
have been the case, as they fired at a loon, (mer-
gus merganser. J In the course of this day, we
passed no fewer than thirteen arks, or Kentucky
boats, going with produce to Orleans ; all these
we left a considerable distance behind, as they
only float with the stream, and we made consider-
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 207
able head- way with our oars. In the evening we
came in view of a dangerous part of the river,
called by the Americans the Devil's Channel^ and
by the French Chenal du Diable. It appears to be
caused by a bank that crosses the river in this
place, which renders it shallow. On this bank, a
great number of trees have lodged ; and, on
account of the shallowness of the river, a consi-
derable portion of the branches are raised above
the surface j through these the water rushes witli
such impetuosity as to be heard at the distance of
some miles.
As it would require every effort of skill and ex-
ertion to pass through this channel in safety, and
as the sun had set, I resolved to wait until the mor-
ning, and caused the boat to be moored to a small
island, about five hundred yards above the entrance
into the channel. After supper we went to sleep
as usual ; and in the night, about ten o'clock, I was
awakened by a most tremendous noise, accompa-
nied by so violent an agitation of the boat that it
appealed in danger of upsetting. Before I could
quit the bed, or rather the skin, upon which I lay,
the four men who slept in the other cabin rushed
in, and cried out in the greatest terror, " O mon
Dieu ! Monsieur Bradbury, qiiest ce qu'il y a ?'*
I passed them with some difficulty, and ran to the
door of the cabin, wL^ie I could distinctly see the.
208 TRAVELS IN THE
river agitated as if by a storm ; and although the
noise was inconceivably loud and terrific, I could
distinctly hear the crash of falling trees, and the
screaming of the wild fowl on the river, but found
that the boat was still safe at her moorings. I was
followed by the men and the patron, who, in ac-
cents of terror, were still enquiring what it was : I
tried to calm them by saying, *^ Restez vous tran-
quil, c'est un tremblement de terre,*' which term
thev did not seem to understand.
a/
By the time we could get to our fire, which
was on a large flag, in the stern of the boat,
the shock had ceased ; but immediately the per-
pendicular banks, both above and below us, be-
gan to fall into the river in such vast masses, as
nearly to sink our boat by the swell they occasion-
ed ; and our patron., who seemed more terrified
even than the men, began to cry out, *'Omo?i
Dieu ! nous perirons /" I wished to consult with him
as to what we could do to preserve ourselves and
the boat, but could get no answer except " O mon
Dicu ! nous perirons /" and *' Allons a terre ! Allans
a terre /" As I found Mr. Bridge the only one
who seemed to retain any presence of mind, we
consulted together, and agreed to send two of the
men with a candle up the bank, in order to exa-
mine if it had separated from th& island, a cir-
cumstance that we suspected, from hearing the
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 209
snapping of the limbs of some drift trees, which
were deposited between the margin of the river
and the summit of the bank. The men, on ar-
riving at the edge of the river, cried out, " Vcnez
a terre ! Venez a terre ! and told us there was a
fire, and desired Mr. Bridge and the patron to
follow them ; and as it nov/ occurred to me tliat
the preservation of the boat in a great measure
depended on the depth of the river, I tried with a
sounding pole, and to my great joy, found it did
not exceed eight or ten feet.
Immediately after the shock we observed the
time, and found it was near two o'clock. At about
nearly half-past two, I resolved to go ashore
myself, but whilst I was securing some papers and
money, by taking them out of my trunks, another
shock came on, terrible indeed, but not equal to
the first. Morin, our patron^ called out from
the island, Monsieur Bradhury ! sauvez vous,
sauvez vous/" I went ashore, and found the
chasm really frightful, being not less than four
feet in width, and the bank had sunk at least two
feet. I took the candle to examine its length, and
concluded that it could not be less than eighty
yards ; and at each end, the banks had fallen into
the river. I now saw clearly that our lives had
been saved by our boat being moored to a sloping
bank. Before we completed our fire, we had two
o
210 TRAVELS IN THE
more shocks, and others occurred during the whole
night, at intervals of from six to ten minutes, but
they were slight in comparison with the first and
second. At four o'clock I took a candle, and
again examined the bank, and perceived to my great
satisfaction that no material alteration had taken
place ; I also found the boat safe, and secured my
pocket compass. I had already noticed that the
sound which was heard at the time of every shock,
always preceded it at least a second, and that it
uniformly came from the same point, and went
off in an opposite direction. I now found that the
shock came from a little northward of east, and
proceeded to the westward. At day-light we had
counted twenty-seven shocks during our stay on
the island, but still found the chasm so that it
might be passed. The river was covered with foam
and drift timber, and had risen considerably, but
our boat was safe. Whilst we were waiting till the
light became sufficient for us to embark, two ca-
noes floated down the river, in one of which we saw
some Indian corn and some clothes. We consider-
ed this as a melancholy proof that some of the boats
we passed the preceding day had perished. Our
conjectures were afterwards confirmed, as we learn-
ed that three had been overwhelmed, and that all
on board had perished. When the daylight ap-
peared to be sufficient for us, I gave orders to
embark, and we all went on board. Two men
INTERIOR OF AMERICA, 211
were in the act of loosening the fastenings, when
a shock occurred nearly equal to the first in vio-
lence. The men ran up the bank, to save them-
selves on the island, but before they could get over
the chasm, a tree fell close by them and stopped
their progress. As the bank appeared to me to be
moving rapidly into the river, I called out to the
men in the boat, " Coupez les cordes ! on hearing
which, the two men ran down the bank, loosed the
cords, and jumped into the boat. We were again
on the river : the Chenal da Diable was in sight,
but it appeared absolutely impassable, from the
quantity of trees and drift wood that had lodged
during the night against the planters fixed in the
bottom of the river ; and in addition to our diffi-
culties, the patron and the men appeared to be so
terrified and confused, as to be almost incapable of
action. Previous to passing the channel, I stop-
ped that the men might have time to become more
composed. I had the good fortune to discover a
bank, rising with a gentle slope, where we again
moored, and prepared to breakfast on the island.
Whilst that was preparing, I walked out in com-
pany with Morin, our patron^ to view the channel,
to ascertain the safest part, which we soon agreed
upon. Whilst we were thus employed, we expe-
rienced a very severe shock, and found some dif-
ficulty in preserving ourselves from being thrown
down J another occurred during the time we were
5212 TRAVELS IN THE
at breakfast, and a third as we were preparing to
re-embark. In the last, Mr. Bridge, who was stand-
ing within the dedivity of the bank, narrowly es-
caped being thrown into the river, as the sand con-
tinued to give way under his feet. Observing that
the men were still very much under the influence
of terror, I desired Morin to give to each of them
a glass of spirits, and reminding them that their
safety depended on their exertions, we pushed out
into the river. The danger we had now to encoun-
ter was of a nature which they understood : the
nearer we approached it, the more confidence they
appeared to gain ; and indeed, all their strength,
and all the skill of Morin, was necessary ; for
for there being no direct channel through the trees,
we were several times under the necessity of
chanpng our course in the space of a few seconds,
and that so instantaneously, as not to leave a mo-
ment for deliberation. Immediately after we had
cleared all danger, the men dropped their oars,
crossed themselves, then gave a shout, which was
followed by mutual congratulations on their safety.
We continued on the river till eleven o'clock,
when there was another violent shock, which seem-
ed to affect us as sensibly as if we had been on
land. The trees on both sides of the river were
most violently agitated, and the banks in several
places fell in, within our view, carrying with them
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 213
innumerable trees, the crash of which falling into
the river, mixed with the terrible sound attending
the shock, and the screaming of the geese and
other wild fowl, produced an idea that all nature
was in a state of dissolution. During the shock,
the river had been much agitated, and the men
became anxious to go ashore : my opinion was,
that we were much safer on the river ; but find-
ing that they laid down their oars, and that they
seemed determined to quit the boat for the present,
we looked out for a part of the river where we
might moor in security, and having found one, we
stopped during the remainder of the day.
At three o'clock, another canoe passed us adrift
on the river. We did not experience any more
shocks until the morning of the 17th, when two
occurred ; one about five and the other about
seven o'clock. We continued our voyage, and
about twelve this day, had a severe shock, of very
long duration. About four o'clock we came in
sight of a log-house, a little above the Lower Chick-
asaw bluffs. More than twenty people came out
as soon as they discovered us, and when within
hearing, earnestly entreated us to come ashore. I
found them almost distracted with fear, and that
they were composed of several families, who had
collected to pray together. On entering the house.
214 TRAVELS IN THE
I saw a bible lying open on the table. They in-
formed ine that the greatest part of the inhabitants
in the neighbourhood had fled to the hills, on the
opposite side of the river, for safety ; and that
during the shock, about sun-rise on the l6th, a
chasm had opened on the sand bar opposite the
bluffs below, and on closing again, had thrown the
water to the height of a tall tree. They also af-
firmed that the earth opened in several places back
from the river. One of the men, who appeared
to be considered as possessing more knov/ledge
than the rest, entered into an explanation of the
cause, and attributed it to the comet that had ap-
peared a few months before, which he described as
having two horns, over one of which the earth had
rolled, and was now lodged betwixt them : that
the shocks were occasioned by the attempts made
by the earth to surmount the other horn. If this
should be accomplished, all would be well, if other-
wise, inevitable destruction to the world would
follow. Finding him confident in his hypothesis,
and myself imable to refute it, I did not dispute
the point, and we went on about a mile further.
Only one shock occurred this night, at half past
seven o'clock. On the morning of the 18th, we
had two shocks, one betwixt three and four o'clock,
and the other at six. At noon, there was a violent
one of very long duration, which threw a great
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 215
number of trees into the river within our view, and
in the evening, two sHghl
the other at nine o'clock.
in the evening, two sHght shocks more, one at six,
19th. — We arrived at the mouth of the river St.
Francis, and had only one shock, which happened
at eleven at night.
2()th.— Detained by fog, and expeiienced only
two shocks, one at five, the other at seven in the
evening.
21st. — Awakened by a shock at half past four
o'clock : this was the last, it was not very violent,
but it lasted for nearly a minute.
On the 2ith in the evening, we saw a smoke,
and knowing that there were no habitations on this
part of the river, we made towards it, and found
it to be the camp of a few Choctaw Indians, from
whom I purchased a swan, for five balls and five
loads of powder.
25th. — Monsieur Longpre overtook us, and we
encamped together in the evening. He was about
two hundred miles from us on the night of the 15th,
by the course of the river, wliere the earthquakes
had also been very terrible. It appeared from his
account, that at New Madrid the shock had been
Ql6
TRAVELS IN THE
extremely violent : the greatest part of the houses
had been rendered uninhabitable, although, being
constructed of timber, and framed together, they
were better calculated to withstand the shocks than
buildings of brick or stone. The greatest part of
the plain on whicli the town was situated was be-
come a lake, and the houses were deserted.
The remainder of our voyage to Natchez was
very pleasant, with the exception of two very nar-
row escapes from planters in the river. Without
any occurrence that would excite much interest,
we arrived at the port of Natchez on the afternoon
of the 5th of January, and went to the city, which
is situated about three quarters of a mile from the
river, on the level behind the bluffs. The port
consists of thirty or forty houses, and some stores :
for the size of it, there is not, perhaps, in the
world a more dissipated place. Almost all the
Kentucky men stop here on the way to Orleans,
and as they now consider all the dangers and diflS-
culties of their voyage as past, they feel the same
inclination to dissipation as sailors who have been
long out of port, and generally remain here a day
or two to indulge it. I spent a pleasant even-
ing in the city, in company with Dr. Brown, whom
I found to be a very agreeable and intelligent
man.
INTERIOR OF AMERICA. 217
In the morning of the 6th instant I went on
board the steam boat from Pittsburg; she had
passed us at the mouth of the Arkansas, three hun-
dred and forty-one miles above Natchez ; she was
a very handsome vessel, of four hundred and ten
tons burden, and was impelled by a very powerful
steam engine, made at Pittsburg, whence she had
come in less than twenty days, although nineteen
hundred miles distant. About eighty miles above
New Orleans, the sugar plantations commenced,
some of which I visited, accompanied by Mr.
Longpre, who assured me that he had not seen
the cane in higher perfection in any part of the
West Indies. Many fields yet remained, from
which the cane had not been got in : they were
now covered with snow, an occurrence, as I was
informed, very uncommon. From this part to
New Orleans, groves of orange trees of great ex-
tent are seen on both sides of the river, and at this
season, loaded with ripe fruit.
On the 13th we arrived at New Orleans, where
I consigned the lead to the agent of Mr. Drinker,
again met with my friend Brackenridge, and on
the 20th set sail for New York.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
No. I.
VOCABULARY OF SOME WORDS
IN THE
OSAGE LANGUAGE.
M-
r
Man,
Ne-ka,
Woman,
Wa-ko.
Boy,
Shin-zo shin-ga.
Girl,
She-ma shin-ga^
Young man.
Shen-don-sho*
Young woman,
KaS'ho-mee.
Old man.
Ke-sau-ga hiTuga*
Old woman,
Wa-ko hin-ga.
Head,
Wa-augh-reh,
Nose,
Fa-g^,
Mouth,
E-haugh.
Chin,
La-baugh»
Face,
In-ga,
Throat,
To-ja,
Arm,
Hau^k.
x;«s
APPENDIX.
Hand,
Nom-ha.
Breast,
Mo-in-ga.
Belly.
Che-sa.
Thigh,
Sha-gaugh omba.
Knee,
Se'don-ja.
I-eg,
Sha-gaugk,
Calf of Leg
H-SrlG.
Shin,
Wa-haugJu
Ancle,
He-ka,
Foot,
See.
Toe,
See-paugh,
Finger,
Slia-ga.
Finger nails,
Sha-ga hugh
Horse,
KoU'O-Ia.
Mare,
Kou-o-la min-ga ^
Colt,
Kou-o-ld shin-ga.
Bull,
Shes-ka ton-ga.
Cow,
Shes-ka min-ga.
Buffalo bull,
Sha ton-ga, \
Ditto cow.
Ska.
Elk, male.
0-pa io7i-ga
Do. female.
0-pa min-gd.
Deer, male,
Taw ton-ga.
Do. female,
Taw min-gd.
Fawn,
Sha-ra-sha shin-ga.
Bear, male.
Was-sarv-ha ton-ga.
Do. female,
Was-saw-ba min-s:d
Wolf,
^7
Sho-ma ca-sa.
Bog,
Shon-ga.
APPENDIX. 2
Fox,
Mou-shu lo-go-ne.
Cat,
E-gron-ga-sha.
Beaver,
Sha-ba,
Otter,
Tow-non-ja.
Squirrel,
Se-inja,
Rabbit,
Mos-tinja,
Panther,
E-gron-ga,
Skunk,
Mon-ga.
Rattlesnake,
Sha-kee,
Black snake.
Wait'Saw sau-ba.
Frog,
Fa-nis-ka.
Spider,
Shaw-bas-ka.
Turkey cock,
Su-ka ton-ga.
Ditto lien.
Su-ka,
Goose,
Me-haS'Shaw-ba,
Swan,
Me-has-ka,
Dunghill cock,
Sii'ga shu'ga ton-ga.
Hen,
Su-ka shu-ga.
Crow,
Ka-wa.
Raven,
Ka-xva ton-ga.
Hawk,
Was-sa shin-ga ton-ga.
Eagle,
Hu-ras-po-sa,
Vulture,
Ha-ja.
Owl,
JVaw po-jd.
Fish,
Hoe,
An American,
Moi-hit ton-ga.
An Englishman,
Me-gra-sha.
A Frenchman,
Es-ta-we.
A Spaniard,
Esh'pa-nuo,
223
^'Z'b
APPENDIX.
Sugar,
Shau-no,
Salt,
Ne-shu.
Tobacco,
No-ne-agJi.
Pipe,
No-nem-ba.
Gun,
Wau-hO'ton,
Cannon,
Wau-hO'ion ton-ga.
Pistol,
WaU'ho-ton-da paush
Gunpowder,
Ne-hii-ja wa-ca-ja.
Lead,
Mos-sa ma^oS'Ca*
Flint,
Moi-hu-se,
Powder-horn,
Sha-ka,
Knife,
MoUie.
Tomahawk,
Moi-he sa-pa sJiinga.
Axe,
Moi-he shaw-a-ga-sa.
Hoe,
Mon-sa-va,
Kettle,
Sha-ha.
Tin cup.
Kes-ne-la-ta,
Saddle,
Hon-ko-gra,
Hair,
Pa-uS'ka.
Beads,
HeS'ha,
Wampum,
Hes-ka wa-mmi-pe.
Vermillion,
Wa-su-ga,
Medal,
Ca-ha-ga.
Cloth,
Hau,
Red cloth,
Hail sliu-ja.
White cloth,
Hau ska.
Black cloth, kc. &c.
Hau-saU'ba.
One,
Mi-ne-he,
Two,
Nom-baugJu
APffiNDIX. QQri
Three, . ' jMU-be-na, ■
Four. --•-^> '"^To-ba, •'^^'-'^
Five, Sat-ta.
Six, Sy:x^J\.Sha-pa.
Seven, ^^^'^^-^■^''Fa-nom-ba. t^^iiiiq-
Eight, ■''''■'■"^'^^Ke-ian-bQUgh.
Nine, Shan-ka.
Ten, Cra-bra.
Eleven, •V>\;'s^^i^M.o're mi-fie-he.
Twelve, '^^'^-^^Au-gre noni'baugh.
Thirteen &c. to twenty, Au-gre lau-be-na.
One hundred, ' Cra-bra ton-ga, «-•"
River, Nes-lca. ■'!■
Prairie, >,..-.>• u . .To?i-Ja, » ^ - > > •
Woodland, •'^^-'^^ So?ija. ,32rjoi;
A garrison, ' -' ^^ iNau-sa,
Village, .va\-oo-/ -XL To-wa-ne,
A commanding officer, '» Kaw-he-ja 'wau-toii-ga, '
Physician, -'^^-'y^'^'^^W^Wa-ken-da-ga,
Father, •'^rA\\v.:-'\\In.da-ja. < -. co
Mother, ' - • ^<E-naugh. - ' ■^^'
Brother, .vAvi^o'^i* ^Fee-^/zm-cfa. ^j-^^-'L
*-^a^
Sister, .'ss'u.-uu V Wee-ton-ja. ^^o■'^y^^
Uncle, •^-Vo'^-^^v^l^. H7-geW:;«-A:e. .llnrr:'
Aunt, .v>'!^'iUi\Vi Wee-she-mee. < ■ "
Brother-in-law, .\^A?>-'iTL Wee-ton-ha.
Water, .>iv-^>i:/ '.^ A^e5-7zfg-^.
Ice, .ti-v«''^^iVow-Aa. ,29/
Snow, s^-?.cX.i\o\\ Pau, «o'^^
p
226
IPPENDIX.
Rain,
Nigh-shu*
Frost,
Pau-ska,
Winter,
Bor-ra,
Summer,
To-ja-toru
Spring,
Pa-ton,
Autumn,
Ton-da*
Hot,
Most-cha,
Cold,
Ne-^wat'Cka^
Red,
Shu-ja.
White,
Ska,
Blaek,
Sau-ba,
Blue,
To-ha,
Yellow,
Se-a,
Green,
Ne-a-Jco,
House,
Tee-he.
Door,
Tee-he sha-ha
Robe,
Mes-co-ba,
Blanket,
Aug-re,
Mockasons,.
Hom-ba.
Leggings,
He-minca.
Soldier,
HaS'ha-1ie-da.
Large,
Gron-da.
Largest,
Ton-ga,
SmsJl, .') ;
fVau-ho-ka*
^^Smaller,
Shin-ga.
Vgiy,
Pe-sha,
;
Handsome,
Lo-go-ne*
Yes,
Hoy-a,
No,
Hon-koS'ka.
APPENDIX. 'HyZl
Good,
LO'go-ne, or Tou-ha.
Bad,
Pe-sha.
j
1 i
President of the Unit-
}
Koxi-a-ga Skow-a-ga Wa-
1
ed States,
g€-shu»
Large man.
Ne-ka- she-ka gronda.
]
1
Large body of men,
Ne-ka she-ga hugk.
1
i
Hock of deer,
Tau'hugh.
J
Large flock of birds.
Was-sa shin-ga hugh.
Drove of buffaloes,
Sha-to-ga ocliL
Scalp,
Ne-shu-ha-du-sa.
i
i
Run,
Tati-ne.
i
Come,
Ku-e-lo,
■1
Togo,
Mo-gre-na,
i
Kill,
ES'Sa-ra,
Leap,
TVe-she,
1
1
Me,
We-ah,
You,
De-ah.
1
Bay,
Hon-pa.
1
\
Night,
He-?ic,
Light,
Hon-pa lo-go-ne.
■i
Dark,
He-lit pe-sha.
To part asunder.
We-ta,
1
i
To join.
Sho-sho.
To eat.
Wa-num-bra.
To drink.
Ne-bra-ta,
To sleep,
A-shem-bra.
i
To get up.
Pau-kaw.
1
To walk.
0-ga-sha,
To lie down.
Att-re-con-sha,
22S. APPENDIX.
No. IL
ORATION DELIVERED BY THE BIG ELK,
THE CHIEF OF THE MAHA NATION,
OVER THE GRAVE OF THE BLACK BUFFALO,
CHIEF OF THE TETONS,
A TRIBE OF THE SIOUX, AT THE
PORTAGE DES SIOUX,
14th July, 1813.
j
Do not grieve — misfortunes will happen to the
wisest and best men. Death will come, and al-
ways comes out of season : it is the command of
the Great Spirit, and all nations and people must
obey. What is passed, and cannot be prevented,
should not be grieved for. Be not discouraged or
displeased then, that in visiting your father here,
you have lost your chief. A misfortune of this
kind may never again befal you, but this would
have attended you perhaps at your own village.
Five times have I visited this land, and never
returned with sorrow or pain. Misfortunes do not
flourish particularly in our path — they grow eveiy
where. (Addressing himself to Governor Edwards
and Colonel Miller. J What a misfortune for me
that I could not have died this day, instead of the
APPENDIX^. 229
chief that lies before us. The trifling loss my na-
tion would have sustained in my death, would have
been doubly paid for by the honours of my burial —
they would have wiped off every thing like regret.
Instead of being covered with a cloud of sorrow-—
my warriors would have felt the sunshine of joy in
their hearts. To me it would have been a most
glorious occurrence. Hereafter, when I die at
home, instead of a noble grave and a grand pro-
cession, the rolling music and the thundering
cannon, with a flag waving at my head, I shall be
wrapped in a robe, (an old robe, perhaps) and hoisted
on a slender scaffold to the whistling winds, soon
to be blown down to the earth — my flesh to be de-
voured by the wolves, and my bones rattled on the
plain by the wild beasts, C Addressing himself to
Colonel Miller.) Chief of the soldiers — your la-
bours have not been in vain : — ^your attention shall
not be forgotten. My nation shall know the res-
pect that is paid over the dead. When I return I
will echo the sound of your guns.
230
APPENDIX.
No. III.
THE FOLLOWING INTERESTING NARRATIVE
OF THE
EXPEDITION OF MR. HUNT,
MENTIONED IN THIS WORK, IS EXTRACTED FROM THE
MISSOURI GAZETTE.
" We last week promised our readers an account of
the journey of the gentlemen attached to the New
York Fur Company^ from the Pacific Ocean to
this place. — We now lay it before our readers, as
collected from the gentlemen themselves.
On the 28th of June, 1812, Mr. Robert Stew-
art, one of the partners of the Pacific Fur Compa-
ny, with two Frenchmen, Mr. Ramsey Crooks,
and Mr. Robert M'Clellan, left the Pacific Ocean
w^ith despatches for New York.
After ascending the Columbia river ninety miles,
John Day, one of the hunters, became perfectly
insane, and was sent back to the main establish-
ment, under the charge of some Indians: the
APPENDIX. 231
remaining six pursued their voyage upwards of six
hundred miles, when they happily met with Mr.
Joseph Miller, on his way to the mouth of the Co-
lumbia. He had been considerably to the south
^nd east, among the nations called Blackarms and
Arapahays, by the latter of whom he^'as robbed j
in consequence of which he suffered almost evei-y
privation human nature is capable of, and was in a
state of starvation and almost nudity when the
party met him.
They had now fifteen horses, and pursued their
journey for the Atlantic world, without any un-
common accident, until within about two hundred
miles of the Rocky Mountains, where they unfor-
tunately met with a party of the Crow Indians,
who behaved with the most unbounded insolence,
and were solely prevented from cutting off the
party by observing them well armed and constantly
on their guard. They, however, pursued on their
track six days, and finally stole every horse belong-
ing to the party.
Some idea of the situation of those men may be
conceived, when we take into consideration, that
they were now on foot, and had a journey of two
thousand miles before them, fifteen hundred of
which was entirely unknown, as they intended and
prosecuted it considerably south of Messrs. Lewis
232 APPENDIX.
and Clarke's route. The impossibility of carrying
any quantity of provisions on their backs, in addi-
tion to their ammunition and bedding, will occur at
first vievr. The danger to be apprehended from
: starvation was imminent. They, however, put the
best face upon their prospects, and pursued their
.route towards the Rocky Mountains, at the head
waters of the Colorado, or Spanish River, and stood
their courje E. S. E. until they struck the head
waters of the great River Platte, which they un-
deviatingly followed to its mouth. It may here be
observed, that this river, for about two hundred
miles, is navigable for a barge ; from thence to the
Otto Village, within forty-five miles of its entrance
into the Missouri, it is a mere bed of sand, with-
out water sufficient to float a skin canoe.
From the Otto Village to St. Louis, the party
performed their voyage in a canoe, furnished them
by the natives, and arrived here in perfect health,
on the 30th of last month (^lay.)
Our travellers did not hear of the war with Eng-
land until they came to the Ottoes. These people
told them that the Shawnoe Prophet had sent them
a wampum, inviting them to join in the war against
the Americans. They answered the messenger,
that they could make more by trapping beaver
than making war against the Americans.
APPENDIX. 233
After crossing the hills (Rocky Mountains) they
fell in with a small party of Snake Indians, from
whom they purchased a horse, which relieved them
from any further carriage of food, and this faithful
four-footed companion, performed that service to
the Otto village. They wintered on the river
Platte, six hundred miles from its mouth.
By information received from these gentlemen,
it appears that a journey across the continent of
North America might be performed with a wag-
gon, there being no obstruction in the whole route
that any person would dare to call a mountain, in
addition to its being much the most direct and short
one to go from this place to the mouth of the Co-
lumbia river. Any future party, who may under-
take this journey, and are tolerably acquainted with
the different places where it would be necessary to
lay up a small stock of provisions, would not be
impeded, as in all probability, they would not meet
with an Indian to interrupt their progress, although
on the other route, more north, there are almost
insurmountable barriers."
The following is Mr. Crooks*s narrative of Mr,
Hunt*s ejrpeditionfrom the Aricaras to the Pacifie :
Messrs. Hunt, Crooks, Miller, M'Clellan,
M'Kenzie, and about sixty men, who left St. Louis
23 4< APPENDIX.
in the beginning of March, 1811, for the Pacific
Ocean, reached the Aricara village on the 13th
day of June, where meeting with some American
hunters, who had been the preceding year on the
waters of the Columbia with Mr. Henry, and who,
giving such an account of the route by which they
passed, as being far preferable in point of procur-
ing wdth facihty an abundant supply of food at all
times, as well as avoiding even the probability of
seeing their enemies, the Black Feet, than by the
track of Captains Lewis and Clarke, the gentle-
men of the expedition at once abandoned their
former ideas of passing by the Falls of the Mis-
souri, and made the necessary arrangements for
commencing their journey over land from tliis
place.
Eighty horses were purchased and equipped by
the lyth of July, and on the day following they de-
parted from the Aricaras, sixty persons in number,
ail on foot, except the partners of the company. —
In this situation they proceeded for five days, hav-
ing crossed in that time, two considerable streams,
which joined the Missouri below the Aricaras,
when, finding an inland tribe of Indians, calling
themselves Shawhays, but known among the whites
by the appellation of Chiennes, they procured from
these an accession of forty horses, which enabled
the gentlemen to furnish a horse for every two
APPENDIX. 235
men. Steering about W. S. W. they passed the
small branches of Big River, the Little Missouri,
above its forks, and several of the tributary streams
of Powder River, one of which they followed up.
They found a band of the Absaroka, or Crow
nation, encamped on its banks, at the foot of the
Big Horn Mountain.
For ammunition and some small articles, they
exchanged all their lame for sound horses, with
these savages ; but although this band has been
allowed by every one who knew them, to be, by
far, the best behaved of their tribe, it was only
by that unalterable determination of the gentle-
men to avoid jeopardizing the safety of the party,
without, at the same moment, submitting to in-
tentional insults, that they left this camp (not
possessing a greater force than the whites) without
coming to blows.
The distance from the Aricaras to this mountain,
is about four hundred and fifty miles, over an ex-
tremely rugged tract, by no means furnishing a
sufficient supply of water : but during the twenty-
eight days they were getting to the base of the
mountain, they were only in a few instances with-
out abundance of buffalo meat.
Three days took them over the plains of Mad
River, (the name given to the Big Horn above this
Q36 APPENDIX.
mountain) which following for a number of days,
they left it where it was reduced to eighty yards in
width, and the same evening reached the banks of
the Colorado, or Spanish River. Finding flocks
of bufikloes at the end of the third day*s travel on
this stream, the party passed a week in drying buf-
falo meat, for the residue of the voyage, as in all
probability those were the last animals of the kind
they would meet with. From this camp, in one
day, they crossed the Dividing Mountain, and
pitched their tents on Hoback*s Fork of Mad
River, where it was near one hundred and fifty
feet broad ; and in eight days more, having passed
several stupendous ridges, they encamped in the
vicinity of the establishment made by Mr. Henry,
in the fall of 1810, on a fork about seventy yards
wide, bearing the name of that gentleman : having
travelled from the main Missouri, about nine hun-
dred miles, in fifty-four days. Here, abandoning
their horses, the party constructed canoes, and
descended the Snake, or Ky-eye-nem River, (made
by the junction of Mad River, south of Henry's
Fork) four hundred miles; in the course of which
they were obliged, by the intervention of impassa-
ble rapids, to make a number of portages ; till at
length they found the river confined between
gloomy precipices, at least two hundred feet per-
pendicular, whose banks for the most part were
washed by this turbulent stream, which for thirty
miles was a continual succession of falls, cascades.
APPENDIX. 237
and rapids. Mr. Crooks* caiioe had split and up-
set in the middle of a rapid, by which one man was
drowned, named Antonie Clappin, and Mr. Crooks
saved himself only by extreme exertion in swim-
ming. From the repeated losses by the upsetting
of canoes, their provisions were now reduced to a
bare sufficiency for five days, ' totally ignorant of
the country where they were, and unsuccessful in
meeting any of the nations from whom they could
hope for information.
Unable to proceed by water, Messrs. i\I*Kenzie,
M'Clellan, and Reed set out in different directions
down the river, for the purpose of finding Indiana,
and buying horses : Mr. Crooks, witli a few men,
returned to Henry's Fork for those they had \ef^,
while Mr. Hunt remained with the main body of
men, entrapping beaver for their support. Mr.
Crooks, finding the distance much greater by land
than he had contemplated, returned at the end of
three days; where waiting five more, expecting
relief from below, the near approach of winter
made them determine on depositing all superfluous
articles, and proceeding on foot. Accordingly, on
the 10th of November, Messrs. Hunt and Crooks
set out, each with eighteen men ; one party on the
south side of the river. Mr. Hunt was fortunate
in finding Indians, with abundance of salmon, and
some horses ; but Mr. Crooks saw but few, and
238 APPENDIX.
in general too miserably poor to afford his party
assistance. Thirteen days brought the latter to a
high range of mountains, through which the river
forced a passage, and the banks being their only
guide, they still, by climbing over points of rocky
ridges projecting into the stream, kept as near to
it as possible, till in the evening of the 3d of De-
cember, impassable precipices, of immense height,
put an end to all hopes of following the margin of
this water course, which here was no more than
forty yards wide, ran with incredible velocity, and
was withal so foamingly tumultuous, that even had
the opposite bank been fit for their purpose, at-
tempts at rafting would have been perfect mad-
ness, as they could only have the inducement of
ending, in a watery grave, a series of hardships
and privations, to which the most hardy and deter-
mined of the human race must have found himself
inadequate. They attempted to climb the moun-
tains, still bent on pushing on, but after ascending
for half a day, they discovered to their sorrow,
that they were not half way to the summit, and
the snow already too deep for men in their emaci-
ated state to proceed further.
Regaining the river bank, they returned up, and
on the third day met with Mr. Hunt and party,
with one horse, proceeding downwards. A canoe
was soon made of a horse hide, and in it they trans-
APPENDIX. 239
ported some meat, which they could spare, to Mr,
Crooks* starving followers, who, for the first eighteen
days, after leaving the place of deposit, had sub-
sisted on half a meal in twenty-four hours, and in
the last nine days had eaten only one beaxer, a dog,
a few wild cherries, and some old mockason soles,
having travelled, during these twenty-seven days,
at least five hundred and fifty miles. For the next
four days, both parties continued their course up
the river, without any other support than what little
rose-buds and cherries they could find ; but here
they luckily fell in with some Snake Indians, from
whom they got five horses, giving them three guns
and some other articles for the same.
Starvation had bereft J. B. Provost of his senses
entirely, and on seeing the horse flesh on the oppo-
site side of the river, he was so agitated in crossing in
a skin canoe, that he upset it, and was unfortunately
drowned. From hence Mr. Hunt went on to a
camp of Shoshonies, about ninety miles above, where
procuring a few horses and a guide, he set out for
the main Columbia, across the mountains of ihe
south west, leaving the river where it entered the
range, and on it Mr. Crooks and five men, unable'
to travel. Mr. Hunt lost a Cannadian, named
Carrier, by starvation, before lie met tlieShy-eye*to-
ga Indians, in the Columbia |)lains ; from whom,
getting a supply of provisions, he soon reached the
2 i^O APPENDIX.
main river, which he descended in canoes, and;
arrived without any further loss at Astoria in tlie-
month of February. .it
ii.
/.'Messrs. M'Kenzie, M'Clellan, and Reed, had
united their parties on the Snake River Mountains^;
through which they travelled twenty one days, to
the Mulpot River, existing on an allowance by no
means adequate to the toils they underwent daily ;
and to the smallness of their number (which was
in all eleven) they attribute their success in getting
with life to where they found some wild hbrsesii
They soon after reached the Forks, called by Cap-
tains Lewis and Clarke, Koolkooske ; went down
Lewis's River and the Columbia wholly by water,
without any misfortune except the upsetting, in a
rapid, of Mr. M'Clellan's canoe : and although it
happened on the first day of the year, yet, by great
exertion, they clang to the canoe till the others
came to their assistance, making their escape with
the loss of some rifles. They reached Astoria early
in January.
Three of the five men who remained with Mr.
Crooks, afraid of perishing by want, left him in
February, on a small river on the road, by which
Mr. Hunt had passed, in quest of Indians, and
have not since been heard of Mr. Crooks had
followed Mr. Hunt's track in the snow for seven
APPENDIX. 24-1
days; but coming to a low prairie, he lost every
appearance of a trace, and was compelled to pass
the remaining part of the winter in mountains, sub-
sisting sometimes on beaver and horse meat, and
the skins of those animals, and at other times on
their success in finding roots. Finally, on the last
of March, the other only Canadian being unable
to proceed, was left with a lodge of Shoshonies,
and Mr. Crooks, with John Day, finding the snow
sufficiently diminished, undertook, from Indian
information, to cross the last ridge, which they
happily effected, and reached the banks of the
Columbia in the middle of April ; where, in the be-
ginning of May, they fell in with Messrs. Stewart
and Co. having been, a few days before, stripped
of every thing they possessed, by a band of villains
near the Falls. On the 10th of May they arrived
safe at Astoria, the principal establishment of the
Pacific Fur Company,* within fourteen miles of
Cape Disappointment.
* This establishment has since beeu broken up.
242 APPENDIX.
No. IV.
DESCRIPTION
OF THE
MISSOURI TERRITORY.
The Missouri Territory is bounded by the state of
Louisiana on the south, the Mississippi on the east,
the British Territory on the north, and the Rocky
Mountains and Mexico on the west. It was first
discovered by Sebastian Cabot, in the year 1497>
and in the year 1.512 it was visited by John Pontic
de Leon, a Spaniard, who attempted to form a set-
tlement. In 1684, Monsieur de la Salle, a French-
man, discovered the mouth of the Mississippi, and
built Fort Louis j but being assassinated, it was
again abandoned. In the year 1698, Captain Ib«
berville sailed up the Mississippi, formed a settle-
ment, and named the country Louisiana. About
twenty-two years afterwards Monsieur de la Sueur
also sailed up the Mississippi, and proceeded to the
distance of two thousand two hundred and eighty
miles from its mouth.
APPENDIX. 243
In l'7C)'2 Fiance ceded it to Spain by a secret
treaty, and a small force was sent to take posses-
sion ; but the inhabitants not having been officially
made acquainted with the cession, refused to sub-
mit to the dominion of that power. Some time
afterwards the Spanish government commissioned
a man named O'Reilly, who, at the head of three
thousand men, took possession of it, and from
motives of revenge, put several of the principal
inhabitants to death. In 1800, 1801, Spain ceded
it back to France, and by a treaty of April 30th,
1803, the French government sold it to the United
States for the sum of fifteen millions of dollars,
payable in fifteen years, at one million annually.
The extent of country purchased for this sum is
not yet known with any considerable degree of ac-
curacy, but it is calculated to contain at least
1,026,312 square miles, or Go6,S3y,6SO acres, and
it must be remembered that for this sum not only
the political dominion, but the reversionary pro-
perty in the land, was purchased. If we suppose
the money to apply to the purchase of the land
only, the cost will fall short of l|r/. per acre, or
^3, 6s. 8d. sterling per square mile, without one
drop of blood being shed.*
* By the most arcurate calculation, the surface of the g^lobe
contains 198,976,780 square miles, one-fifth of which only is
land, or 39,795,357 square miles, the value of which, at
I24<i APPENDIX.
The Mississippi receives the water furnished by
almost the whole of this area, and as the extent of
country from whence it derives its water is pretty
accurately known, I shall state it, that an adequate
idea may be formed of that mighty river ; previ-
ously observing, that the name is of Indian origin,
and signifies " The mother of waters"
From the extremity of the most eastern branch
to that of the most western, it is one thousand six
hundred and eighty miles in a direct line ; and from
the commencement of the most northerly to its
mouth, it is one thousand six hundred and fifty,
also in a direct line.
Amongst the immense advantages which the
United States will derive from the purchase of
Louisiana, the possession of this river is one of the
greatest. The whole teiTitory of the United States
is 1,205,635,840 acres. The following table will
show that the area dependent on the Mississippi for
a communication with the ocean, is 1,344,779
square miles, or 860,658,560 acres. The whole
£3, 6a'. S</. per square mile, is £132,051,190 sterling-; from
whence it appears that at this price the cost of seren worlds, as
large as this we inhabit, would be only £928,558,330 ' ! : Should
any one doubt the wisdom of Mr. Jefferson, after being acquaisted
with this fact, let him enter into a calculation of the expenses
incurred in the old mode of acquiring territory by the sword. He
will soott convince himself that this is a very much improved plan.
APPENDIX. ^4<5
empire of China is only estimated at 800,000,000
of acres !
The area of the states or territories, or of tlie
portions of such as contribute to the waters of this
river are as follow : —
Sqr. Mila.
Missouri Territory, 985,250
North-West Territory, 4, 53,415
Illinois Territory (the whole), 52,000
Indiana State, ^%, 37,050
Ohio State, 4, 35,088
Pennsylvania, \, 10,493
New Yorlv, t-Itt, 521
Maryland, -^U, 140
Virginia, |, 28,200
Kentucky (the whole), 40,110
Tennessee (ditto), 43,200
Mississippi Territory, ^, 29,500
State of Orleans, i, 20,500
Georgia, ,V, 2,000
North Carolina, ^\, 1,100
South Carolina, tttj 1^2
^ Square miles, 1,344,779
This area is nearly twenty-eight times the extent
of England and Wales, and eleven times that of
the whole of Great Britain and Ireland.
Mr. Melhsh made a calculation of the quantity
of water discharged by this river at its mean
21-6 APPENDIX.
height ; but notwithstanding his usual accuracy, I
think he has erred in this case, by taking wrong
data. In the first place, he has made his estimate
of the magnitude of the river by considering it at
its mouth, without taking into account the great
number of h&youx that have previously issued from
it. Kven at Orleans its magnitude is much dimi-
nishsd. Amongst other haijoux that take water
from this river above that city, are hayou ChiffaUe,
hoifou Tunica, haijoux Manchac, La Fourche, and
Flacqmines. In other places, any one of these five
hayoux would be considered as a great river ; but
here a comparison with their vast parent destroys
their consequence. It is singular that the Missis-
sippi maintains its full magnitude only for the
length of three miles. At that distance from the
mouth of Red River issues bayou Chiflalie.
The second error consists in not allowing suffi-
cient depth to the river, lie assumes forty feet as
the average depth from Orleans to the mouth,
whereas it is well known that at that city the depth
is sixty fathoms, or three hundred and sixty feet,
and in no part from thence to the bar at its mouth
is it less than thirteen fathoms, or seventy-eight
feet. But althougli he has assumed the dimensions
of the river at too little, he has erred greatly in
the calculation founded thereon, by making the
discharge of water five times more than his own
APPENDIX. 247
data will produce. He considers the river at two
miles in breadth, forty feet in depth, and to run
four miles per hour. This gives, he says, 94<,000,000
of gallons per second, whereas it is only 18,537,325
gallons. Perhaps about 60,000,000 of gallons per
second, at a mean state betwixt Red River and ,
bayou ChifTalie, may not be far from the true
quantity.
The territory west of the Mississippi belonging to
the United States, and extending from that river to
the Rocky Mountains, has evidently two characters,
so distinct, as regards the external appearance, that
they cannot justly be included in one general de-
scription. The part which lies immediately on the
Mississippi, and extends from one hundred to two
hundred and fifty miles westward from that river,
has a thin covering of timber, consisting of clumps
and of scattered trees. From the western limits
of this region to the Rocky Mountains, the whole
is one vast prairie or meadow, and, excepting on
the alluvion of the rivers, and, in a few instances,
on the sides of the small hills, is entirely divested
of trees or shrubs. The extent of this region is
not accurately known, on account of the real situ-
ation of the Rocky Mountains not yet being truly
ascertained ; but it appears from the account of
hunters and travellers, that in some of our best
maps and globes they are laid down considerably
248 APPENDIX.
too far to the eastward The course of the Missis-
sippi is nearly from north to south, and its average
longitude nearly ninety degrees west. The coast
of the Pacific, in the medium latitude of the Mis-
sissippi from its source to its mouth, is about one
hundred and thirty degrees west, a difference of
forty degrees, making in that latitude the distance
from the Mississippi to the Pacific to be two thou-
sand, one hundred and twenty-four miles. It is
the opinion of all whom I have consulted, and who
have crossed the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific,
that from the eastern limits of that chain to the
Mississippi, the distance is at least twice as great
as from the western limit to the Pacific* If this
is admitted to be correct, the distance from the
summit of the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi
is one thousand four hundred and sixteen miles,
from which if one hundred and fifty be subtracted
for the half breadth of the chain, and two hundred
for the woody region on the Mississippi, the breadth
of the prairie will appear to be one thousand and
sixty-six miles, and its length, from north to south,
is at least eighteen degrees of latitude, or one
thousand, two hundred and fifty-one miles.
Excepting towards the foot of the Rocky Moun-
tains, the whole of this extent is what is usually
* Mr. Mellish asserts that one branch of the Missouri rises
■within four hundred and fifty miles of the Pacific Ocean.
APPENDIX. 2i9
termed a plain, being destitute of those elevations
that in other parts appear to have resulted from
convulsions. But although the ge)ieral surface
corres})onds almost exactly with tlie convexity of
the earth, the agency of water has produced innu-
merable shallow valleys ; and of the elevated places
which separate them, those termed dividing ridges*
are the highest. From the top of any of these
ridses the limits of the visible horizon are as ex-
actly defined, and the view as extensive as at sea,
the undulations on the surface of the earth here
bearing no greater proportion in the scale than the
waves of an agitated ocean. Tlie deviation from
the true curvature of the earth is much greater on
the approach to the Rocky Mountains. This gives
an increased velocity to the currents of water, and
produces a more powerful attrition on their beds.
The consequence is, the valleys in that part are
deeper, and the surface more rugged and broken.
Several geological facts tend to prove that this
portion of the globe has been peculiarly exempted
from the operation of local and disorganizing con-
vulsions, and that it has remained for a vast length
of time in its present state. The most prominent
of these facts is the undisturbed uniformity of the
strata, and their general parallelism to the surface
* See note in page 08.
250 APPENDIX.
of the earth, as exemplified in the vast stratum of
iron ore on the Missouri, and in the limestone
rocks, wherever they occur. The depth and
extent of the valleys of the river, together with the
peculiar formation of the hills, tend to confirm the
opinion, that whatever changes have taken place
on the surface have been effected by the operations
of a slow, but continually acting cause.
Some of the mineral deposits are of wonderful
extent. Of these the deposit of salt on the Ar-
kansas River is the most remarkable. So little of
this is yet known, that an adequate idea of its mag-
nitude can only be formed by taking into view the
number of rivers constantly impregnated by it, and
the extent of country from which they derive their
sources. The most southerly of the salt rivers that
rise in the region, containing this salt deposit, is a
branch of Red River, called by the Indians Ba-lia-
cha-ha, and by the French Foujcoacheta. It is a
considerable stream, and salt rock is found on its
banks. No fewer than three salt rivers or streams
flow into the Arkansas, the least of which is fifty
yards in breadth ; another is seventy-five, and the
largest is one hundred and fifty yards wide. This
last is called by the Osages Neiio-'ie'w-k^ tonga,
which signifies in their language, *' The largest salt
river** These streams all rise in the same region,
as also does a branch of the Canadian Fork of the
APPKNUIX. 251
Arkansas, another large river mentioned by Mr.
Pike, the name of wliicli he writes Ne-soiit-che-hra»
ra, which name indicates that either the water is
salt, or that salt is found in the neighbourhood.*
It appears that this salt deposit passes under the
Arkansas to the north-west, and impregnates two
branches of the Kanzas River of the Missouri, both
of considerable magnitude. There are several salt
deposits on our globe, of vast extent ; but perhaps
when this deposit becomes better known, it will
be found inferior to none in point of magnitude ;
for if its continuity in one body is a fact, the area
it covers must amount to several thousand square
miles.t
* As the whole of this region is the property of the Osage
Indians, it may justly be inferred that all the names of the rivers
have originated with them. It is evident that Pike wrote, the
name from hearing' the pronouncialion, as the Indians do not
write ; and had he attended to the derivation in this instance, he
would have followed the same orthography as in the former, both
being derived from ne-shu, or new-sew, (salt) and ues-ka, or
nes-ke, (river.) He would theu have written it Ncw-sew-ke-
bra-ra.
f Mr. Sibly says the extent of this salt region is seventy-five
miles square, which gives aa area of five thousand, six hundred
and twenty-five square miles. Of the degree to which the water
of these salt rivej-s is saturated, some idea may be formed when
it is stated, that iu the dry seasons the water of the Arkansas
and Red Rivers are rendered very brackish by them. It appears
252 APPENDIX.
It is worthy of notice that gypsum and clay are
found abounding with the salt of this deposit, and
that in this instance, as well as in many others, the
substances which are concomitant with each other
on this continent, correspond with the order ob-
served in other parts of the world. Salt springs
are very abundant in other parts west of the Missis-
sippi. The body of iron ore on the Missouri is
another instance of the magnitude of mineral depo-
sits in this country. Some account of it may be
seen in page 89.
From the accounts of hunters, the various in-
dications of coal, and its frequent appearance, we
may justly conclude that no portion of the earth
is more abundant in that useful mineral than tliis
region. It appears in various parts, at the foot of
the bluffs of the Missouri. On the Osage River,
a bed of very great but unknown thickness shows
itself. On Red River it comes to the surface in
several places, and the hunters speak of it as being
one of the most common substances on the Little
Missouri and the Roche Jaune Rivers.
The existence of silver ore about the head of
the Arkansas and Red River is believed by the
also that it is the overflowing of one of these saU rivers that fills
the Great Lake, which is evaporated every summer, and leaves
the incrustation mentioned in page 194.
APPENDIX. , 253
inhabitants of Upper Louisiana, and various ac-
counts are current amongst them of its having
been discovered there by Imnters. As those rivers
rise in the range of mountains in which tlie mines
of Santa Fe are situated, and not far distant from
them, the account is probable ; but the frequent
occurrence of pyrites in America, the deceptive
appearance of that substance, and the inabiHty of
men so Httle acquainted with mineralogy to discri-
minate, should induce great caution in admitting
the fact* ,
The part which lies betwixt this vast meadow
and the Mississippi river, it has already been stated,
is of a different character so far as it regards the
external appearance of the country ; not merely
* In the interior of America, specimens of pyrites have been
often shown to me as the ore of silver or gold, and I have fre-
quently found it an unpleasant task to undeceive those who were
in possession of them, as they were persuaded that they had
made a valuable discovery.
Immediately after I left the mouth of the Kenhawa river, I
was followed to Galliopolis by a Quaker of the name of Kenzie,
who showed me some specimens of whitish pyrites, which he
said was silver ore, and offered me a considerable sura of money
if I would instruct him in the method of separating the metal.
I attempted to undeceive him, but he became angry, and inti-
mated that Jje knew the value of the mine too well to be taken
in that tea/, and that it was no uncommon thing for English-
men to discourage the working of mines in America, that they
might get hold of them for themselves.
2.'54 APPENDIX.
owing to the presence of trees in that purt, but tiie
surface of the country wears quite another aspect.
The numerous rivers which fall into the Mississippi
in this region, together with their various ramifi-
cations, run in deep and comparatively narrow
valleys, whicli give to this country a very uneven
appearance. This is a necessary consequence of
the number of small rivers that fall immedialelij
into tlie gi-eat trunk of the Mississip})i. The gene-
ral level of its bed being at least one hundred and
fifty or two hundred feet below that of the sur-
rounding country, gives a fall of that extent to the
minor streams, besides that which is occasioned by
the natural declivity of the country, and, of course,
causes an increased velocity, and a more powerful
action on their beds ; and this effect extends to the
smallest of the collateral branches. But althouo-h
this portion differs so much from the other in its
external appearance, still there are good reasons
for thinking that they differ but little in their sub-
terranean conformation, because many instances
occur to prove, that although the surface is more
broken and uneven^ it is entirely owing to the more
powerful action of the streams. The frequent
instances of thin horizontal strata of limestone
rock appearing on both sides of a valley, corres-
ponding in all the circumstances of elevation,
thickness, and their component parts, prove that
the hills have not been formed bv convulsions.
APPENDIX. 255
With a few exceptions only, of isolated sand-
stone rock, the wliole of this portion of the Missouri
territory that I have seen is Ciilcareous ; the
rocks being of a wliitish limestone, containing or-
ganic remains in abundance, which consist of the
casts of entroddi^ anomicv, 8^'c. In this particular,
an exception must be made to tlie rock forming
the matrix of the lead in the mine region, in which
I could not find any trace of organic remains
whatever.
AVhen the subterranean geography of this coun-
try shall become better known, it will probably be
found to be one of the most interestins: in the world.
Besides the evidence furnished by the caves known
to exist in the incumbent rock, there are other
facts tending to prove, that, beneath the surface,
there are a great many others, and of vast extent.
A considerable number of the minor streams are
entirely lost under ground;, except in time of
floods, and no place where they re-appear can be
traced out. The Merrimac and Gasconade rivers
have each a spring rising in their bed, either of
which would be sufficient of itself to form a con-
siderable river ; and about three hundred miles
S. S. W. of St. Louis, there is a branch of White
River, composed entirely of one spring, so copious,
that I am credibly informed a boat of thirty or
forty tons burthen might sail to the source.
^5Q
APPENDIX.
In many parts of this country, there are great
numbers of what the inhabitants call ** sink holes.**
These are all of the same form, but differ in mag-
nitude, some not being more than thirty yards in
diameter at the top ; others exceed two hundred.
They are circular, but diminish towards the bot-
tom, and resemble an inverted hollow cone : some
of the large ones are so deep, that tall trees, grow-
ing at the bottom, cannot be seen until we ap-
proach the brink of the cavity. I have examined
many of these sink holes, and in several have
heard the noise of water, as of a considerable
stream, running below the bottom of ihe cavity.
In others, the subterranean stream is visible, and
affords evidence that it has caused the cavity, by
carrying away the incumbent earth, which has
fallen in from time to time.
The abundance of nitre, generated in the caves
of this country, is a circumstance which ought
not to be passed over unnoticed. These caves are
always in the limestone rocks ; and in those which
produce the nitre, the bottom is covered with
earth, which is strongly impregnated with it, and
visible in needle-form crystals. In order to obtain
the nitre, the earth is collected and lixiviated : the
water, after being saturated, is boiled down, and
suffered to stand till the crystals are formed. In
this manner, it is no uncommon thing for three
* APPENDIX. S57
men to make one hundred pounds of salt-petre in
one day. As these caves may probably have been
the resort of wild animals in former times, the ac-
cumulation of nitre, in the first instance, is not
surprising ; but that the earth, on being again
spread on the bottom of the cave, should be re-
impregnated in the space of four or five years, is
not so easily accounted for : that this is a fact,
many who have been employed in making salt-petre
have assured me. In the spring of 1810, James
M*Donald of Bonhomme, and his two sons, went
to some caves on the Gasconade River to make
•salt-petre, and in a few weeks returned with three
thousand pounds weight to St. Louis.
It is very probable that coal is here in great
abundance. About four miles west of St. Louis, a
vein, from twelve to eighteen inches in thickness,
breaks out at the edge of a creek, and is used by
the blacksmiths. In the year 1810, the grass of
the prairie on the American Bottom, in the Illinois
Territory, took fire, and kindled the dry stump of
a tree, about five miles east of St. Louis : this
stump set fire to a fine bed of coal on which it
stood, and the coal continued to burn for several
months, until the earth fell in and extinguished it.
This bed breaks out at the bottom of the bluffs of
the Mississippi, and is about five feet in thickness :
I visited the place, and by examining the indica-
R
258 APPENDIX.
tions, found the same vein at the surface several
miles distant. Near the village of St. Ferdinand,
on the edge of the Missouri, the bank is one solid
bed of fine coal, of unknown thickness, but cer-
tainly more than twenty fieet : this bed is called
by the French La Charbonniere,
The lead mines of St. Genevieve* occupy an
extent of country, the limits of which have not
yet been ascertained : they commence about thirty
miles west of the Mississippi, and extend west
anil north-west. That which more particularly
indicates the existence of lead, is a redness of the
soil, which appears to result from the decomposi-
tion of an hasmatitic iron ore, found there in great
abundance, intermixed with pyrites, and in some
* It was the discovery of these lead mines that gave rise to
the famous Mississippi scheme, projected by Law in 1719, which
ruined hundreds of families in France. It was then supposed
that it was a silvw miue ; and although the bubble burst imme-
diately, it is surprising- that Du Pratz, who wrote thirty-nine
years afterwards, should still persist in the error. He not only
lays down a silver mine on the Marameg in his map of Louisiana,
but mentions it in his description. The jMarameg is now called
the Mirramac, on a branch of which, called the Negro Fork,
the mines of St. Genevieve are situated. Du Fratz says, *'1he
mine of Marauieg, which is silver, is pretty near the confluence
of the river which gives it name ; which is a gn at advantage to
those who would worji it, because they might easily, by that
means, have their goods from Europe. It is situate about five
hundred leagues from the sea."
APPENDIX. 259
of its states exhibiting evident proofs of lacing a
transition from that substance. The indications
are still stronger, if this earth contain sulphate
of barytes, crystalized carbonate of lime, and ag-
gregated crystals of quartz. AH these .are in some
parts very abundant, and generally of a red colour,
probably occasioned by the oxyde of iron contained
in the soil.
These mines have been worked since about the
year 1725, and until of late the ore has not been
sought for in the rock, but has been found in the
earth in detached lumps, intermixed -with the
substances above mentioned. The workmen em-
ployed, have no other implements than a pick-axe
and a wooden shovel, and when at work, appear
as if employed in making tan pits, rather than in
mining. When they come to the rock, or to such
a depth that it is no longer convenient to throw
the dirt out of the hole, they quit, and perhaps
commence a new diggings as they term it, within
a few feet of that which they have previously
abandoned. Each digger works separately for
himself, and sells the ore to the proprietor of the
soil, at two dollars per hundred pounds. It is
evident from the nature of the employment, that
the gain to the diggers must be very precarious,
but in general they appear to live comfortably,
They are almost all Creole French who are em-
260 APPENDIX.
ployed, and il \ may judge from a single instance,
retain as much fondness for showy dress as the
most foppish of their ancestors.*
The proprietors who buy the ore, cause it to be
smelted in furnaces constructed of two parallel
walls, one about eight, the other four, feet high,
and three and a half asunder : these are joined by
two slo})ing side walls, and into this inclosed area
the fuel and ore are throv/n. In this way they
'obtain from sixty to seventy per cent, of lead : the
ore is said to contain eighty.
The mines belong to a number of proprietors,
'and are mostly held by grants from the Spanish
■governors who formerly resided at St. Louis, and
are worked with more or less spirit, as the ore hap-
pens to be abundant or otherwise, for the workmen
quit one digging without ceremony, when they
heai' of better success at another. The profits of
the proprietors are commensurate with the quan-
tity of ore raised on; their property : therefore.
* On a Saturday eyenine: I arrived at the mine Bfille Fontaine,
and employed myself until night in examining the substances
, thrown out by the diggers, and found the most interesting
specimens amongst the refuse of one m;»n, who, on that account,
I particularly noticed. On the following morning I met him in
the village, dressed in a white gown, with red slippers, and a
blue silk waisti'oat, embroideied with silver la;ce.
APPENMX. G61
when the diggings become less productive than
usual, they make trials on difFereiit parts of their
land, to discover where the ore is more abundant,
that the diggers may be induced to remain with
them. These trials consist in nothing more than
digging a hole in some part of the woods, to the
depth of three or four feet, and judging by the
quantity of ore f galena J what degree of success
may be expected.
A little time before I visited Richwood mines,
the property of Monsieur Lebaume, of St. Louis,
he had made forty trials, by simply digging holes,
not more than four feet deep, in places remote
from each other, on his land. In thirty-eight of
these he found ore, and from one hole more than
half a hundred weight was raised. This gentleman
owns a square league.
As soon as any particular district is found so
abundant as to warrant a furnace to be erected
near it, they give it a name. Whilst I was at St.
Louis, one of these places was discovered, and
named Mine au Shibboleth^ from which, I was cre-
dibly informed, four millions of pounds weight of
ore was raised in the manner I have described, -^in
one summer. The diggings which I visited were
Mine au Burton^ Mine Belle Fontaine^ Richwood
MineSy Old Diggings, New Diggings, and Elliotts
262
APPENDIX.
Diggings. Some of these diggings are ten or
twelve miles distant from each other. Mine la
Mofte, on the waters of the river St. Francis, is
thirty or forty miles south of all the rest. Some
of these mines have fallen into the hands of Ame-
ricans, who have ventured to penetrate the rock,
which is always found at a depth of from six to
twelve feet below the surface, and have been amply
rewarded for their enterprize.
I remained a few days with Mr. Elliot, who at
that time had only just commenced on the rock,
but had the most promising prospects of success.
He had raised a considerable quantity of ore, and
many tons of blendCy and with the last had repaired
the road to his works, not knowing what substance
it was. Mr. Moses Austin, proprietor of Mine
au Burton, had been very successful, having found
larare masses of ore in the caves of the rock into
which he had penetrated.
At the New Diggings a great deal had been
raised out of the rock, and a considerable quantity
was lying on the bank in very large lumps. —
When I visited that place, they were impeded by
water, and had no better means of getting rid of
it, than those which buckets, raised by a windlass,
afforded. I was prevented from descending by
the quantity of water then in the mine.
APPENDIX. ^63
Althoiisch the district of country which contains
the present diggings is considered as comprising
the mines, I am of opinion that the lead extends
to a very great distance beyond those limits. I
have seen all the indications on the upper part of
the Mirramac River, fifty or sixty miles west of
the present workings, and still further to the north-
ward, at the mouth of the Gasconade, on the Mis-
souri. It is supposed by some that it extends to
the mines belonginsr to the Saukee and Fox nations
of Indians, wliich are situated on the Mississippi,
six hundred miles above St. Louis. — These mines
are known to extend over a space of eighty miles
in length, and nine miles in breadth.*
* These mines are of great value to the Saukee and Fox na-
tions. As the game on the lands which they claim is nearly
destroyed, they have therefore been compelled to commence the
business of mining, or rather digging. The ore is raised by the
men, but the operation of smelting is done by the squaws. The
method by whirh they extract the metal was described to me by
Mr. Prior, who was of Messrs. Lewis and Clarke's party, and
who traded with these Indians for lead. They first dig a deep
cavity in the ground, near a perpendicular bank of the Missis-
sippi, and from the face of the bank make a horizontal hole
to meet the bottom of it. A quantity of dry wood is then thrown
into the cavity, and set fire to, after which the ore is thrown in,
and the supply of both continued. The metal runs out at the
horizontal opening, and is received in holes made by the Indians
with their heels in the sand of the river. In this .state it
is bought by the traders from St. Louis, who afterwards cast it
into pigs in their own moulds. Formerly, thuse Indians ^ave
264» APPENDIX,
Some of the Isolated and sand-stone rocks in this
territory, alluded to, are remarkable for their pu-
rity, being so white as to exactly resemble the
purest lump sugar. These would furnish an ex-
cellent material for the manufacture of glass.
permission to a person of the name of Dubuque to dig lead : he
resided at their villaj;:e, being much respected by them, and ac-
quired some property, the management of which, after his death,
fell into the hands of Augustus Choutou, of St. Louis, who in
1810 advertised for sale Dubuque's property in the mines, or
his right of digging lead. It was bought by Colonel Smith, the
proprietor of Mine Belle Fontaine, and Mr. Moorhead, of St.
Louis, for about three thousand dollars. They ascended the
Mississippi with an armed party, to take possession, but were
roughly handled by the Indians, and happy in having escaped
with their lives. The Indians immediately afterwards called a
council, and being fearful of giving offence to the Americaa
government, sent deputies to St. Louis, to plead their cause be-
fore Governor Howard and General Clarke, who performed their
mission with great ability ; first disclaiming any intention to con-
tinue the grant beyond the life of Dubuque, and, secondly, any
wish to offend the government of the United States, by driving
away Smith and Moorhead. They next stated, that when the
Great Spirit gave the land to th« Red Men, their ancestors,
he foresaw that the White Men would come into the country,
and that the game would be destroyed ; therefore, out of his
great goodness, he put lead into the ground, that they, their
wives and children, might continue to exist : they lastly ap-
pealed to the justice of their Great Father, the President of the
United States. Govenior Howard and General Clarke approved
of their conduct, and a ssured them of the protection of the
govtTument.
APPENDIX. ^65
About five miles west of Herciilaneum, which
is situated on the Mississippi, thirty miles below
St. Louis, there is a limestone rock, about a quar-
ter of a mile in length, and in some parts forty
or fifty feet high. This rock is so completely per-
forated in almost every part as to resemble a honey-
comb, and the perforations are from one-eighth
to three-quarters of an inch in diameter. It has
exactly the appearance of marine rocks, perforated
by mytilus lithop/iaguSy or rugosus.
Fossil bones have been dug up in various places
in Upper Louisiana. At a salt lick, about three
miles from the Mirramac River, and twelve from
St. Louis, several bones have been discovered, evi-
dently belonging to the same species of mammoth
as those found on the Ohio, and in Orange County,
state of New York. I have frequently been in-
formed of a place on Osage River, where there is an
abundance of bones of great magnitude. Gene-
ral Clarke showed me a tooth brought from the in-
terior : it was a grinder, and belonged to the ani-
mal mentioned by Cuvier, called by him masto
donte, avec dents carres.
The general character of this country is that
of prairie, with scattered trees and interspersed
clumps. On the summits of the ridges, the tim-
ber is generally red cedar (juniperus vh^ginianaj.
QG6 appendix.
on the prairie, post oak (querciis ohfusilobaj, black
jack Cquercus nigra), black walnut (juglans Jiigra),
and shell bark hickory (juglans squamosa). The
alluvion of the rivers contains a greater variety, of
which the principal are — cotton wood (populus
angulosajy sycamore (platamis occidentalis J , over-
cup oak (quercus macrocarpa ) , nettle tree, or
hackberry (celtis crassifoliaj, hoop ash fccltis
occiden talis), honey locust (gleditsia triaca?ithos),
black locust (robinia pseudacacia), coffee tree
(guilandina dioica), peccan (juglans oliva^/ormis),
and many of the trees common in the states east of
the AUeghanies.*
The soil is generally excellent, being for the
most part black loam, and is tilled without much
trouble.
The climate is very fine : the spring commences
about the middle of March in the neighbourhood
of St. Louis, at which time the willow (salix),
the elm (ulmus Americana)^ and maples {acer
rubrum and saccharinum") are in flower. The
spring rains usually occur in May, after which
month the weather continues fine, almost without
interruption, until September, when rain again
* A list of some of the herbaceous plants of the Missouri
territpry will be fouud auiiexed.
APPEXDIX. 267
occurs about the equinox, after which it remains
again fine serene weather until near Christmas,
when the winter commences. About the begin-
ning or middle of October the Indian summer*
begins, which is immediately known by the change
that takes place in the atmosphere, as it now be-
comes hazy, or what they term smoky. This gives
to the sun a red appearance, and takes away the
glare of light, so that all the day, except a few
hours about noon, it may be looked at with the
naked eye without pain : the air is perfectly quies-
cent and all is stillness, as if nature, after her
exertions during the summer, was now at rest.
The winters are sharp, but it may be remarked
that less snow^ falls, and they are much more
moderate on the west than on the east side of the
Alleghanies in similar latitudes.
The wild productions of the Missouri Territory,
such as fruits, nuts, and berries, are numerous : of
these the summer grape (yitis cesiivalis) appears
to be the most valuable, as the French have made a
considerable quantity of wine from it by collecting
the wild fruit.t This species grows in abundance
* Indians begin to provide for the winter when this state of
the weather commeuces, as they know it will soon approach.
t Mr. James Berry, with whojn I resided, about four miles
from St. Louis, told me that he made ei^ht quarts of wine from
S68 APPENDIX.
on the prairies, and produces a profusion of fine
bunches. The winter grape (vitis vulpimim) is
remarkable for the large size of its vine, which
climbs to the tops of the highest trees, and takes
such full possession of their tops, that after the fall
of the leaf, the tree to which it has attached itself
seems to be loaded with fruit. The vine at the
bottom is commonly six or eight inches in diameter.
I measured one near the Mirramac River, that was
thirty-seven inches in circumference near tlie
ground, after which it divided into three branches,
eacli branch taking possession of a tree. The
fruit is very good after the frosts have commenced.
Another fruit found here is the persimon (dj/oipi/-
ros virginiand)^ which in appearance resembles a
plum, excepting that the permanent calyx of the
flower remains. It is so astringent until ameliora-
ted by the frosts, that on being eaten, it draws
up the mouth, and when swallowed, contracts the
throat in such a manner as to cause a sensation
similar to that of choking.
The papaw (anona trilohd) is found in plenty
on the alluvion of the rivers. The fruit is of the
magnitude and shape of a middling sized cucum-
ber, and grows in clusters of three, four, or five
the grapes of one of these vines, wliicli ran up a small tree,
about 150 yards from bis house.
APPENDIX.
269
together : when ripe the pulp is of the consist*
ence of a custard, and is very agreeable to some
palates; but the hogs will not touch them. Straw-
berries are in vast abundance on the prairies, and
are very tine. The pecan, or Illinois nut, is a kind
of walnut, but very different from all the other
•species, both in the form and texture of its shell,
which is so thin as to be cracked between the teeth
with the greatest ease. It is of an oblong form,
and from that circumstance the tree which produces
it has obtained the name o^ juglans olkw/ormis.
There are several other species of hickory and wal-
nut, which yield nuts in great abundance. These,
together with acorns from the various species of
oak, furnish abundance of food for hogs.
^ trhe' qurfduppeds found in parts inhabited by the
whites, of which the flesh is eaten, are bear, deer,
hares, racoon, opposum, and a variety of squirrels.
With bear, deer, and turkeys, the town of St. Louis
is frequently supplied by a tribe of the Shawanee
nation of Indians, who live about seventy miles
w^est of that place. They usually charge a quarter
of a dollar for a turkey or a quarter of venison.
It is necessary to observe that Upper Louisiana
was settled from Canada, not by way of Orleans,
but by proceeding along the Lakes, and descend-
. ing the Illinois or Miami rivers, and may be con-
270 APPENDIX. ^
sidereil as a distinct colony, the history of which,
so far as may be gathered from themselves, does
not present those horrid examples of treacliery and
injustice to the Indians, which will for ever dis-
grace the memory of those who first formed the
lower settlement. The consequence has been, that
although individual acts of injustice or aggression,
committed against the Indians, have met with due
and appropriate punishment, yet no general act
has been committed of a nature so atrocious as to
provoke general extermination j a thing extremely
easy to have been effected by the Indians in the
early part of the settlement, as there were several
powerful tribes in their vicinity. The inhabitants
of Kaskaskias say that it w^as coeval with Philadel-
phia, and the common term for Vincennes, (Old
Post) shows that it must have been one of tlie first
settlements, if not the first. Both these are on the
east side of the Mississippi, as also are Cahokia and
the small settlement of Prairie du Roche. Besides
these four, on the west side, there were five villages
originally settled, each of which, besides its proper
name, has a nick-name given to it. St. Genevieve
is Misere ; Carondolet, Vuide Poclw ; St. Louis
Pain Court ; St. Ferdinand, Florissante ; and St.
Charles, I^etit Cote. These nine villages were scat-
tered some more than a hundred miles distant from
each other, and no two of them were so situated as
to be capable of rendering mutual aid, in case of
APPENDIX. g71
attack from the Indians, and for more than sixty
years five of them existed, isolated in a wilderness,
six liundred miles at least from any other white
settlers.
The viliiiges were regularly laid out in squares
of three hundred feet on each side, the houses
standing towards the streets, and the interior of the
area composed of gardens and orchards. To each
of these villages was appropriated a large space of
ground, fencfed in the form of a parallelogram. In
this space allotments are laid out, correspondent
in number and relative magnitude with the town
lots. These allotments extend the whole length of
the tield ; but their magnitude is determined by
the breadth, which is marked on one of the fences,
being once, or once arid a half, or twice, &c. the
length of the side of a square arpent of land. In
the common field belonging to Carondolet, these
narrow stripes are more than a mile and a half in
length. Besides the appropriation of land for cuir
jtivation, an extensive tract was laid out for each
town as a forest, or demesne, from which each in-
dividual cuts what wood he thinks proper. All
these appropriations have been ratified by the com-
missioners appointed to examine into claims by the
government of the United States, since the cession
of Louisinia. The French, who are the descend-
ants of the first settlers, are very indolent, and so
T/Q, APPENDIX.
much attached to tlie manners of their ancestors,
and even to their practices in husbandry, that al-
though they see their American, neighbours, by the
apphcation of improved implements and methods,
able to cultivate double the quantity of ground in
the same time, nothing can induce them to abandon
their old practices : and if any one attempts to rea-
son with them on the subject, their constant reply
is, " As it was good enough for our forefathers, it
is good enough for us ;" whence it appears that
even veneration for ancestry may become an evil.
They cultivate maize, wheat, oats, barley, beans
(phaseolus), pumpkins, water and musk melons,
and tobacco and cotton for their own use. Apples
and peaches are very fine : the former are abundant,
and do not require to be engrafted. They pay
great attention to gardening, and have a good
assortment of roots and vegetables. Notwithstand-
ing their want of industry, there is an appearance
of comfort and independence in their villages, as,
from the richness of the soil, and fineness of the
climate, the labours attendant on agriculture, and
attention necessary to their cattle, are compara-
tively trivial. They have abundance of horses,
cows, and hogs, all of which run at large on the
prairies, as they have no inclosures but for the
purpose of agriculture. They mow a little grass
on the prairie, which they make into hay, and give
it to their horses and cattle when the ground is co-
APPENDIX. 27s
vered with snow : at other times they leave them
to provide for themselves. The hogs live on straw-
berries, hazle and hickory nuts, acorns and roots,
and must be occasionally sought for in the woods,
to prevent them from becoming entirely wild. On
these occasions, the proprietor fills his saddle bags
with the ears of Indian corn, with which he mounts
his horse, generally with his rifle on his shoulder.
If he finds them within three or four miles of his
house, he thinks himself fortunate ; but it some-
times happens that he is two days in " hunting them
lip," as they term it. When he finds them, he
throws down an ear of corn, which they devour,
and he rides gently towards home, with the whole
herd screaming after him. When they are almost
inclined to give up the chase, he throws down ano-
ther ear, which practice he continues until he brings
them into his yard, where he shuts them up, and
feeds them. Here they remain until the morning,
when he again feeds them, marks the young pigs,
sets them at liberty, and probably does not see them
again for a fortnight or three weeks. That each
planter may identify his own hogs, he marks them
in the ear, and in each township an office is estab-
lished, in which these marks are registered. They
are either holes or slits, or both, differently ar-
ranged, so that no two marks are alike ; and it is
against the laws of the territory to expose the
G7'4 APPENDIX^
carcass of a hog for sale without having the ears
upon it.
St. Louis, the capital of this territory, is very
pleasantly situated on the Mississippi, about eigh-
teen miles below the mouth of the Missouri, in
latitude 38" 5' and longitude 89' 55' W. It has a
decided advantage over any of the other towns, on
account of its being situated on a rock, but little
elevated above the high floods of the river, and
immediatelv on its border. Such situations are
very rare, as the Mississippi is almost universally
bounded either by high perpendicular rocks or
loose alluvial soil ; the latter of which is in conti-
nual danger of being washed away by the annual
floods, to such an extent that a whole plantation^
situated on the border of the river, has been known
to have bieen swept away during one flood. Fort
Chartres, erected at a vast expence by the French
government, on the border of the river, prior to the
cession of Louisiana in 1763, is now almost entirely
swept away. The fur trade of the Mississippi and
the Missouri, together with that of the tributary
streams, almost wholly centers in this town ; and
after the return of Messrs. Lewis and Clarke from
the Pacific Ocean, a fur company was formed, for:
the purpose of trading with the nations on the headv
waters of the Missouri, which, from a variety of
APPENTDIX. 275
untoward events, but principally from the hostile and
bloody disposition of the Indians, has miscarried.
.^. There <'k no part of the western country that:
holds out greater advantages to the new settler than
the Missouri Territory. It is inferior to no part in
point of soil or climate, and has a decided advan-
tage over the country on the Ohio, as the transit to
Orleans may be made at any season of the year,
whereas the Ohio is not navigable during the months
of August, September, and October. • It is also
from six hundred to a thousand miles nearer to that
city than the upper part of the Ohio. Opportuni-^-
ties of purchasing settlements, orplantations already
formed, are very frequent, and at very moderate
terms, as the rage of retiring back prevails here in
qs great a degree as in the other new countries.
Wild land, as it is here called, may either be had.
from the government of the United States, or from
the old French inhabitants, several of whom pos-
sess very large tracts, obtained by grants from the
Spanish governors. The titles of these lands are
now undoubted, as diey have been ratified by the
commissioners appointed by the government of the
United States to examine into claims. The price
of land is various, but may frequently be obtained
on better terms from the land owners than from
the government, or for less than two dollars per acre.
276 APPENDIX.
In the reclaiming of wild land, or the forming of a
plantation from a state of nature, the trouble and
labour is much less than in clearing a forest, as here
the trees are not more abundant on the upland
than would be necessary for fuel and for fences.
They naturally stand at a sufficient distance from
earh other to admit a fine undergrowth of grass
and herbage. This country, as well as the western
region, will reap incalculable benefit from the ap-
plication of steam boats on the Mississippi. Of
these a great many are now building in the different
ports of the Ohio. This mode of conveyance will
also be much facilitated by the abundance of ex-
cellent coal so universally spread over these regions.
It is necessary to observe, that what has been
stated relative to the climate, duration of winter,
agriculture, &c. &c. relates more particularly to
the region included betwixt the mouths of the
Ohio and Missouri, or from thirty-seven to thirty-
nine and a half degrees of latitude ; but this terri-
tory extends from twenty-nine to fifty degrees, and
therefore proper allowances must be made for the
differences of latitude. In an agricultural point
of view, it may be divided into three regions,
suitable for the culture of as many great staple
articles, viz. sugar, cotton, and corn. The sugar
region reaches from the coast to latitude thirty-on«
APPENDIX. 277
or thirty-one and a half degrees. The culture of
sugar only conunenced about fifteen years ago, and
until of late has been confined to the alluvion of the
Mississippi ; but there is an extensive tract, suit-
tible for that culture, lying west of that river, and
reaching to the Sabine river, comprehending the
countries of the Oppelousas and Atacapas, which
is now settling fast, and in point of soil can scarcely
be equalled. In the year 1811, some of the plan-
tations on the Mississippi produced as much as five
hundred hogsheads of sugar ; and the cultivation
is rapidly increasing, as many of the planters have
already made immense fortunes.
The region proper for the cultivation of cotton,
and too cold for that of the sugar-cane, exteods
from thirty-one and a half to about thirty-six de-
grees of latitude : the species cultivated is gossi/-
pium annuum. It wall grow many degrees north
of thirty-six; but it will not yield a sufficient
crop, nor is the cotton so good, for the following
reasons: — of the pods containing the cotton, the
terminal pods of the principal branches are the first
ripe : the next in succession are those of the secon-
dary branches, which are followed by those of the
tertiary ones, &c. &c. ; but in each successive ge-
neration, the number is increased in something like
the ratio of a geometrical progression. In the
northerly part of the cotton region, the winter
278' ArrE^'Dix.
comes on before the cotton in the pods on the la-
teral branches is ripe, and a great portion of the
crop is destroyed, which a few degrees further
south would have ripened. But the avarice of
some planters prompts them to continue the gather-
ing of their crops too long, and the quality of their
cotton is deteriorated thereby, as the sun is too
feeble to give the last part of their crop sufficient
strength. The culture of the cotton plant is not
attended with much trouble. The seeds are planted
from three to three and a half feet asunder ; and
after the plants have acquired a little strength, they
are weeded and earthed up : no further care is
required until the gathering of the pods commen-
ces. The cotton is then separated from the seeds
by a machine, called the saxv gin.*
* From observation I am led to believe that the staple of cot-
ton is sometimes injured in the gin ; and as this machine is now
xmiversally used to separate the cotton from the seed, I shall
describe it. The saws are circular, about six or eight inches in
diameter ; they are made of thin steel plates, and are toothed like
those used for cutting wood, exceptins' that they make a more
acute angle with the radii. Twenty-four, thirty, thirty-six, or
more of these saws are placed on an iron shaft, at about one inch
asunder. This shaft is fixed in a frame, three feet, or three feet
six inches high, and parallel to it is placed a trough, not unlike
a manger. One side of the trough is composed of thin plates of
iron, exceeding in number that of the saws by one. This admits
one of- these plates betwixt each two saws, and they are so near
«arh other as barely to admit the saw to pass between them. A
AFPEXDIX. 279
As there are public gins established almost in
every part, to which a planter may take his cotton,
and have it cleaned and packed on moderate terms,
it is in the power of a poor man to turn cotton-
planter ; and if he has a numerous family, so much
the better, as females, and even children, can be
employed in gathering the pods, and in taking tlie
cotton from them. If he settles on wild land, he
can enter upon the culture of cotton with more
facility than on any other crop, as the ground re-
quires less preparation.
This part of Louisiana as yet contains but very
few white settlers, although, for the most part, the
fourth part of the saw works within the troug-h. Beneath the
saws a cylindrical brush turns the same way, but with greater
velocity. On tlie end of the shaft on which the saws are, tbei-e
is a fast and loose pulley for driving' the machine, with a belt
for stopping it at pleasure. When the gin is intended to be set
to work, a quantity of cotton, as taken from the pods, is thrown
into the trough, and the belt is put on the fast pulley. The saws,
in p.issing through the troughs, continue to load their teeth with
cotton, which is instantly thrown off by the brush, and in a few
minutes nothing remains in the trough but bare seeds. The
management of this gin is mostly committed to negroes, who,
anxious to finish their task, drive the machine with too great
velocity, by which, I conceive, not only the staple of the cott
is injured, but the green lumps, which are in fact the abortive
seeds, are broken, and carried through along with the cotton.
From this cause, in a great measure, arises the difference of
quality of cotton from the same plantation.
280 APPENDIX.
soil is excellent, and the climate charming. Two
very large rivers, Red River and the Arkansas,
enter the Mississippi in this region, and run their
whole course through it : they are both navigable
to the confines of the internal provinces of New
Mexico, and furnish to those parts the best means
of communication with the ocean. Of these means,
when Mexico shall break its chain, it will avail
itself, and this will become one of the richest and
most valuable parts of the United States.
In an agricultural point of view, the vast tract
of prairie extending through all these regions, is-
an important object of consideration. Amongst
intelligent Americans, the question of — whether it
can or cannot be peopled by civilized man ? has
often been agitated. Accustomed, as they are, to
a profusion of timber, for buildings, fuel, and
fences, they are not aware of the small quantity
of that article that may be dispensed with, in a
country abounding in another substance for fuel ;
nor can they conceive, that fences, and even build-
ings, may be constructed with the application of a
very small portion of timber. Under these impres-
sions, the belief in America is, that the prairie
cannot be inhabited by the whites ; even Mr.
Brackenridge says it cannot be cultivated. My own
opinion is, that it can be cultivated ; and that, in
process of time, it will not only be peopled and
APPENDIX. 281
cultivated, but that it will be one of the most
beautiful countries in the world.
If I may be permitted to judge from travelling
nearly five hundred miles through it, I must pro-
nounce the soil to be excellent, and in almost every
part where I saw it in a state of nature, it was
covered with the finest verdure imaginable. The
stratum immediately below the vegetable soil is
almost universally a very tenacious clay, and ex-
tremely well calculated to form a material for brick,
or, in the first instance, for such habitations as are
made in Ireland, many of which are very comfort-
able. In time timber would be raised ; for to sup-
pose it would not grow there because it does not,
would be absurd. Whenever this region shall
commence to be peopled, the first settlements will
be made at the edge of the woody region, or on the
borders of the rivers, where a little timber may be
found, and probably the first wave in the tide of
population will be formed of shepherds and heids-
men. The tacit compact mutually binding betwixt
man and the animals he domesticates, implies a
duty connected with an interest to both parties.
Man furnishes to them food and protection, and
enables them to pass a few years of comfortable
existence ; they repay him with their lives or their
services. In all cases, the domestication of animals
is of the most value to man in those parts where he
can perform his duty to them at the least expense
582 APPENDIX.
to himself. In no part of the world can it be done
with less trouble than in the southern part of this
region. A convincing proof of this is, that here
domesticated animals have dissolved the contract,
and that thousands and tens of thousands of their
descendants still maintain their independence. If,
besides yielding food and protection to herbivorous
animals, other means of reducing them to a state
of dependence on man could not be found, domes-
tication without inclosures (which imply coercion)
would be in these parts impracticable, because food
is at all times in abundance, and the want of pro-
tection would be obviated by an association in num-
bers. But salt furnishes those means, by the aid
of which the shepherd or the herdsman obtains a
complete dominion over the will of his flock or his
herds, and in the midst of this vast region can call
them round him at his pleasure.*
* In a fertile country, and when not circumscribed by fences,
there is a continued tendency in animals to return to the state of
nature. Besides the accounts of others tending to prove this, I
had evidence of it in my horse, on the prairie near St. Louis, in
the summer of 1810. He was usually remakably docile, and
although thrre was not a single fence to obstruct his passage to
the Pacific Ocean, he was easily caught when often wanted • hut
during the time I was attacked by the ague, sometimes he was
not sought for during a fortnight. At those times he would let
no one come near him, and showed an utter contempt for corn,
when offered to him ; but a display of salt was at all times a
temptation too great to be resisted, and he quietly resigned his
liberty.
APPENDIX. 283
I shall close this article by a few observations on
the state of this country before it was transferred
to the United States, and of the immense value
and importance it is to that government. If a-
person who visited this country, and witnessed its
fertility, did not at the same time witness the want
of industry and enterprize in the descendents of
the old inhabitants, he would be surprised that its
advancement towards improvement hasbeenso slow.i
But besides this, the political circumstances under
which it has been placed, have been such as to i)re-
clude any possibility of prosperity ; as the very
nature and design of the principles by which it
was governed, whilst under the dominion of Spain,
was to prevent it. The invariable policy of that
government, as regards her colonies, is to prevent,
as much as possible, all intercourse betwixt them
and other nations ; and anxious only to raise imme-
diate revenue, it is in the continued habit of sa-
crificing futurity to the present. The governors
were petty tyrants, who considered their situations
as the means only of aggrandizing themselves ; to
which, as well as the interest of the province,
that of the Spanish government^ must always give
way. Anxious only to enrich themselves, and
vested with almost unlimited power, the interest
or prosperity of the colony was an object of very
remote consideration. The most depressing regu-
lations were made to shackle the internal trade of
28'i APPENDIX.
the country ; no man could seii the smallest article,
not even a row of pins, without a licence, and those
licences were sold at the most extravagant rates.
A stranger coming into the province, and offering
goods at a fair price, was certain to be sent to
prison, and to have his goods confiscated. All
favours from these governors , all giants of land,
or even common privileges, could only be obtained
by bribery. Some of the governors, not satisfied
with the fruit of their rapacious exactions on the
province, were guilty of the most shameful acts
of villany towards their own government. A little
above St. Louis stands a small triangular fort,
which, I was assured by one of the old settlers,
was built by the inhabitants without one shilling
of expense to the governor ; who rewarded some
by grants of land, and others by certain privileges ;
and, for building this fort, a bill was sent to the
Spanish government to a large amount, which was
paid.*
* Schultz relates the following anecdote in his travels, which
proves that the above instance is not a solitary one : —
" At the lower end of the town of St. Genevieve, the remains
of a Spanish fort are still to be seen, which, being erected on aa
eminence, corresponded with that of Kaskakias by signals.
•• It seems after the fort was completed, the commandant had
to wait upon the governor of the province to present his charges.
They were accordingly presented, and amounted to four hundred
and twenty-one dollars. The governor, after examining the
account, returned it to the commaudant, informing him there
APPENDIX. 285
Under so detestable a system of government the
energies of man must for ever remain dormant, and
the most fertile regions eternally unproductive to
the world. ■
The political and commercial advantages that
will arise to the United States from the acquisition
of Louisiana are incalculable, besides the vast re-
venue that will arise from the sale of lands. The
exclusive right to the Mississippi river is an object
of the highest importance. The acquisition of the
sugar region alone would have sufficiently indem-
nified the American government. But without
considering the positive advantages that will arise
to the United States from the possession of Loui-
siana, the evils that might, and would have arisen
I - — - . - . -
was some mistake. The commandant retired and examined it
a»ain ; but finding it entirely correct, presented it once more.
The governor, on looking it over, informed him it was still
incorrect, and advised him to consult with some friend, as he
had omitted a figure or two. The commandant then called upon
a friend to look over his accounts with him, who no sooner saw
the amount than he burst into a loud laugh, and taking up a
pen added an 0 to the sum already stated. The commandant
presented his accounts a third timt, when his excellency replied
that it was not quite right yet. The commandant was amazed :
but what was his astonishment, when he related the affair to his
friend, to see him add another 0 to the last sum, making it
42,100 instead of 421 ; On presenting the account the fourth
tinie, it was graciously received, and iir the discharge of the
whole a very small part was paid to the commandant."
286 APPENDIX.
from its being in the possession of another power,
which could have maintained the dominion of the
Mississippi, are also incalculable. The most pro-
minent of these evils would have been the separa-
tion of the States west of the Alleghanies from the
Union, as, without the free navigation of the Mis-
sissippi, the products of their fertile soil must have
perished on their hands for the want of a market.
So far is a navigable river from being a boundary
calculated to prevent collision betwixt two different
states, that it affords the greatest possible opportuni-
ties for invasion or predatory excursions j' aiid in case
of war with the power possessing Louisiana, aline.-
of more; than two thousand miles in length of the
United States would have been subject to be in-
vaded in half an hour after the enemy left his owrt
territory. But besides the devastations incident
on regular warfare, this extended border would
have been subject to the depredations of the vari-
ous tribes of warlike Indians residing west of the
Mississippi, who would have been a terrible engine
in the hands of the power possessing the dominion
of that country. In a state of hostility, they would
have rendered the eastern bank of the Mississippi
wholly uninhabitable.
No. V.
REMARKS
ON
THE STATES OF OHIO, KENTUCKY, AND INDIANA,
■WITH
THE ILLINOIS AND WESTERN TERRITORY,
AND ON THE
EMIGRATIONS TO THOSE COUNTRIES.
-fri'. .
In a tour across the Alleghanies, and through tlie'
regions west of these mountains and east of the
Mississippi river, I did not keep a regular j jurnal,
but contented myself with making general remarks,
without any expectation that they would ever be
submitted to public view. From these remarks I
shall briefly extract such matter as may be useful
to those who wish to visit the western country, or
be read with interest by those who do not. ' ■"
r..
The committee appointed by the government of
the United States, in the year 1816, to examine into
the Slate of American manufactures, in speaking
of the western country, say, " The rapidity of its
growth is such, that even whilst we ar6 employed
in drawing the portrait,' the features continue to
288 APPENDIX.
enlarge, and the picture becomes distorted." As
nothing can be more true than the above observa-
tion, it is therefore evident that a traveller, in speak-
ing of this country as acted upon by the operations
of man, can only speak v^ith confidence of what
*was. It is only on its natural formation that he
can speak of what is as far as is known.
The region to which these observations will more
particularly apply, is bounded by the Alleghanies
to the south-east, by the Mississippi on the west,
and the Great Lakes to the north* The Kaatskill
Mountains, on the Hudson River, about one hun-
dred and thirty miles from New York, are consider-
ed as the northern termination of the chain of
mountains called the Alleghanies, from which point
they proceed in a south-west direction to the Flo-
ridas, a distance of nine hundred miles, and parallel
with the general direction of the Atlantic coast.
The country west of this chain is in so many points
of view different from that comprehended betwixt
it and the Atlantic, as to demand a separate and
distinct description. As almost the whole of the
population of this country is confined to the vici-
nity of the Ohio or its tributary streams, the por-
tion which furnishes water to that river wili first
be considered. West and north-west there is a
vast tract on which that nver is not dependent.
That tract, as regards its natural formation, has
APPENDIX. 289
a distii%ct character, which will also be particularly
noticed.
The Ohio, from Pittsburg to its mouth, is sup-
posed to be eleven hundred and eighty-eight miles
in length, and receives in its course a considerable
number of streams, of which the following are the
principal : — ■
Tennessee, Sciota,
Cumberland, Big Sandy River,
Green River, Great Kenhawa,
Salt River, Little Kenhawa,
Kentucky River, Muskingum,
Little Miami, Wabash.
Great Miami,
Its name Ohio is of Indian origin, and signifies
beautiful. The French have not adopted the term,
but call it in their maps of this country La Belle
Riviere. Although it is a small stream when compa-
red with the Mississippi, some idea of its magnitude
may be formed by those who are only accustomed
to see rivers in miniature, by examining the follow-
ing statement of the area from which it derives its
waters : —
290 APPENDIX.
Sqr. Mikt,
llinois Territory, ^V' •••••• 5,200
Indiana Territory (the whole), 37,050
State of Ohio, 4, 35,088
Pennsylvania, |, 16,493
New York, T^^r. • • 521
Maryland, ^^-^^ 140
Virginia, I, 28,200
North Carolina, y\, 1,100
South Carolina, ^4-^, 152
Georgia, ^\, 2,000
Kentucky (the whole), 40,110
Tennessee -J, 32,400
Square miles, 198,454
The area of England and Wales is 49,450 square
miles : it therefore appears that this river receives
the water of a surface four times that extent. This
surface is comprehended betwixt the parallels of
35 and 43 degrees of latitude ; a climate perhaps
the best on the globe as regards the comforts of
man.
The seasons and general state of the weather
correspond with what has been mentioned of Upper
Louisiana in similar latitudes : — in spring heavy
rains j in summer an almost cloudless sky, with
heavy dews at night ; in autumn some rain, follow-
ed by the Indian summer ; and the winter from ten
weeks to three months long, which is dry, sharp.
APPENDIX. 291
and pleasant. From the Alleghanies to the Lakes
there are no mountains, or scarcely an elevation
deserving the name of a hill, the bluffs which bor-
der the rivers excepted. It is nevertheless relieved
from the dull monotony of a level plain by num-
berless valleys, through which the streams flow,
and by small elevations, termed ridges. The soil
is much superior to that of the countries east of
the Alleghanies, and varies in quality. These
variations are denoted by the term first, second,
and third rates. In the early stage of the transition
of a fertile country from a state of nature to that
of improvement and the arts, but little can be
known as respects its geological formation^ or, in
other words, what it may contain as regards mine-
rals. In general the first settlers are only cultivators
of the soil, and never examine to any considerable
depth below the surface, except by digging wells.
All that is known of this country on those subjects
has been discovered in that way, or has manifested
itself on the surface, and is confined, as regards
useful articles, to coal, salt, iron, lead, and nitre.
From the numerous and general indications, and
the known existence of coal, it may be presumed
to be very abundant. In examining the beds of
most of the rivers, rounded nodules of coal may-
be found mixed with the stones and gravel, and
beds of argillaceous schist, containing vegetable
impressions, are frequent : in some instances these
292 APPENDIX.
beds contain masses of pyrites. Coal is actually
found at Pittsburg, at Zanesville, on Green River,
in the Illinois, and in the western territories. It
is uniformly bituminous, and highly charged with
that substance.* In all these instances it has
manifested itself on the surface of the earth, and
indicates almost inexhaustible beds.'
Salt, the most useful article at present, is found
in various places, but as yet only in a slate of
solution, and has mostly been indicated by the
excavations made by wild animals before the coun-
try was discovered by the whites. These animals,
and in particular the herbivorous kind, have a
strong predilection for salt ; they resorted in im-
mense numbers to every place where a salt spring
existed, and not only drank the water, but licked
up all the earth in its vicinity, that was impregnated
with saline particles. Some of these excavations
are of a surprising extent, when the means by
-which they have been effected is considered. The
salt spring called the Ohio Saline, about twenty
miles from the mouth of the Wabash, is several
* This fact is remarkable in a g'eological point of view, whea
connected with another, which is, that almost all, if not the
whole, of the coal discovered east of the AUeghanies, is of the
kind called by Kirwan mineral carbon, containing no bitumen.
Vast beds of this description of coal exist on the Susquehannah
&nd Delaware rivers, it contains luoety per cent, of carbon.
APPENDIX. 293
acres in extent, and from six to ten feet in depth.
On viewing these, and contemplating the length
of time necessary for such a mass to be carried
away in the stomachs.of animals, the mind is struck
with astonishment.* The existence of salt on the
Kenhawa was not pointed out by these indications.
On sinking a well, the persons employed came to
a red sandstone rock before they had obtained a
sufficiency of water, and perforated the rock, when
the salt water immediately issued up with great
force. This rock is now found to extend for several
miles on both sides of the river. Wherever it is
perforated salt water is found beneath, and several
works for the manufacture ot salt are already
established.t
* Salt is made at various places in the western country, and
the manufacture is rapidly increasing. The principal establish-
ments are on the Kenhawa, at Bullet's and at Mann's Licks,
Kentucky, and at the Ohio Saline, at the mouth of the Wabash.
f In passing down that river I had an opportunity of seeing^
the manner in which they construct their wells for the salt water,
which, on account of its singularity, I shall describe. They
first ascertain by boring at what depth they shall come to the
rock, and afterwards look out for a hollow tree, which must be
at least from three to four feet in diameter. This they cut down
carefully for fear of splitting, and saw off such a length as will
reach from the surface of the g-round to the rock. If the hollow
of the tree is not large enough to allow room sufficient for a man
to work within, they enlarge it. A well is next dug, and when
So deep that there is danger of the earth falling in, the trunk is
^ut down, and sunk to the surface of the rock. After the influx
29i APPENDIX.
Iron ore is found in many places, but chiefly in
the neighbourhood where foundries have been esta-
of fresh water is prevented by calkings round Iht edges at the
bottom of the trunk, the perfoiation is made, and the salt water
immediately rises to the surface. Besides the use here mention-
ed, hollow trees were applied to other purposes, being cut across
in different lengths, and used by the first settlers as tubs to hold
grain, &c. Any portion so cut off is called a gum, a name pro-
bably arising from the almost exclusive iipplication of the gum
trees to these purposes ; for although many species of trees are
liable to become hollow, yet none are so perfectly hollowed as
the gum tree fliqui dumber styracijiuu.) These trees, as I am
informed, are often found so completely hollow as to leave the
sound part not more than an inch in thickness, and the inside
surface perfectly smooth.
Having mentioned the Kenhawa, I must observe, that on ar-
riving at the falls of that river, ninety miles from the Ohio, I
found a boat going from thence to Kenhawa Court-h(mse, with
some goods thut had been brought over the Alleghanies. A pas-
sage was cheerfully granted to me, during which I enquired fur
the burning well, and expressed a wish to see it. The boatmen
informed me it was four miles from the river, and it would not
be convenient for them to wait until I visited it, but promised to
show me what would equally gratify my curiosity. Accordingly,
near the edge of the river, and about fifteen miles farther down,
they landed, and conducted me to where there was a Iiole dug in
the sandy bank of the river, about a foot in diameter. From
this hole a flame issued at least two feet high. Several stones
were placed round the margin, on which some other boatmen
had set their kettles to cook their meat, I had noticed for seve-
ral miles above a vein of iron ore appearing at the surface, about
the height of the highest floods, and in almost every part of the
bank great quantities of ochre. The same appearances oonti-
nued to the dis-tance of several miles below. From noticing this
cir£umstance, I was led to form a conjecture on the formation of
APPENDIX. 295
"blished. About fourteen miles west of the Ohio
Saline, in the Illinois Territory, there is a lead
mine, which was discovered by a gentleman from
Tennessee, of the name of Guest. It is not yet
worked, but seems to promise well. Som^ small
excavations have been made, and a quantity of
galena found. It appears to have no connection or
affinity with the mines of St. Genevieve, not only on
account of the distance being about a hundred and
fifty miles, but from the marked difference in the
rock which is the matrix of the ore, and in the
substances which are concomitant with it. The
rock in this mine is of that species of Hmestone
called kettonstone, or compact hmestone of Kir-
wan, and consists of very small accreted round
granulations. The ore is mixed with very beautiful
fluor spar, of several colours, as blue, brown,
yellow, and pellucid. The caves yielding salt petre
are still more abundant than those af Upper Louis-
iana, or rather they are better known, and some
of them are of surprising extent. They abound
chiefly on Green, Tennessee, and Cumberlaud
rivers.
the gas that supplied the flame, and was persuaded that there is
a vast body of iron ore, which, from the appearance of so much
ochre, is in a continued state of oxydization, and produces a
constant decomposition of water, with the oxyg-eu of which it
unites, and consequently a quantity of hydrogen is evolved.—
May not this be the cause ?
296
APPENDIX.
The country is generally calcareous j but many
rocks of freestone occur. One producing excellent
flags may be observed near the place where the
battle was fought at Point Pleasant, on the Ken-
hawa.
Near the mouth of Cabin Creek, about six miles
above Limestone, on the Ohio, there is a hill
almost covered with detached petrified casts of
marine shells, in which a great many species may
be observed.
In the state of nature, this country was almost
wholly covered wath trees, many of which are of
great magnitude. More than one hundred species
are found, and the timber is of various qualities,
affording to the farmer, ship-builder, carpenter, ,
cooper, and cabinet-maker great opportunities of
selecting what is most suitable for their different
purposes. Of the oak only, there are fourteen
or fifteen species, of which the over cup fqiierctis
macrocarpajj affords the best timber. The post
oak Cqneixus obtusiloba,) is also much esteemed
for the durability of its timber when put into the
ground. The black locust (rohinia pseud-acacia^)
and the honey locust (gleditsia triacanthos,J are
excellent for the ship-builders, and are much es-
teemed by them, particularly for the making of
tree-nails. For furniture, they chiefly use the wild
APPENDIX. 297
cherry {prunas Virginia,) and black walnut
(juglans nigra ;) the former is little inferior to
mahogany in beauty.
Nothing so much surprises the European on his
firet entrance on the western country, as the
grandeur and beauty of many of these trees, and
more particularly if he happens to arrive in the
Spring ; not fewer than ten species produce a pro-
fusion of beautiful blossoms, and the under-
wood consists mostly of some of our finest flower-
ing shrubs. The trees comprise five species of
Magnolia, with Uriodendron tulipijera, or tuHp
tree, robinia psetidacacia, or black locust, guilan-
dina dioica, or coffee nut, and two species of horse
chesnut, cesculus pavia and Jlava, Amongst the
shrubs are found the rhododendrons^ kalmiaSy and
azaleas, with cercis Canadensis, and cornusjlorida.
The wild animals have mostly disappeared from
the vicinity of the inhabited parts ; none now re-
main that are dangerous, and but few that are
destructive. The wolves sometimes take a sheep,
or a small pig, but they are already becoming
scarce, and will soon disappear. The squirrels are
the greatest enemies the farmers have now to con-
tend with, but they are prevented from an inordi-
nate increase by the frequency of squirrel hunts
29S APPENDIX.
by the riflemen, which are encouraged by the
landholders.*
* The squirrels have greatly increased since the country has
become peopled by the whites, owing to the greater quantity
of food afforded, and by the opportunities they have of robbing
the corn and wheat 6elds ; but the farmers occasioually give what
Ihey call " a harl ique"' in the woods, to the young riflemen, on
the condition that they make a match at squirrel hunting, of six,
eight, or ten, against a similar number, who also make a wager
amongst themselves. The hog is killed, dressed, and roasted
after the Indian method ; this consists in digging a hole, the bot-
tom of which they cover with hot stones ; on these the hog is laid,
and covered over also with heated stones. There is plenty of
liquor, and theyro//c ends in shooting at a mark. 1 have heard
of more than two thousand squirrels being killed at one of these
hunts, all with ball. Perhaps this circumstance contributes to
render these people such skilful marksmen ; and as every maa
is necessitated to appropriate a portion of his land to timber for
fuel and fences, the squirrels having refuge there, will long con-
tinue to exercise their skill. Another enemy they keep within
bounds, perhaps without designing it ; before the peaches are
Eaturally mature, great quantities fall from the trees, apparently
ripe ; to consume these, they turn the hogs into their orchards.
On examining these pe.aches, there may be found in each a
small worm, of course produced by a winged insect, probably a
eynips. Those who are acquainted with the amazing powers of
reproduction vested in insects, need not to be informed of the
consequences if these were all suffered to arrive at maturity.
Some of the farmers consider the woodpecker as an enemy, on
account of the great number of perforations it makes in their
apple trees, but as its food is insects, I think it may be considered
to them an invaluable friend.
APPENDIX. 299
The price of land is so much varied by quality
and situation, that no certain data can be given.
Near the large towns, land is as dear as near the
cities in the eastern states, and in the most popu-
lous towns, the lots sell at a very high price. In
February, 1816, land in the town of Louisville
sold at the rate of 30,000 dollars per acre. The
lands belonging to the United States government
are sold at one uniform price, viz. two dollars per
acre, with five years to pay it in, or one dollar,
sixty -four cents cash. There are but few European
famihes, who have been accustomed to sedentary
employments, that could submit to the fatigues
incident on clearing a forest, and converting it
into arable land. To such, a resource is always
open, as opportunities are never wanting to pur-
chase from the Backxvoodsman what he calls his
improvemeiit. He is alarmed at the approach of
population, and is anxious to remove farther back
into the woods. The improvement consists in
a log house, a peach, and perhaps an apple, orchard,
together with from ten, to thirty or forty acres of
land, inclosed, and partially cleared. For this,
seldom more than from fifty to a hupdred dollars
is asked, exclusive of the value of the land, which
in most cases belongs to the United States, and
may be purchased at the land office on the usual
terms. Besides the land belonging to the United
States, there are large tracts in the hands of spe-
800 APPENDIX.
dilators, from whom it may sometimes be purchas-
ed upon as good terms as from the goverment, and
as liberal in point of credit ; but in this case, care
should be taken to examine if the title is good.
Many of the speculators are anxious to sell, as the
land-tax, although comparatively light, becomes
heavy on very extensive purchases : it amounts to
one dollar, twenty cents, per annum, on one hun-
dred acres of first-rate land ; one dollar on one
hundred acres of second-rate ; and sixty cents on
third-rate. These sums are nearly in the propor-
tion of fl of a penny per acre for first-rate ; one
halfpenny per acre for second rate ; and A of a
halfpenny per acre for third-rate. Some districts
of upland may be purchased of the speculators at
half a dollar, or 2s. 3d. per acre : these would an-
swer well for sheep. No land tax is expected
until five years after the purchase, when land
becomes liable. They have two modes of clearing
land ; one by cutting the trees round, so as to
kill them, and afterwards clearing away the un-
derwood, the quantity of which is very small :
tliis mode is called girdling^ and is only resorted
to by those who, to use their own phrase, are
" weak-handed.'* The other mode is by cutting
down the trees, dragging them into heaps, and
burning them. This operation is almost always
the subject of what they term a Jrolic, or in
some places a hee. It is necessary to remark, that
APPENnfx. 301
in the early part of the settlement of a country
hke this, a great number of things occur necessary
to be done, which require the united strength of
numbers to effect. In those parts, money cannot
purchase for the new settler the required aid ;
but that kind and generous feeling which men have
for each other, who are not rendered callous by
the possession of weaJth, or the dread of poverty,
comes to his relief: his neighbours, even unsoli-
cited, appoint a day when as a frolic, they shall,
for instance, build bun a house. On the morning
of the appointed day they assemble, and divide
themselves into parties, to each of which is assign-
ed its respective duty ; one party cuts down the
trees, another lops and cuts them to proper lengths,
a third is furnished with horses and oxen, and
drags them to the spot designed for the scite of
the house : another party is employed in making
sJiingles to cover the roof, and at night all the
materials are ready upon the spot ; and on the night
of the next day, he and his family sleep in their new
habitation. No remuneration is expected, nor would
it be received. It is considered the performance of
a duty, and only lays him under the obligation to
discharge the debt by doing the same to subse-
quent settlers. But this combination of labour
in numbers, for the benefit of one individual, is not
confined to the new comer only, it occurs fre-
quently in the course of a year amongst the old set-
80^ APPENDIX.
tlerSy with whom it is a continued bond of amity
and social intercourse, and in no part of the world
is good neighbourship found in greater perfection
than in the western territory, or in America
generally.
As the climate has already been spoken of, I
shall only observe, that here, as in Upper Louisi-
ana, the shortness and mildness of the winter is of
immense advantage to the farmer. In parts where
the winter is five or six months long, a great por-
tion of time must necessarily be employed in pro^
viding food for the cattle during that season. Here
very little time or land is necessary to be devoted
to that purpose. The greatest part of the farmers
scatter the seeds of pumpkins in the fields when
planting the corn : no farther care is required, ex-
cept throwing the pumpkins into the waggon when
ripe. These, with the tops of the Indian corn,
cut off when the ears are formed, give sufiicient
food for all the stock during winter. The pump-
kins are raised with so little trouble, that they
sell for a dollar per waggon load, and generally
weigh from thirty to fifty pounds each, although
some have been raised to exceed two hundred
pounds. Cattle and hogs eat them with avidity.
The vine flourishes in tin's regioo, and the
AJPPENDIX. 303
wheat can scarcely be surpassed, either for quality
or abundance. With the exception of beans (yi-
ia faha,) and cauliflower, the culinary vegetables
of Europe are raised in as much perfection as in
England. In addition to these, they cultivate in
their fields, amongst other crops, water melons,
musk-melons, squashes, and sweet potatoes, {con-
volvulus batatus.) Cucumbers and beans {phase-
olus,) grow in much greater perfection than ia
England. The fruits are excellent, and in great
abundance, particularly peaches and apples.
Very little of the agricultural labour falls on the
women, who employ themselves in their domestic
manufactures, in which they are both expert and
industrious. Almost all grow some flax, and south
of latitude 39" they have what they call a cotton
patch.* Few are without sheep. By these means
the women are furnished with three staple articles,
out of which they spin sufficient to produce almost
all the clothing and other articles necessary for a
family. Some have looms, and weave it them-
selves; others employ weavers, who follow that
business as an occupation, t
* Cotton does not become an object of rulture as a crop north
of 36".
t The manufacture of their woollens is much facilitated by
304i APPENDIX.
In the towns, many of the trades or manufac-
tories are already established, that are calculated
to furnish articles of the first degree of necessity ;
and some of those which produce articles neces-
sary in a more advanced state of refinement.
Amongst the first, are masons, stone-cutters,
brick-makers, smiths, carpenters, wheelwrights,
cabinet-makers, saddlers, boot and shoe makers,
ship and boat builders, nailors, coppersmiths and
brass-founders, wire-drawers and wire-makers,
screw and hinge makers, gunsmiths, cutlers, machine
makers, clock and watch makers, curriers, glovers,
distillers, butchers, bakers, brewers, stocking
makers, rope makers, coffee-mill makers, and
a great number of others. There are also glass
manufactories, cotton and woollen manufacto-
ries, iron foundries, potteries, floor-cloth ma-
nufactories, steam engine makers, glass cutters,
silversmiths, looking-glass makers, printers, book-
binders, &c. &c. There is no part of the world
where labour finds a better market than in the
western country ; this results from a state of things
that will not admit of a speedy change. A very
moderate sum of money enables a man to procure
one or two hundred acres of land j the savings of
the establishment of carding machines : almost generally through-
out the United States, some proprietors have two or three
machines.
APPENDIX, 305
two or three years will enable a w^orking man to
effect this, if he is prudent; and although he can
only cultivate a small part of it, and perhaps for
the first two or three years, not more than will
maintain his family, yet the accumulation of pro-
perty by the regular and rapid advance in the
value of his land, forms more than an equivalent to
the savings of the labourer or mechanic. From
this cause there is a continued tendency in the
labourers to turn to farming, as soon as they have
acquired a little property : they are well aware
that, by undertaking to bring xvild land into a state
of cultivation, they must undergo some hardships,
and suffer some privations, but the state of ease,
security and independence which will assuredly
follow, makes ample amends.
That produce of every kind, of the nature of
provisions, will for a very long time remain low,
may be presumed by attending to the following
circumstances : first the distance from a foreign
market, causing a great expense in exportation :
secondl) the great predominance of scattered po-
pulation employed in farming, over that which is
condensed in towns, or otherwise employed : and
thirdly, the vast extent of land remaining west of
the Alleghanies yet unoccupied ; this will appear
from the following statement of the area and po-
pulation, in which all that part attached to the
u
306 APPENDIX,
Atlantic States is excluded. The population is
taken as it stood in the census of 1810, since
when, althougli there has been a great increase,
yet it makes no very sensible difference when the
extent of the country is considered.
Area in Square Miles. Population.
Ohio State, 43,860 230,7G0
Indiana State, 39,000 24,520
Illinois Territory, 52,000 12,282
Michigan Territory, 34,820 4,762
North West Territory, 106,830 1,000
Kentucky State, 40,110 406,511
Tenessee State, 43,200 261,727
Mississippi Territory, 88,680 40,352
Missouri Territory 985,250 20,845
1,433,750 1,002,759
By this statement, it appears that in 1810, there
was only one inhabitant in near one and a half
square miles, or, (as there are six hundred and
forty acres to the square mile) one inhabitant in
every nine hundred acres j not one-tenth of these
are residents in towns, nor one-fifth have any em-
ployment but agriculture.
The average population of England and Wales
is one hundred and ninety-two to the square mile.
In Lancashire there are four hundred inhabitants
to the square mile, which allows but little more
than an acre and a half to each individual.
APPENDIX. 307
Wages hi the Western Country, to a labourer or
husbandman, are about fifteen dollars, or £3. 7s. 6d.
per month, and his board, washing, Ice. Carpen-
ters, masons, and other handicraft men, average
about one dollar and twenty-five cents per day,
equal to 5s. 7|-d. or one dollar and board. Shoe-
makers have about 4s. sterling for making a pair
of shoes, and for a pair of boots about lis. In the
present state of things, flour, and other produce
that is transferable to a foreign market, is higher
than usual, but when not affected by a scarcity in
Europe, will fall to the usual price, which is pretty
near the following statement.
American Money. Eng. Money.
DoU. Cents. iShils. Peace.
V\owv, per barrel, ..4 0 or 18 0
Indian corn meal, per 100 lbs, .... 0 40 — • 1 ^i
VoXaXots, per bushel, 0 . 31 — 1 4J
' Beef, mutton, and veal, /jfr /6 0 5 — 0 2^
Pork, per lb 0 4 — 0 2
Bacon, per lb- 0 8 — 0 4|
Venison, per lb 0 4 — 0 2
Fowls, eac/t, 0 12i — 0 7
Ducks, each, 0 25 — 1 1|
Geese, each, 0 62i — 2 10
Turkies, edcA, w 0 75 — 3 4i
51
4>
Cheese, per lb 0 10 — 0 5
Butter, per lb 0 14 — 0 7|
Cider, per barrel, 3 0 — 13 6
Whiskey, /j(?r g^a/Zon, 0 40 — 1 9J
Peach brandy, per gallon, 0 80 — 3 7
Maple sugar, |3er /6 ,,,...., 0 10 r— 0 5j
308^ APPENDIX,
By a comparison of this table with the rate of
wages, it will appear, that an industrious working
man may support a family with great ease in this
country.
Mellish, in his description of these parts, gives
a statement of the prices of provision and labour,
which he closes with the following observations.
" From this list of prices, taken in connexion with
the value of labour, it will be seen, that an ordi-
nary workman can procure for a day's work, fifty
pounds of flour, — or twenty pounds of beef, — or
three bushels of potatoes,^ — or twenty-seven pounds
of pork, — or eight fowls, — or four ducks, — or two
ordinary geese, — or one very large turkey."
The constitution of the state of Ohio declares
that
1. All men are born equally free and inde-
pendent.
2. All men have a natural right to worship God
according to the dictates of their own conscience.
3. Trial by jury shall be inviolate.
4. Printing-presses shall be free.
APPENDIX. 3(X)
^. Unwarrantable searches shall not be permited.
6. Unnecessary rigor shall not be exercised.
7. Excessive bail shall not be required in bailable
offences.
8. All penalties shall be proportioned to the
nature of the offence.
9. The liberty of the people to assemble toge-
ther, to consult for the public good, and to bear
arms in their own defence, is guaranteed.
10. Hereditary emoluments, honours, and pri-
vileges are for ever prohibited.
11. Slavery is for ever prohibited, and it is
declared that "No indenture of any negro or
mulatto, hereafter made and executed out of the
state, or if made in the state, where the term of
service exceeds one year, shall be of the least
validity, except those given in the case of appren-
ticeship."
12. " Religion, morality, and knowledge being
essentially necessary to the good government and
happiness of mankind, schools, and the means
of instruction, shall be for ever encouraged by
310 APPENDIX.
legislative provision, not inconsistent with the
rights of conscience."
The goverment is legislative and executive,
and regulates the judicial and military authority.
The legislature consists of a senate and house of
representatives. The senators are elected hienni-
ally, the representatives annually^ by the people,
and one half vacate their seats every year. Every
free white male, who is a citizen of the United
States, and has resided in that state one year, has
a vote for a representative ; if he has resided two
years, he can vote for a senator.
Every citizen qualified to vote for a representa-
tive, and above twenty-five years of age, is also
eligible to be himself elected : if above thirty
years of age, he is eligible to become a senator.
The governor is also chosen by the people, and
serves for two years : he cannot by law be elected
more than three times in succession.
The election is carried on throughout the state
on the same day, and during the same hours, viz.
from ten to four o'clock. There is a poll in every
township, and it is conducted by ballot ; each
elector hands in a slip of paper, containing the
APPENDIX. 311
name of the candidate to whom he gives his vote,
at which time his own name is registered. By this
means, the whole business of election is begim
and terminated in one day, without any noise or
disturbance.
The justices are appointed by the people of their
respective townships, and retain their office only
three years, unless re-elected.
In the military of the state, the captains and the
subaltern officers are chosen by those in their res-
pective company districts, who are subject to
mihtary duty.
Majors are elected by captains and subalterns.
Colonels are elected by majors, captains, and
subalterns.
Brigadier-generals are elected by the commis-
sioned officers of their respective brigades.
Major-generals and quarter-master-generals are
appointed by joint ballot of both houses of the
legislature.
"O*
The governor is commander-in-chief, and ap-
points the adjutants.
312
APPENDIX.
In regard to the manners of the people west of
the Alleghanies, it would be absurd to expect that
a general character could be now formed, or that it
will be for many years yet to come. The popu-
lation is at present compounded of a great num-
ber of nations, not yet amalgamated, consisting
of emigrants from every state in the Union, mixed
"with English, Irish, Scotch, Dutch, Swiss, Ger-
mans, French, and almost from every country in
Europe. In some traits they partake in common
with the inhabitants of the Atlantic States, which
results from the nature of their government. That
species of hauteur which one class of society in
some countries show in their intercourse with the
other, is here utterly unknown. By their consti-
tution, the existence of a privileged order, vested
by birth with hereditary privileges, honours, or
emoluments, is for ever interdicted. If, therefore,
we should here expect to find that contemptuous
feeling in man for man, we should naturally exa-
mine amongst those clothed with judicial or military
authority ; but we should search in vain. The
justice on the bench, or the officer in the field, is
respected and obeyed whilst discharging the func-
tions of his office, as the representative or agent of
the law, enacted for the goodofall ; but should he
be tempted to treat even the least wealthy of his
neighbours or fellow-citizens with contumely, he
would soon find that he could not do it with impu-
APPENDIX. 813
nity. Travellers from Europe, in passing through
the western country, or indeed any part of the Unit-
ed States, ought to be previously acquainted with
this part of the American character, and more par-
ticularly if they have been in the habit of treating
with contempt, or irritating with abuse, those whom
accidental circumstances may have placed in a situ-
ation to administer to their wants. Let no one
here indulge himself in abusing the waiter or
hostler at an inn : that waiter or hostler is probably
a citizen, and does not, nor can he, conceive that
a situation in which he discharges a duty to society,
not in itself dishonourable, should subject him to
insult : but this feeling, so far as I have experi-
enced, is entirely defensive. I have travelled
near ten thousand miles in the United States, and
and never received the least incivility or affront.
The Americans in general are accused by travel-
lers of being inquisitive. If this be a crime, the
western people are guilty ; but for my part I must
say that it is a practice that I never was disposed
to complain of, because I always found them as
ready to answer a question as to ask one, and there-
fore I always came off a gainer by this sort of barter ;
and if any traveller does not, it is his own fault.
As this leads me to notice their general conduct to
strangers, I feel myself bound in gratitude and
regard to truth, to speak of theu' hospitality. In
314 APPENDIX.
my travels through the inhabited parts of the United
States, not less than two thousand miles was through
parts where there were no taverns, and where a
traveller is under the necessity of appeaUng to the
hospitality of the inhabitants. In no one instance
has my appeal been fiuitless, although in many
cases the furnishing of a bed has been evidently
attended with inconvenience, and in a great many
instances no remuneration would be received. Other
European travellers have experienced this liberal
spirit of hospitality, and some have repaid it by ca-
lumny. These calumnies have reached them : they
are well acquainted with what Weld and a person
who calls himself Ashe have said of them.* In
respect to their moral character, my experience
* As the book published by this Ashe contains numberless
statements, bearins: in themselves surh evidences of being' void
of truth as to deprive him of all claim to veracity, and as it has
already sunk into the oblivion it merits, the malignant falsehoods
propagated by him, respecting America and the American peo-
ple, should have remained unnoticed by me, had I not witnessed
the just indignation it has excited in that country, and also found
that Ashe had been received and treated with the greatest kind-
ness by the very people whom he has so grossly libelled. His
statements are too numerous, and many of them too absurd, to
deserve a serious refutation ; but I think it a duty due both to
myself and my country to state, that his description of the
American people, and the accusations he makes against them,
are void of foundation. If Mr. Ashe saw any instance to war-
rant his observations, he must have kept the worst of company.
APPENDIX. 315
reaches chiefly to the western, middle, and some
of the southeFH states. In the western states, I
noticed that very few of the houses in which I slept
had either locks or bolts on the doors, and that the
jails were in general without a single tenant.
It has already been observed that no people dis-
charge the social duties, as respects the character
of neighbours, better, and I believe no country,
having a population equal to the United States,
can exhibit the records of their courts containins"
fewer statements of crimes committed against the
laws.
The more northerly parts of the states of Ohio
and Indiana, together with the whole of the Illinois
and western territories, including an area of about
128,130,000 acres, comprehend that part which,
in the beginning of this article, has been noticed
as possessing a different character in its natural
state. The original state of the region already
spoken of was that of a continued forest, not con-
vertible into a state fit for cultivation without great
pains and labour. This region is an assemblage of
woodland and prairie or savannas intermixed ; the
portions of each varying in extent, but the aggre-
gate area of the prairies exceeding that of the
woodland in the proportion of three or four to one.
The soil of this part is inferior to none in North
316 APPTLNDIX.
America, or perhaps in the world. In a state of
nature, these prairies are covered with a luxuriant
growth of grass and herbaceaus plants, affording a
most abundant supply of food for the stock of the
new settler ; and it is worthy of notice, that any
part of these prairies, when constantly fed on by
cattle, becomes covered with white clover and the
much esteemed blue grass, (poa eompressa) as
frequent pasturing seems to give those plants a
predominance over all others.
In the geological formation, this country also
differs in some degree from the one entirely covered
with wood in its natural state. The surface is much
more level, and the strata more regular and undis-
turbed. In general the order of the strata is sand
lying on sand-stone, afterwards lime-stone, beneath
which is argillaceous schist lying on coal. For the
settler who is not habitually accustomed to the fell-
ing of treesj and who has the courage to fix him-
self on wild land, this is by much the best part of
the United States, excepting Upper Louisiana.
If he places his house at the edge of one of these
prairies, it furnishes him food for any number of
cattle he may choose to keep. The woodland af-
fords him the materials necessary for his house, his
fire, and fences, and with a single yoke of oxen, he
can in general immediately reduce any part of his
prairie land to a state of tillage. Had this portion
APPENDIX. 317
of the country been placed at no greater distance
from the Alleghanies than the woody region, it
would undoubtedly have been the first settled;
but being situated from five hundred to a thousand
miles beyond those mountains, and separated from
them by one of the most fertile countries in the
world, the consequence is, that emigrants are so
well satisfied with what advantages a first view of
the country presents, that they are anxious to sit
down as soon as possible. Another reason why this
portion of the wild lands has not been more rapidly
settled, is the total indifference of the American
farmer to the present or future value of coal. This
arises in part from his prejudice against the use of
it for fuel, but more from his want of knowledge of
its vast importance to other countries, and a conse-
quent want of foresight. The farmer who is pos-
sessed of five hundred acres of land, expects that in
time it will probably be divided into ten properties
or farms by his posterity, each of which must be
supplied with timber for fuel and fences : he wishes,
therefore, that the land unreclaimed may remain
covered with timber, as a reserve for posterity,
although perhaps he has an excellent bed of coal
at no great distance beneath the surface.
Nothing so strongly indicates the superiority of
the western country, as the vast emigrations to it
from the eastern and southern states. In passing
SIS APrENDIX.
through the upper parts of Virginia, I observed a
great number of farms that had been abandoned,
on many of which good houses had been erected,
and fine apple and peach orchards had been plant-
ed. On enquiring the reason, I was always in-
formed that the owners had gone to the western
country. From the New England States the emi-
grations are still more numerous. They mostly
cross the Hudson river betwixt Albany and New-
burg, and must pass through Cayuga in their way
to Pittsburg. I was informed by an inhabitant of
Cayuga, in April, 1816, that more than fifteen
thousand waggons had passed over the bridge at
that place within the last eighteen months, con-
taining emigrants to the western country.
In making the following remarks, and in giving
such instructions and infoniiation as will be useful
to those who purpose to emigrate to America, I
disclaim any wish to promote emigration. Much
distress has arisen to emigrants, either from having
entertained false conceptions, or from a want of
knowledge how to conduct themselves after their
arrival in the United States. I have witnessed
that distress, and traced it to the cause : my wish
is to obviate it.
The remarks that follow will only apply to such
as the law permits to expatriate themselves, and
APPENDIX. 5 19
of course the present state or future prospects of
manufactures in the United States will form no
part of the subject to be considered. But the in-
utility of the law, prohibiting the emigration of
manufacturers or machinists to the United States,
is so obvious to persons acquainted with the inte-
rior of the country, that they are a loss to con-
ceive why it continues to exist. It is still more
surprising that it should yet be enforced in a coun-
try where excess of population is a subject of com-
plaint, where means have been devised to check
the rapidity of its progress, and where the classes
denied the privilege of expatriation are complained
of as being an incumbrance, and are daily adding
more and more to the distress of the nation, in the
picture of which they stand the most prominent
figure. Whoever is intimately acquainted with
the interior of the United States, knows that cotton
and woollen manufactories are spread throughout
the Union, and that they have found their way even
to the west of the Alleghanies. At Nashville, in
Tenessee ; Lexington, in Kentucky : at Cincin-
nati, Beaver, and at Pittsburg, and many other
place, there are large cotton and woollen estab-
lishments.
In the eastern and middle states there are many
hundreds of factories, abundantly supplied with
managers and machine makers from Britain, of
320 APPENDIX.
whom there is such a redundancy, that a very con-
siderable number have resorted to agriculture.
Whether manufactories will succeed in America,
or to what degree, time alone can determine ; but
that their progress can be in the least impeded by
restrictive laws, prohibiting the emigration of ma-
nufacturers or machinists from this country, is now
absolutely impossible.
The first step that an emigrant ought to take,
should be to provide himself with a proper certi-
ficate, setting forth his trade or profession, and tes-
tifying that he has never been employed in manu-
factures, or machine making, or in works of brass,
iron, or steel, appertaining to manufactures. This
certificate must be signed by the minister and
churchwardens of the parish to which he belongs ;
and if also by a magistrate, it wiU render it of
more effect.
Most articles of furniture being cheaper in the
United States than in Britain, nothing of that
kind ought to be taken, as they v/ould, in all pro-
bability, suffer damage. Feather beds and bedding,
on the contrary, ought to be preserved j and for
packing clothes, &c. trunks are preferable to heavy
and clumsy boxes. On arriving at the port from
whence the emigrant expects to sail, his first care
should be to ascertain if his certificate is sufficient.
APPENDIX. 321
^vhlch he may be acquainted with at the custom-
house ; and he must be careful not to pay for
his passage until he be well assured that he shall
be permitted to proceed.
The port in the United States to which it will
be the interest of the emigrant to sail, will depend
on his views or his prospects. A wide field is
open to him, and he ought to make himself ac-
quainted with its geography before he decide on
this point.
For a very great portion of emigrants, the coun-
tries west of the Alleghanies, say Ohio, Indiana,
Kentucky, Tennessee, or the Illinois; offer by
much the best prospects ; and to get to those
countries, Philadelphia and Baltimore are the best
ports. If the intention be to proceed to the lower
part of the Ohio, Baltimore is preferable to Phila-
delphia, and the best way will be to go from thence
to Wheeling, on the Ohio, ninety-five miles below
Pittsburg, and tlie road is much less difficult. The
port to which the emigrant will sail being deter-
mined, the next consideration is sea store ; and he
will do well to recollect that most probably both him-
self and his family will be sea sick for some days,
and that, during its continuance, if he is a steer-
age passenger, both he and his wife will have an
Utter aversion to the trouble of cooking : he must,
X
322 APPENDIX.
therefore, provide some cold meat to last during
that time : either fowls or veal would be the best.
For the general sea store it is difficult to prescribe
rules. The quantity will of course depend on the
number of persons to be provided for, and the qua-
lity, on their taste, and in some measure on the
season of the year. If there are small children,
some oatmeal and molasses will be found very use-
ful and wholesome, as it will furnish a food much
more conducive to their health than salt provisions.
For the general sea store, tea, coffee, sugar, bis-
cuits, butter, cheese, a few hams, salt, soap, can-
dles, &c. will be necessary. Sufficient should be
laid in to last at least eight weeks, in particular for
Baltimore, as sometimes vessels are a week or ten
days in going up the Chesapeake after passing the
Capes. A proper regard to cleanliness during the
voyage is recommended ; to admit as much air
between decks as the weather will permit, and to
take a few bottles of vinegar to sprinkle on the
floor occasionally ; and if it can be practised, fu-
migation, by putting a red hot piece of iron in a
kettle of pitch, will be found salutary. On arriv-
ing at the desired port, if the emigrant has any
letters of introduction, he should deUver them
immediately : his friends may probably assist him
in finding a proper place where his family may rest
a few days after the fatigues of the voyage. His
next care will be to land his trunks, bedding, &c.
APPENDIX. S23
and get tbem deposited in a place of safety. If
he has not a letter of introduction to some person
in the city where he first lands, he ought to be on
his guard. In every one of the maritime cities in
America, a great number of small stores are
established for the sale of spirituous liquors, &c.
Many of these are kept by natives of Great Britain,^
some of whom are so devoid of principle as to in-
duce emigrants to remain in cities, under various
pretences, but chiefly by holding out a prospect of
employment, when their real purpose is to tempt
them to spend their money with them.
So many emigrants arrive at all the principal
ports in the United States, that there is very little
chance of employment, and almost the whole of
the distress that has been reported to exist in
America, has arisen from the number of emigrants
who have foolishly lingered in the cities until they
have spent all their money.
It shall be supposed that the design of the emi-
grant is to proceed to the countries east of the
AUeghanies, therefore he ought not to stay more
than two or three days in the city, which he can
leave when he pleases, as great numbers of waggons
start from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, or from Bal-
timore to Pittsburg or Wheeling, every day. The
charge is by the hundred weight, both for passen*
32^
APPENDIX.
gers and their luggage, and the rate varies from
five to seven dollars per hundred ; but the men
may go cheaper if they chuse to walk over the
mountains, which is recommended. The waggon-
ers travel with great economy : many of them
carry a small camp-kettle with them to cook their
provisions, and some have even a bed in their
waggons, in which they sleep at night. A tra-
veller who chooses to adopt a similar mode, may
travel very cheap ; or, as there are plenty of inns
on the roads, he can be accommodated every
night with beds, at a very reasonable rate. When
the emigrant arrives at Pittsburg or Wheeling,
he will find that numbers of Europeans and
Americans are arriving there every day, and
the same causes that operated against them in
the maritime cities, as respects employment,
will, in some degree, have an effect here ; but
as he will have occasion for information, it
would be advisable for him to stop a few days
to make enquiries. If he find it necessary to des-
cend the Ohio, the best mode of proceeding will
be to enquire for one or more families, who have
intentions of going to the same neighbourhood as
himself, who may join him in the purchase of an ark,
one of the kind of vessels in which families descend.
These arks are built for sale, for the accommoda-
tion of families descending the river, and for the
conveyance of produce. They are flat-bottomed.
\
APPENDIX. 325
and square at the ends, and are all made of the
same dimensions, being fifty feet in length, and
fourteen in breadth ; which last is limited, because
it often happens that they must pass over the falls
at Louisville, when the river is at a low state, at
which time they pass betwixt two rocks in the
Indian sclmte^ only fifteen feet asunder.* These
arks are cov^ered, and are managed by a steering
oar, which can be lifted out of the water. The
usual price is seventy-five dollars for each, which
will accommodate three or four families, as they
carry from twenty-five to thirty tons : and it fre-
quently happens that the ark can be sold for nearly
what it cost, six or eight hundred miles lower down
the river.
After the arrival of the emigrant on the Ohio^
the next step he takes is a very important one :—
much depends on his movement, and it is at that
point when he has the greatest need of counsel and
advice. From Europe until he arrives on the
Ohio, general rules may apply, but now his future
destination depends on his choice, and no general
rule can be given to direct that choice, because
emigrants are of so many different descriptions.
* There are regular pilots resident at Louisville, who conduct
the boats over the falls, and deliver them safe .at Shipping^
Port : — they charje two dollars for pilotage.
326 APPENDIX.
In order that these remarks may have a general
appHcation, emigrants shall be considered as con-
sisting of several classes, the remarks shall be ap-
plied to each class separately, and terminate with
some general observations.
The first class of emigrants may be composed of
labourers, who have no other trade or profession,
and from whose services, more is expected to result
from bodily strength, than from ingenuity or educa-
tion. If a man of this class will work, he has
nothing to fear in the interior of America : — he
possesses all the requisites for a farmer excepting
skill, and that he may soon obtain. A great num-
ber of farmers have more land inclosed in fence
than they can well manage : ask one of these the
reason, he replies, " I want help." An assistant
enables him to cultivate a portion of his land that
would otherwise become overrun with weeds.
The emigrant cannot expect full wages at the
commencement, but if he be attentive, he may
in one year become so expert as to be entitled
to what is usually paid to husbandmen, from
twelve to fifteen dollars per month, and board.
But when employment is obtained, the most
difficult thing remains yet to be done. The man
he lives with, and for whom he works, most proba-
bly makes his own cider, a portion of which is dis-
APPENDIX. 3^7
tilled into brandy : both these articles are kept,
in considerable quantities, in the farmer's house.
The emigrant is liberally supplied with them, and
can obtain them at a cheap rate elsewhere ; but
he must avoid indulging too much, particularly
in the spirits. He is not accustomed to a profu-
sion of this article, and may, by too frequent use,
acquire a habit that will ruin all his future pros-
pects in life. If his conduct is proper, he may as-
sociate with the sons of the neighbouring farmers,
many of whom know that their ancestors became
proprietors of land, from a beginning not more
promising than his : even his employer was pro-
bably the helper to some one formerly. Before
this man can become a complete American farmer,
he must learn a number of things, not connected
with agriculture in some other countries. He must
learn to handle the axe dexterously, as he will
often be employed to cut down trees. He must
also learn, not only to distinguish the different
species of trees, but also to know by their appear-
ance whether they will suit the purpose for which
they are wanted.
The second class of emigrants to be considered,
are those who have trades or professions, and yet are
too poor to enter into business for themselves. The
primary object of a person of this description is, of
course, employment: the commodity he has to dis-
328
APPENDIX.
pose of is labour y for which he wants a market. So
much of this is daily brought into the sea-ports by
the arrival of emigrants, that they are always over-
stocked J he must look for a better chance : — this
chance the country will afford him. If his trade
or profession be such as is followed in a city, he
may remain two days before he goes to the coun-
try ; if unsucessful in his enquiries for work, he
ought not to remain longer. During his stay, he
ought to enquire amongst those of his own profes-
sion, where he may hope to obtain employment,
as it is very likely they may furnish references which
will be of great use to him .In travelling, this man
ought not be sparing in his enquiries ; he is not in
the least danger of receiving a rude or an uncivil
answer, even if he should address himself to a
squirCf (so justices are called.) It is expected in
America, that every man shall attend to his own
concerns ; and if a man who is out of work ask for
employment, it is considered as a very natural
thing.
He ought to make his situation and profession
known at the taverns where he stops, and rather
to court than to shun conversation with any that
he may find assembled there. He will seldom or
never meet with a repulse, as it gives them an op-
portunity of making enquiries respecting the ** old
APPENDIX. 329
country y* (the term usually applied to the British
Islands.)
Should he fail in procuring employment at his
own business, he has all the advantages of the first
man, in agriculture. The countries west of the
Alleghany Mountains afford the greatest advan-
tages of any part of the United States, to emi-
grants of this or the preceding description ; and
when they arrive at the head of the Ohio, the fa-
cility of descending that river opens to them a vast
field, in which labour must, for ages to come, find a
good market, as the vast tract of fine land yet un-
settled will induce so great an avidity for farming,
that labourers, or men who have trades or profes-
sions, will adopt that line of life whenever they can
raise the means of purchasing land. For this rea-
son a very long time must elapse before there can
be such a redundancy of labour as to reduce its
value. Some of the trades that are carried on in
the large towns are enumerated at page 304.
The man possessed of some property, say from
£200 to £1000, has more need of cautionary
advice than either of the former. But no know-
ledge can be conveyed to him, that will be so va-
luable as what results from his own experience and
observation. He is advised to deposit his money in
a bank, or vest it in government stock immediately
S30 APPENDIX.
on landing. His next object is to determine in
what line of life he shall employ himself and his
capital. In this he should avoid being too hasty.
If it is known that he has money, he will probably
be tempted to enter into speculations, both by his
own countrymen and others. Designing men are
much more likely to hold out temptations than
men with honest and honourable intentions ; and
until he has acquired a competent knowledge of
men and things, it is dangerous for him to embark
in business. It should have been premised, that
he ought, if possible, to take with him letters of
introduction to some persons in the United States,
experienced in matters of business, whom he
might occasionally consult. If he decide on mer-
cantile business, or keeping a store, he ought, by
all means, to procure a situation in a merchant's
counting-house or in a store for one year at least :
even if with only trifling wages, he will still be a
gainer. If he adopt agriculture, he ought to obtain,
if possible, an assistant who knows the management
of crops, and the mode of working the ground :
such a person will be necessary for at least two
years. If he should not succeed in procuring such
a man, he must keep on good tenns with his neigh-
bours, who will cheerfully tell him what is necessary
to be done. In purchasing his land, he ought not
to depend entirely on his own judgment, unless he
has made an extensive tour through the country.
APPENDIX. 331
and attentively considered the subject of land. He
will find some remarks applicable to that head
amongst those addressed to a farmer.
In a great many trades or professions, the emi-
grant who has a capital and a trade or profession,
may meet with less difficulty than any of the pre-
ceding, if he act with caution. Much in this
case depends on making a judicious choice in de-
termining where to establish his business. In most
trades, the country beyond the Alleghany Moun-
tains, say Ohio, Kentucky, or Tennessee, holds out
greater advantages than the rest of the Union, the
profits in business being greater, and the expense
of living much less : the climate also is more suit-
able to European constitutions, as the extreme be-
twixt the heat of summer and the cold of winter is
much less than in the Atlantic States. In some
trades he may be expected to keep journeymen,
perhaps Americans, from whom he is advised not
to exact that servility of deportment expected from
subordinates in other countries. He may be faith-
fully served without it. He loses nothing by this,
as those who are his employers or customers will
make no such exactions from him.
There are several objects in America that pre-
sent themselves to the capitalist, in which he may
vest his property with perfect security, and if he act
332 APPENDIX.
judiciously, he will have no reason to complain of
his profits. The most prominent object that offers
itself is land. Of this, immense tracts may always
be had, and in particular from the government of
the United States. The price is two dollars per
acre ; one fourth of the money to be paid down, and
the rest by instalments in five years. The degree
of advantage to be derived from land purchases,
depends in a great measure on the judgment and
foresight of the speculator, to whom the country
west of the Alleghanies offers the best field. A
very great majority of the emigrants to that part
have only farming in view, and the establishment
of towns does not keep pace with the increase of
interspersed population. There are a great many
places, which, from the nature of things, must
become the scites of towns : a person of judgment
and observation would easily point them out. The
formation of a number of proximate settlements has
an invariable tendency to raise the price of land in
their vicinity : for this reason, a rich man, who
purchases a large tract of land on speculation, con-
sults his best interests by a liberal policy towards
those who first settle on his property. Let it be
supposed that he purchases four miles square ; this
is sixteen square miles or sections, or ten thousand,
two hundred and forty acres, which for cash costs
sixteen thousand, eight hundred and ninety-six
dollars, or £3801 12s. English money. On this
APPENDIX. 3S3
property he ought to possess a scite convenient for
a village, and he should also have a waterfall. If
he lays the whole out in quarter sections, he will
have sixty-four of one hundred and sixty acres
each. Let him lay out the village, and sell, in the
first instance, only the intermediate subdivisions,
on moderate terms and liberal credit : the reserved
subdivisions, together with the village lots, will in
a short time rise to a very great value. The next
object of importance is coal, and although the
investment of capital in that way may not so speedily
produce profit as in land, yet it holds out great
advantages. It has already been stated that coal is
abundant in the western country, and that a consi-
derable portion of that region is prairie ; it has also
been observed, that the existence of a bed of coal
scarcely enhances the price of the land under which
it lies. In most parts of the Atlantic States, fifty
years ago, one acre of cleared land was worth five
of woodland. Since that time innumerable towns
and villages have been established, and the old
cities and villages have increased. Every city or
town may be considered as the centre of a circle,
within the area of which one acre of woodland is
now of much more value than the same extent of
the finest meadow. These areas are continually in-
creasing, and consequently the aggregate value of
timber. At a period not very remote the larger
cities must resort to the use of coal, and nothing is
334 APPENDIX.
more certain than that a time will come when that
article will be as valuable to America as it is now
to England.
The emigrant who goes to America with the
intention of applying himself to farming, should
take with him some seed wheat of the best kinds,
and if he can procure it, perhaps the Syrian wheat
Ctriticum compositumj might be worth a trial. It
has a much better chance of answering in America
than in England, and particularly south of forty
degrees of latitude ; also a small quantity of lu-
cerne, saintfoin, and vetches .- either the seeds or
the roots of the two former, but the roots would
be preferable. It might also be adviseable to take
a small bag of hay seeds from some of the best
meadows. Farming implements can be had in any
part of the United States, well adapted to the dif-
ferent purposes for which they are wanted. In
determining a situation, he has the choice of any
climate from latitude twenty-nine to forty-four
degrees, comprehending the regions suitable for
the culture of sugar, cotton, and grain. If his
views are governed by the determination to adopt
any particular culture, he will of course settle in
the region suitable* If sugar, he will go south of
31^° ; if cotton, south of 36° : for corn, the most
agreeable is from 36" to 41", as further north the
severity and length of the winters render the cli-
APPENDIX. 335
mate less desirable. A farmer, on settling in Ame-
rica, ought not rashly to set up his opinions or
former practices against those of the old settlers.
Many things which may appear to him at first to be
wrong or unnecessary, will be found, on farther
experience, both right and expedient ; but if he
cultivates the good will of his neighbours, and
follows their advice, he will not go wrong. He
will soon find the succession of crops and the mode
of culture vary much from what he has experienced
in England, and that a differently modified climate,
and a sun more nearly vertical, greatly change the
order of the things to which he has been accustom-
ed. He will find his rye harvest to commence in
June, and that of his wheat soon after : the oats
follow next, and afterwards, if he have a meadow,
his grass will be ready for the scythe ; then come
his potatoes, and lastly his Indian corn. If the
emigrant purchases and settles upon what is called
wild land, one of his first cares ought to be to plant
a peach and apple orchard, and he ought to plant
the two sorts alternate, say one peach betwixt two
apple trees, and not plant the apple trees less than
thirty feet asunder. The peach trees soon come to
maturity, and are short lived : they will become
of little value by the time the apple trees are in
want of room. In the woody region, the axe is
for some time the chief implement in the hands of
the settler, and he feels a considerable degree of
S3(j APPENDIX.
repugnance at the destruction of so much fine
timber ; but this soon subsides. If he has the
courage to proceed as far west as the lUinois, the
North-west Territories, or to the west of the Mis-
sissippi, the prairies afford him the means of set-
tling without much trouble.
In the early part of the settlement of the rich
countries beyond the Alleghanies, agues were very
prevalent, and it will perhaps be found, that all
countries in a state of nature are liable to this dis-
ease in the proportion of their fertility, which has a
tendency to produce it, from the vast quantity of
vegetable matter which goes to decay in Autumn.
As this applies generally in those regions, the new
settler has no means of avoiding the consequence
but by precautions and preventives : but as it has
also a local influence, he may, by a judicious choice
of a situation, render himself and family less
liable to its attacks. The first settlers having the
choice of the whole country, it is very natural that
they should adopt the alluvion of the rivers, both
on account of the superior fertility of the soil, and
the facilities it gives to the transportation of pro-
duce ; and many in so doing sacrifice their health
t(^ their apparent interest. It must be admitted,
that some of the valleys in which the rivers flow
are as healthy as the uplands ; but this depends on
whether the river overflows its banks or not, or on
APPENDIX* 337
the existence or non-existence of stagnant water in
the neighbourhood. As to precautions, the emi-
grant is apprised that in these countries the
dew is very copious, and begins to fall even bc'
fore sunset. Let bim avoid as much as possible
exposure either to this or rain ; or if unavoidably-
exposed, he must take off his wet clothes as soon
as possible ; and if he has flannel shirts, in order
to change after copious perspiration, he will And
benefit in using them. An important consideration
to a family is the quality of the w^ater they use ;
of course, the purer this is the better. Jf the
settler is not able to analyse it, he may discover
the presence of sulphur, iron, an acid, or an alkali,
by tests always in his povver to procure. Sulphur
may be detected by laying a piece of bright silver
in the water, which turns black if that substance
is held in solution. A little of the inner bark of
any of the oaks, infused in a glassful of water,
tui'ns it black, if iron is present. Paper, stained
blue by the petals of almost any flower of that
colour being rubbed upon it, turns green by being
dipped in water impregnated with alkali, or red if
an acid.
The settler who is accustomed to malt liquor
may, with very little trouble, brew his own ale.
Barley is cultivated west of the Alleghanies, and
hops grow wild in abundance : — the use of this
y
338 APPENDIX.
beverage is supposed to be a preventive to the ague.
Ahnost every family has a-supposed cure for this
comj)laiiit ; and every one who visits or sees those
affected has a favourite remedy, all differing from
each other ; but the ))]iysicians in the Western
Country treat it with bark and laudanum : of these
the emigrant ought to lay in a sufficiency to ad-
minister to his family in case of need.
It has already been observed, that the emigrants
to this country are almost of every nation in Europe,
but it is a remarkable and striking fact, that the
Germans, Dutch, and Swiss succeed much better
than those from any other country. This is not so
much owing to greater industry or economy, as to
the more judicious mode they adopt in settling.
In general, before these people emigrate they form
associations, lay down their plans, and send an agent
over in whom they can confide. He purchases for
them a suitable extent of land, and prepares the
way: when their arrangements are made, they
move over in one body. This system has always
been followed by these people, and the conse-
quences are visible in almost every part of the
United States, but more particularly in the states
of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, in
all parts of which they are in possession of the best
lands. The appearance of comfort, ease, and in-
dependence exhibited by one of these little colo-
APPENDIX. 339
Hies is so visible, that the traveller who does not
perceive it at first sight, must be very deficient in
discernment. Some of the colonies of this kind,
besides the tie of common interest, have another
bond of union, which is a similaritv of sentiment
and belief in their religious opinions ; this, in some
instances, lias operated as a cause for regulating their
system of colonization : but perhaps that which
has most generally influenced them is the circum-
stance of their language not being the general lan-
guage of the United States, an inconvenience much
less felt by a colony than by an insolated family ;
but let the cause be what it may, the effect is very
manifest, and may be easily accounted for. In the
early settlement of any particular district of new
country,* its progress in improvements is slow, until
a grist and a saw mill are erected, after which the
change is very rapid. Every planter in the vicinity,
by the aid of a saw mill, is able to erect a handsome
frame house. The grist mill enables him to convert
his wheat into flour fit for a market, and he boldly
engages and employs hands to assist him in convert-
ing the forest into fields, yielding luxuriant crops.
These two kinds of mills are the most necessary
objects in a new colony; but there are many others,
such as roads, bridges, &c. all of which are much
sooner effected by a colony having a union of in-
terest, and of course a union of action.
* The term new country signifies one newly settled.
340 APPENDIX.
The rapidity with which these colonies acquire
wealth or property will appear by a comparison
of their present state with their situation when
they first sat down ; and for the sake of example,
one of those sqcieties shall be selected, and a re-
view taken of its progress. This is the Harmo-
nist Society, situated about twenty miles from
Pittsburg. They came from Wirtemburg in Ger-
many, where finding themselves oppressed and
persecuted by a church and state union, they de-
termined to flee to a hind wliere no human autho-
rity would dare to insult the Deity, by arrogating to
itself the riglit of dictating how He shall be wor-
shipped, and where they arc too wise or too honest
to suppose they can force behef. This comity is
America, to which m the year 1S03 they sent
George Ilapp and others, as deputies, who fixed on
a situation about twenty miles from Pittsburg.
In 1804, the societv embarked at Amsterdam in
three ships, two of which arrived at Pliiladelphia,
and the other at Baltimore. In the November of
that year forty famihes removed with Mr. Rapp,
and before winter they built nine log-houses. In
the Spring of 1805, they were followed by fifty
more families, making in all ninety. The whole
of their property was about twenty thousand dol-
lars: this sum they laid out in the purchase of nine
thousand acl'es of land, which, together with their
APPENDIX. 31-1
mental and physical powers, in the Spring of 1805
formed the whole of their possessions. In the Sum-
mer of this year they built forty-six log-houses,
a.large barn, a grist mill, and cleared two hundred
and five acres of land.
" In 180f) a large inn was built, partly of stone ;
a frame-barn, a hundred feet long ; a blue dyer's
shop ; an oil-mill ; and they established a tannery.
Three hundred and iifty-eight acres of land were
cleared.
" In 1807 they erected a number of buildings ;
amongst which was a saw-mill and a brewery. Four
hundred acres of land were cleared, and four acres
of vines were planted.
" In 1808 they built a meeting-house of brick,
together with dwelhng-houses and stables, and a
bridge over the Conaquenesing creek, two hun-
dred and twenty feet long. A considerable quan-
tity of land was cleared.
" In the year 1809 they erected a fulHng-miJl,
an oil-mill, a mill for breaking hemp, a grist-mill,
and a large brick warehouse, with a wine cellar
beneath, arched over. The produce of this year
was— four thousand five hundred bushels of rye,
four thousand five hundred bushels of wheat, six
342 APPENDIX.
thousand bushels of Indian com, ten thousand
bushels of potatoes, five thousand bushels of oats,
four thousand pounds of flax and hemp, one hun-
dred bushels of barley brewed into beer, and fifty
gallons of sweet oil from the white poppy.
" In ISIO they began the manufacture o? broad-
cloth, from the wool of their Merino sheep; fixed
up a carding machine, two spinning Jennies, and
built a factory for twenty looms.
" In the year 1811 the property of the society
was estimated as follows : —
Dollars.
Nine thousand acres of land, with improvements, . . 90,000
Stock of provisions for one year for eight hundred
persons, 25,000
Stock of goods, spirits, manufactures, leather, im-
plements of husbandry, k.c 50,000
Dwelling-houses, 18,000
Mills, machinery, and public buildings 21,000
Horses, cattle, hogs, and poultry, 10,000
A thousand sheep, one-third of them Merinoes, of
which one ram cost a thousand, 6,000
220^,000
The progress made by a small colony of Swiss,
who settled in the Indiana Territory about the same
time as the society at Harmony, is not less rapid.
It consisted of eleven families, who imited in form-
ing a vineyard, from which, in 1811, they made
more than two thousand gallons of wine.
No. VII.
CATALOGUE
OF SOME OF
THE MORE RARE OR VALUABLE PLANTS
Discovered in the Neighbourhood of St. Louis and on the
Missouri.
Leersia Lenticularis, Woods, American Bottom, St. Louis.
Aristida Pollens, Hills on the Merriraac. ;
Stipa Junceay Prairies, Aricaras to the Maudans.
Membranacea, Fort Mandan. Probabli/ not a Stipa.
Aira Brecifolia, Great Prairie.
Festuca Spicata, coiniuou on the Missouri.
Ci/tiosurus secundus, Mississippi Bluffs.
Hor'leiim Jiibatum, valleys near the Aricaras.
* AUionia Ovata, banks of the Missouri, above the Big- Bend.
* Linearis, ) , , ™ .. * • n
>blufFs near the Aricara viliaffe.
* Hirsuta, )
P/antago Lagopus, alluvion of the Missouri, common.
Elongata, near the Maha villag-e.
Eleagnus Argentea, bluffs near the Maudan nation.
H'ippophae Argentea, Mahas, Platte, Ottoes, Missouri.
Pulmonuria Sibirica, high up the Merrimac river.
Lunccolata, opposite the Aricara village.
* These three species of AUionia together with the two species of Burto-
nia, have the singular property of flowering in the night : the Oowers bui>st
forth just at sun-set, and perish at its rising.
SMi APPENDIX.
Batschia Canescens, prairie about St. Louis.
Gmelinif American Bottom, Illinois.
Longijftora, first occurs near the mouth of the Platte,
on ascending- the Missouri.
Onosmodiuin Molle, about St. Louis.
Dodecatheon Meadia, prairie behind St. Louis,
Phacclia Fimbriata, at Point L'Abbadie, on the Missouri, with
ivhite Jioivers.
Cynoglossum Glomeratum, Big Bend, Missouri.
Solarium Heterandrum, about the Arieara village.
Rihes Aureum, Little Cedar Lsland, Missouri.
Salsola Depressa, on the Missouri, near the mouth of Knife
River.
Hydrocotyle Ambigua, rocks on the Mississippi, near Hercu-
laneum.
Selinum acaule, on the alluvion of the Missouri, from the river
Naduet to the Mahas.
Seseli Divaricatum, Missouri Bluffs, at the mouth of the L'eau
qui Court.
Linum Lewisii, on Cannon-ball river.
■ Rigidum, on the Jl\Iissouri liluflFs, common.
Y^ucca Angustifolia, Missouri bluti's, opposite the mouth of
Papillon Creek.
Lil'mrn Catesbceia, prairie about St. Louis.
Umbeilatum, bluffs near the Mandan village.
Rtimex Venosus, Big Bend, Missouri.
Gaura Coccinea,
Oenothera Albicaulis
}
bluffs Arieara villag:e.
o"-
Macrocurpa, near St. Louis.
Eriogonum Pauci/iorum, "i near the Minateree villages on the
Sericeutn, } Missouri, both growing together.
Cactus Viviparus, Missouri bluffs, above the Poncar village.
Bartonia Ornata,
, on the bluffs above Knife River.
Nuda,
Geum Triflorum, head waters Blackbird Creek.
APPENDIX. 345
Potentilla Arguta, bluffs above the Aricara village.
Ranunculus Multifidus, in stagnant pools near the Sepulchre
bluffs.
Stac/ii/s FceHicuIum, Missouri bluffs.
Capraria Multifida, American Bottom, Illinois.
Martynia Prohoscidea, St. Louis.
Pafistemon Erianthera, conmion on the bluffs from the Big
Bend to the Aricara village.
~ Angustifolia, near the Minataree village.
Glabra, alluvion of the Missouri, above the Big Bend.-
Castilleja Sessillijiora, Upper Louisiana.
Myagrum Argentevm, on limestone rocks, Missouri.
Eryaimum Lanceolutuin, ) a connectbig link between Erysi^
or, > mum and Cheirantlius, used as
Cheiranllnis Erysimoid€S,J medicine by the Aricaras.
Cleome Pinnata, on the prairies between the Aricaras and
Maudans.
Cristaria Cocinea, on the bluffs of the Missouri, above the
L'eau qui Court.
Hebiscus Militaris,') . . _. _,,. .
,- ., J-Araencan Bottom, Ilhnois.
Manihot^ j .
Ervum Multijiorum, opposite the Sepulchre bluffs, Missonri.
Viccia Stipulacca, Upper Louisiana.
Lathyrus J)ecaphyllus, sand alluvion of the Missouri, above
the Big Bend.
Lupinus Pusillus, bluffs near Little Ced-'r Island.
Amorpha Fruticosa, common on the Missouri and Mississippi.
Myerophylla, abundant near the Aricara village.
I Canescens, on the prairie four miles west of St. Louis.
Astragalus Racemosus, "^ on the bluffs opposite the mouth of
TryphyllusX Papillon Creek, and at the Aricara
Carnosus, j villages.
Dalea Aurea, on the prairies six miles below the L'eau qui
Court.
— — — Laxijiora, Aricara village.
346
APPENDIX.
Psoraka Cuspidata, on the bluffs near the Chienne river.
Long/folia, near the Sepulchre bluffs. Probably not
a Ps or (ilea.
Elliptica, snnr] hills near the Bi§^ Bend.
Escutcnta, bluffs near the mouth of Negro Fork, Mer-
rimac river.
Temiifiora, sand hills, Big- Bend.
Cytisvs Fhomhif alius, at the mouth of Chienne river, and on
arid places neprthe Aricara villag-e.
Sunchus Pulchellus, banks of the Missouri, common.
Troximum Ct'.spi(hi(u7n, conjmon on the prairies between the
Mahas and Mandans.
Evpaforinm Altissimum, Missonri and Mississippi, common.
Oxytrcph Lumberlii, on the bluffs from the Maha village to
the Poncars.
Artemisia Dracuncuhis, \
Can a, '
Campeslris, ^
Sanionica, j
common on the Missouri.
Arnica fnJgens, prairie from the Aricaras to the Mandans.
Cineraria Integrifolia, common on the Missouri.
Erigerun Hirsvfum, Aricara village.
Dii'uricaiiwi, common on the Missouri.
Senccio Paupercuhs, prairie below the I.'eau qui Court.
Aster Argenteus, prairie behind St. Louis, abundant.
Amelias Villosns, l
c^ . J >- common on the bluffs of the Missouri.
opimdosus, ) '^oyjuii.
Galardia Acaulis, on the Missouri near the Aricara villao-e.
Probably a Chaptalia.
Rudbeckia Columnaris, bhifl^s above the Aricara village. Most
probably not a Rtidbeclcia, and ought to form a neiv
genus.
Iva Axillaris, about Chienne river.
Chelianihes Deulbata and Vestita, Mauitou rocks on the Mis-
souri.
Uxerpvtl : Printed hy Smith and Galway.
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