The fur of the back in the summer dress is from 3/5 to 7/10 of

an inch long; but in the winter dress the longest hairs of the

middle of the back are one inch and 3/4 in length. This

difference in the length of the hairs, combined with a greater

portion of fat, gives to the whole animal a thicker and

shorter appearance; but the colours continue the same, and it

is only in this latter season that the ears are fringed, which

is the necessary consequence of the elongation of the hair.

This species was not an unfrequent article of food at our

frugal yet social meals at Engineer Cantonment, and we could

always immediately distinguish the bones from those of other

animals, by their remarkably red colour.

The tail is even more voluminous than that of the _S.

cinereus_.

It seems to approach the _Sc. rufiventer_. _Geoff._ v. Dict.

D. Hist. Nat. article Ecu. p. 104.--JAMES.

[152] See sketch of Charbonneau in Brackenridge's _Journal_,

volume vi of our series, note 3.--ED.

[153] Hay Cabin Creek and Blue Water are now known respectively

as the Little Blue River and Big Blue River (or Creek; not to

be confounded with the Big Blue of Kansas). Both debouche in

Jackson County, Missouri. The Warreruza is the modern Wakarusa

(the meaning of which is variously given as "thigh deep" and

"river of big weeds"), which flows across Shawnee and Douglas

counties, Kansas, to the northeast corner of the latter. Full

Creek (or River) is the present Upper Mill Creek, another

southern tributary of the Kansas, the mouth of which is in

northeastern Wabaunsee County, by a direct line about fifty

miles above the confluence of the Wakarusa. Pike's chart of

1806, which Say's party possessed, shows Hay Cabin Creek, Blue

Water, Warreruza, and Full River successively, south of the

Missouri and Kansas. There are several other creeks, however,

between the Blue Water and Warreruza which Pike does not show,

and the Warreruza is a larger stream than his chart indicates.

Say's party apparently mistook one of the small streams for the

Warreruza, and, upon reaching the latter, mistook it in turn for

Full Creek. They could hardly have traced the course of Full

Creek from the lower Warreruza, where they must have been on

August eleventh. This error explains their doubt, while encamped

on the Kansas on August sixteenth, whether they were above or

below the Indian village, which is plainly shown on Pike's chart

as situated at the mouth of Blue Earth (Big Blue) River.--ED.

[154] When Say's party reached the Kansas, they had crossed

Johnson and Douglas counties, following the high prairie country

which lies from six to fifteen miles south of the river. The

camp on the thirteenth was probably not far from Lecompton; by

the sixteenth, they must have been near Topeka.

Big Blue River (Blue Earth on the map), at the mouth of which

the Kansa village stood, rises in Nebraska, flows through

Marshall County, Kansas, and forms the boundary between Riley

and Pottawatomie counties. Near the confluence, a westward bend

of the Big Blue forms a peninsula about two miles long and half

a mile wide, which was the site of the village. A few years

ago the exact locations of the lodges were still indicated by

circular ridges and depressions, from which a map of the village

was prepared (see Kansas Historical Society _Transactions_,

1881, p. 288). The site was partially abandoned in 1830, and

three villages constructed near Topeka; these in turn were

abandoned when the territory which contained them was ceded to

the United States in 1846.--ED.

[155] The Vermillion is a Pottawatomie County stream about

twenty miles east of the Big Blue.--ED.

[156] Pike, p. 144.--JAMES.

_Comment by Ed._ The reference is to _An Account of Expeditions

to the Sources of the Mississippi and through the Western Parts

of Louisiana_, etc. (Philadelphia, 1810). Pike mediated a peace

treaty between the Kansa and Osage, at the Pawnee village on

Republican River, September 28, 1806.

{122} CHAPTER VII

Further Account of the Konza Nation--Robbery of Mr. Say's

Detachment by a War-Party of Pawnees--Arrival at the Platte.

The Konza warriors, like those of some others of the Missouri

tribes on their departure on a war excursion, sometimes make vows,

binding themselves never to return until they have performed some

feat which they mention, such as killing an enemy, striking an

enemy's dead body, or stealing a horse. An instance lately

occurred of a warrior who had been long absent under a vow of this

sort, and finding it impossible to meet an enemy, and being in a

starving condition, he returned to his own village by night, with

the determination of accomplishing his vow, by killing and

scalping the first person he should meet. This person happened to

be the warrior's own mother, but the darkness of the night

prevented the discovery until he had accomplished his bloody

purpose.

On the 23d of August, Mr. Say's party began to prepare for leaving

the Konza village, where they had been treated with much

hospitality. They purchased a number of articles for their use on

the journey they proposed to take, such as jerked bison meat,

pounded maize, bison fat put up like sausages, mockasins,

leggings, spoons made of the horn of the bison, two large wooden

dishes, &c. They received also an addition to their cavalcade of

two horses, one belonging to Major O'Fallon, and another which

they procured from a Frenchman residing in the village.

A Pawnee prisoner, an interesting young man, {123} was brought to

them, who said he was desirous to accompany them to his nation,

but at the same time was afraid his people would not recognize

him, and would kill him for a Konza. He was promised protection,

but at the same time it was remarked to him, that if he should

attempt to steal the horses of the party on the way, they would

certainly pursue him and take his scalp.

On the 24th, says Mr. Say, having been detained until afternoon in

searching for our horses, we departed, accompanied by several

Indians, who intended to pass the night with us and to return to

the village the following morning.

Our path led along the margin of Blue Earth Creek, a stream of the

width of twenty-five yards, and greatest depth of three feet,

which discharges into the river a mile or two above the Konza

village. The soil supports but a thin growth of grass, and the

timber is far from abundant, consisting principally of different

sorts of oak, confined to the margin of the creek, its ravines and

tributaries. One of our Indian followers, who, although a chief of

the extinct Missouri nation,[157] has yet much influence with the

Konzas, wished to exchange a horse he had with him for one of

ours, which was evidently a less valuable animal. The reason he

assigned in explanation of his desire of such an apparently

disadvantageous exchange was, that his horse had been presented to

him by a person, who, he feared, intended to reclaim him, but that

if he should exchange him for another horse, he would be secure in

the possession of the individual so obtained, as an Indian will

not reclaim a present which is not identically the same he had

given. At the distance of seven miles from the village, our party

encamped by the side of the creek, in a narrow, but beautiful

and level prairie bottom, which was bounded by an abrupt, though

verdant range of bluffs.

[Illustration: INDIAN RECORD _of a_ BATTLE _between the PAWNEES

and the KONZAS_.

A Fac simile _of a Delineation upon a_ BISON ROBE.

_London, Pub^{d}, by Longman & C^{o.}, 1823_]

Mr. Dougherty and one of the Indians went in {124} quest of game,

and having supplied the two remaining Indians with a pipe and

tobacco, we were partaking of some refreshment, when one of the

party suddenly drew our attention to an extensive cloud of dust,

which arose from the plain, and which we soon perceived but

partially concealed a body of Indians, who had already approached

within a quarter of a mile, and were now running with great

swiftness. Our Indian followers now displayed all their activity;

the chief seized his gun, and ran towards the advancing multitude

to obtain his horse, which he mounted and rode off at full speed,

whilst his companion disappeared in the bushes in an instant. This

was a sufficient intimation that a hostile party was before us,

and a timely admonition of the approach of danger. Our men were

therefore drawn up in a line, and all prepared themselves for

defence in case of extremity.

The advancing party were armed, decorated, and painted, for

battle, but they manifested, as they rushed up to us, the most

pacific deportment, shaking us by the hand, putting their arms

about our necks, and raising their hands with the palm towards us,

in token of peace. We were not, however, disposed to rely upon

these assurances of friendship, being fully aware of the

difficulties which their partizans would have to surmount in

checking the inconsiderate prowess of the younger warriors. We now

observed some of them seizing our horses, which were staked at

some distance: they mounted them and rode swiftly in the direction

that the chief had taken, but they soon returned. It soon became

necessary to protect our baggage by arranging ourselves around

it; still, however, in despite of our vigilance, many of our small

articles were stolen. They begged for whiskey and tobacco; and a

small portion of the latter was given them. Amidst the confusion

arising from the incessant and rapid movements of the Indians, we

observed an individual bearing off a small {125} package of very

fine pounded meat; I immediately pointed out the circumstance to

the partizan, and directed him to recover it and punish the thief;

he complied by wresting the meat from the grasp of the latter, and

from that of several others who had been contending for portions

of it, placed it beneath his feet, and defended it with his lance;

but Chabonneau, to whom the meat belonged, declaring that he had

given it to them, they were permitted to retain it. A tent which

had been pitched for me in consideration of my illness, and in

which my blanket, pistols, together with some small articles, had

been deposited, was plundered of its contents; it was finally cut

down, and would have been taken away, had we not made an effort to

preserve it. During the whole transaction those warriors, who

stood at a short distance, intently watched our movements, as if

they were led to believe, from the attitude we assumed, that we

would attempt to repel them, even with our inadequate force. No

sudden action or motion of any one of the party escaped them; and

individuals were frequently observed to draw their arrows to test

the elasticity of the bows. At a critical juncture, a tall and

graceful Indian cocked his gun fiercely, and put his war whistle

to his mouth, but the signal was not blown. Amongst numerous

incidents that occurred during the half hour that we were

surrounded by them, an individual attempted to seize a knapsack

belonging to one of the soldiers, and immediately under his

observation; the latter placed his foot upon the knapsack to

detain it, and at the same time prepared his gun as if to shoot

the offender, who leaped backward with great agility, and with an

ejaculation of pleasure, drew his arrow to the head. The whole

party precipitately retreated just as Mr. Dougherty returned from

hunting; being briefly informed of the nature of their visit, he

called aloud to the fugitives in their own language, but they

passed on without heeding him, taking our {126} horses with them.

I had by a rough estimate fixed their number at one hundred and

forty; they were chiefly armed with the bow and arrow, and lance,

with the usual accompaniments of tomahawks, war-clubs, and knives,

together with a few guns. Fortunately no personal indignity was

offered us; yet we could not repress a sensation of much

mortification at the prospect of a frustration of our enterprise,

which now seemed inevitable, and of extreme vexation at the

irreparable loss of our horses, which no exertions of ours could

have saved: an appeal to arms, except in the last extremity, would

have been the height of imprudence, conquest being hopeless, and

escape almost impossible.

Soon after their departure Mr. Jessup and Chabonneau set out for

the village to procure assistance, for the purpose of removing our

camp to that place from which we recommenced our journey at a

moment so unpropitious; whilst we busied ourselves in removing the

baggage to a situation amongst the neighbouring bushes, which

appeared favourable for concealment, and for defence, in case of a

night attack, which was confidently anticipated. Several alarms

occurred during the night, and on the return of day we observed

thirty mounted Indians riding swiftly towards us. The chief, who

left us so precipitately the preceding evening, on his arrival at

the village, hastily assembled a little band of warriors for the

purpose of returning immediately to our assistance, and it was he

and his party, that we had now the pleasure to greet. They

expressed great satisfaction, when they learned that we were all

uninjured. After saluting us cordially, they pursued the trail of

the Pawnees for some distance, and from the footsteps in the

grass, and other appearances, to be duly appreciated only by the

eye of an Indian, they estimated the number of the Pawnees at one

hundred and thirty. On their return they restored to us some bacon

and other articles, which had been {127} carried off by the

fugitives, and rejected as not at all to their taste. We were now

supplied with a conveyance for ourselves and our baggage, and were

conducted back to the village.

The Indians who committed this robbery, were a war-party of the

republican Pawnees, and were about one hundred and forty in

number. Their nation was at war with the Konzas.

Mr. Say's party were kindly received at the village they had left

on the preceding day. In the evening they had retired to rest in

the lodge set apart for their accommodation, when they were

alarmed by a party of savages rushing in, armed with bows, arrows,

and lances, shouting and yelling in a most frightful manner. The

gentlemen of the party had immediate recourse to their arms; but

observing that some squaws, who were in the lodge, appeared

unmoved, they began to suspect that no molestation to them was

intended. The Indians collected around the fire in the centre of

the lodge, yelling incessantly; at length their howlings assumed

something of a measured tone, and they began to accompany their

voices with a sort of drum and rattles. After singing for some

time, one who appeared to be their leader, struck the post over

the fire with his lance, and they all began to dance, keeping very

exact time with the music. Each warrior had, besides his arms, and

rattles made of strings of deer's hoofs, some part of the

intestines of an animal inflated, and enclosing a few small

stones, which produced a sound like pebbles in a gourd shell.

After dancing round the fire for some time, without appearing to

notice the strangers, they departed, raising the same wolfish

howl, with which they had entered; but their music and their

yelling continued to be heard about the village during the night.

[Illustration: War Dance in the interior of a Konza Lodge]

This ceremony, called the _dog dance_, was performed by the Konzas

for the entertainment of their guests. Mr. Seymour took an

opportunity to sketch {128} the attitudes and dresses of the

principal figures.[158]

Finding it impracticable to obtain horses by purchase, out of

their almost exhausted stock of merchandize, to enable them to

prosecute their march to Council Bluff, after due deliberation,

they saw no alternative, but to endeavour to hire horses on

credit, and to make the best of their way for Cow Island, in hopes

of meeting the steamboat there. A Frenchman, Mr. Gunville,

resident with this nation, agreed to furnish two pack horses, and

a saddle horse for Mr. Say, whose state of health would not admit

of his continuing the journey on foot. Thus furnished they

prepared to depart, and in the meantime two runners were

despatched to inform Major Long of their situation by letter.

On the 25th of August, Mr. Say and his party again left the Konza

village, accompanied by the French trader, who had furnished them

two horses, and by a Missouri Indian; but this last had followed

them only a few miles, when he repented of his undertaking and

returned.

In pursuing the most direct route from the Konza village to the

Missouri, they crossed at the distance of seventeen miles, the

Vermilion, a small stream bordered with handsome forests. Nineteen

miles beyond this they arrived at the sources of Grasshopper

Creek, where they encamped on the evening of the 27th.[159] Here

the soil changes somewhat abruptly. The high prairies about the

Vermilion and Blue Earth creeks are barren, almost naked, and

inhabited by some orbicular lizards. About Grasshopper Creek the

soil is fertile, the grass dense and luxuriant.

On the 29th they arrived at Isle au Vache, and were hospitably

received by Colonel Morgan and the officers of his command, but

had the mortification to learn that Major Long, after waiting a

sufficient time to enable the Indian agent to complete his

negotiations {129} with the Konzas, had departed with the

steam-boat before the arrival of the messengers, that had been

sent to notify him of their disaster. These runners had been

despatched immediately after their arrival, with instructions to

overtake the steam-boat, and to deliver Mr. Say's letter, but

after some days they returned, without having been able to effect

any thing.

It was now determined that Mr. Say and Mr. Jessup, who on account

of ill health, were unable to travel farther on foot, should for

the present remain at Isle au Vache, while the other gentlemen of

the detachment should continue their journey. Mr. Dougherty, from

his intimate acquaintance with the country, was of opinion that by

crossing in the nearest direction from Isle au Vache to the mouth

of Wolf river, they might yet overtake the steam-boat. They

accordingly placed themselves under his guidance, and, by great

exertion, fortunately arrived at the mouth of Wolf river, on the

evening of the 1st of September, as the steam-boat was passing.

The country south-west of the Missouri, between the Konzas and the

Platte, is drained principally by Wolf river and the Great

Nemahaw. These rivers, like the Nodowa and Nishnebottona, which

enter the Missouri nearly opposite them from the north-east, rise

in the prairies at an elevation probably of forty or fifty feet

above the level of the Missouri. As they descend, their vallies

becoming gradually wider, embosom a few trees, and at length, near

their entrance into the Missouri valley, are forests of

considerable extent. The surface of these prairies presents a

constant succession of small rounded hills, becoming larger and

more abrupt as you approach the beds of the rivers. The soil is

deep, reposing usually on horizontal beds of argillaceous

sandstone, and secondary limestone. In all the limestones along

the Missouri, we observe a tendency to crystalline structure, and

they have often a reddish or yellowish white {130} colour. There

is, however, always something in the arrangement and in the

aspect of the crystals to distinguish these sparry varieties from

the primitive granular limestone, to which they have something of

general resemblance. The horizontal disposition of the strata of

this limestone, the great numbers of organic relics contained in

it, and its intimate connexion with coal strata, indicate with

sufficient clearness its relation to the secondary rocks. No

person who shall examine this stratum with the least attention,

either about the Nemahaw and the Konzas, or in the mining district

at the sources of the Gasconade, the Merameg, and the St. Francis,

will for a moment mistake it for any of those varieties of

transition or primitive limestone, which it in some respects so

closely resembles. The crystalline varieties, no less than the

compact blue limestones, embrace numerous masses of chert or

hornstone. This occurs of various colours, and these are arranged

in spots or stripes. Some specimens have several distinct colours

arranged in zigzag lines, somewhat resembling the fortification

agate. The hunters use fragments of this stone for gun-flints; the

savages also formerly employed it in the manufacture of arrow

points and other implements.[160]

The soil superimposed upon these strata of limestone, is a

calcareous loam. Near the rivers it is intermixed with sand; this

is also the case with the soil of the high prairies about the

Konzas village. In ascending the Konzas river, one hundred, or one

hundred and twenty miles from the Missouri, you discover numerous

indications, both in the soil, and its animal and vegetable

productions, of an approach to the borders of that great Sandy

Desert, which stretches eastward from the base of the Rocky

Mountains. You meet there with the orbicular lizard, or "horned

frog," an inhabitant of the arid plains of {131} New Mexico. You

distinguish also some cacti, as well as many of those plants

allied to chenopodium and salsola, which delight in a thirsty

muriatiferous soil. The catalogue of the forest trees belonging to

the vallies of this region is not very copious. The cotton-wood

and the plane tree, every where form conspicuous features of the

forests. With these are intermixed the tall and graceful acacia,

the honey locust, and the bonduc, or coffee-tree,[161] and several

species of juglans, carya and fraxinus, with pinnated or

many-parted leaves. Trees of the family of the coniferæ are not of

frequent occurrence on the Missouri. About the summits of rocky

cliffs are here and there a few cedars or junipers, the only trees

that retain their verdure during the winter.

The prairies, for many miles on each side of the Missouri, produce

abundance of good pasturage; but as far as our observation has

extended, the best soil is a margin from ten to twelve miles in

breadth, along the western bank of the river. In the summer very

little water is to be found in the prairies, all the smaller

streams failing, even though the season be not unusually dry. On

account of the want of wood and of water, the settlements will be

for a long time confined to the immediate vallies of the Missouri,

the Konzas, and the larger rivers; but it is probable, forests

will hereafter be cultivated in those vast woodless regions,

which now form so great a proportion of the country; and wells may

be made to supply the deficiency of running water.

We have seen at Bellefontain, as well as at several other points

on this river, a pretty species of sparrow, which is altogether

new to us;[162] and several specimens of a serpent have occurred,

which has considerable affinity with the pine-snake of the

southern states, or bull-snake of Bartram.[163]

Having received on board the detachment that had arrived from the

Konza village, except Messrs. {132} Say and Jessup, who, on

account of ill health, remained at Isle au Vache, we left the

mouth of Wolf river on the 2nd of September. A party of hunters,

furnished with a horse for the transportation of game, were

despatched at the same time with instructions to hunt on the south

side of the river, and to join us again in the evening. We had

little difficulty in procuring a constant supply of venison. Deer

are very numerous on this part of the Missouri, and we had several

opportunities to kill them from on board, as they were swimming

across the river.

Twenty-one miles above the mouth of Wolf river, and on the same

side, is the entrance of the Grand Nemahaw, a considerable river

which rises in the plains between the Platte and the Republican

Fork of the Konzas river, and running eastwardly about one hundred

and fifty miles, discharges into the Missouri a little north of

latitude forty degrees. In the straightness of its course, the

rapidity and turbulence of its stream, it has a general

resemblance to the other western tributaries of the Missouri. A

few miles above the Nemahaw, and on the opposite side, is the

mouth of the Tarkio, a smaller stream.[164]

On the 4th of September we were joined by the hunters, who brought

two deer, and informed us they had killed several others.

Lieutenant Field's boat was allowed to remain at the encampment of

the preceding night, after the departure of the steam-boat, for

the purpose of taking on board a large quantity of honey. Swarms

of bees were found here in great numbers, and the honey they

afforded made a valuable addition to our provisions, consisting

now in a great measure of hunters' fare.

Finding one of the valves of the steam-engine much worn and leaky,

we were now under the necessity of stopping for a day to have a

new one, which we had brought, adapted to its place. Several of

the men amused themselves by hunting and fishing. {133} We had now

a plentiful supply of game, and many large catfish were taken,

some of them weighing more than fifty pounds.

We passed in succession the mouths of the Nishnebottona and the

Little Nemahaw,[165] and arrived on the 7th at the Grand Pass.

Here the Nishnebottona, a beautiful river about sixty yards wide,

approaches within one hundred and fifty yards of the Missouri,

being separated from it by a sandy prairie, rising scarcely

twenty feet above the surface of the water. After pursuing for a

short distance a parallel course, the two rivers diverge, and the

Nishnebottona meanders along the side of the Missouri valley, about

sixty miles to its confluence with the latter river.[166] From this

point is a pleasing view of the hills called the Baldpated Prairie,

stretching along the north-eastern side of the Nishnebottona, and

diminished to the size of anthills in the distant perspective.[167]

Here the navigation is much obstructed by sand-bars, and the

ordinary current of the Missouri, according to the statement of

Lewis and Clarke, corroborated by our observation, is something

more than one fathom per second.[168] In many places the Missouri

hurries across concealed sand bars and other obstructions, with the

velocity of seven, eight, or even twelve feet in a second.[169]

Between these obstructions, the channel becomes deeper, and the

current more moderate; consequently the aggregate velocity at times

of low water may be reckoned something less than six feet to the

second. As the volume of water is increased by the heavy rains, and

the melting of the snows within the Rocky Mountains, the current is

proportionably accelerated, and becomes more equable, running for

many miles in succession, not less than seven hundred and twenty

feet per minute. At the time of our ascent the summer floods had

not entirely subsided, and in contending against the current, we

found occasion {134} in a few instances to make use of the towing

rope.

About thirteen miles above the Grand Pass is a point where Lewis

and Clarke witnessed the falling of a portion, about three-fourths

of a mile in length, of a high cliff of sandstone and clay.

Appearances have considerably changed since the time of their

journey. There is still an indentation along the bluff, showing

the upper part of the portion which had slid down, but the whole

is now covered with grass. The river has retired from the base of

the cliff it was then undermining. A grassy plain, of some extent,

occupies the spot where the bed of the river must have been; but

this prairie is, in its turn, experiencing the vicissitude

incident to every thing along the bank of the Missouri, and is

evidently very soon to disappear entirely. A mile or two above

this point are cliffs of sandstone and indurated clay, in a state

of rapid disintegration. Here we observed extensive beds of

aluminous earth, of a dark grey colour, alternating with red and

yellowish white sandstone. Here are also numerous vegetable

remains, which Mr. Say thought to consist of the limbs of trees

included in the rock, carbonized and often intermixed with

pyrites; smaller limbs in short fragments lay intermixed, and

crossing each other in every direction.

Among other things, we observed here what appeared to be the cast

of the seed vessel of the nelumbium, of uncommon magnitude.

Fragments of mineral coal were observed scattered about the

surface.

The mouth of the Platte,[170] where we arrived on the 15th of

September is, according to our observations, in latitude 41° 3′

13″ north. We shall hereafter have occasion to speak more

particularly of this river. Its mouth now exhibited a great extent

of naked sand-bars, the water, which was transparent and of a

greenish colour, flowing almost unseen through a number of small

channels. Masses of sand accumulate at the mouth of the Platte,

rendering the {135} navigation of the Missouri at that point

extremely difficult. The Platte, during its floods, pours into the

Missouri a volume of water, considerably exceeding in magnitude

that of the latter river, occasioning a reflux of the waters for

many miles. From the Platte upward, the annual range from high to

low water in the Missouri, may be rated at about eighteen feet.

Above the Platte, the scenery of the Missouri becomes much more

interesting. The bluffs on each side are more elevated and abrupt,

and being absolutely naked, rising into conic points, split by

innumerable ravines, they have an imposing resemblance to groups

of high granitic mountains, seen at a distance. The forests within

the valley are of small extent, interspersed with wide meadows

covered with carices and cyperaceæ, with some species of limnetis,

polypogon, and arundo, sometimes sinking into marshes occupied by

sagittarias, alismas, and others of the hydrocharidæ. The

woodlands here, as on the whole of the Missouri below, are filled

with great numbers of pea vines,[171] which afford an excellent

pasturage for horses and cattle. The roots of the apios tuberosa

were much sought after, and eaten by the soldiers, who accompanied

us in our ascent. They are little tubers about half an inch in

diameter, and when boiled are very agreeable to the taste. Two and

a half miles above the mouth of the Platte, and on the same side,

is that of the Papilion, a stream of considerable length, but

discharging little water.[172] Here we found two boats belonging

to the Indian traders at St. Louis. They had passed us some days

before, and were to remain for the winter at the mouth of the

Papilion, to trade with the Otoes, Missouries, and other Indians.

The banks of the Missouri, above the Platte, have long been

frequented by the Indians, either as places {136} of permanent or

occasional residence. Deserted encampments are often seen. On the

north-east side, near the mouth of Mosquito river, are the remains

of an old Ioway village. Four miles above, and on the opposite

side, was formerly a village of the Otoes. On the 17th of

September we arrived at the trading establishment of the Missouri

Fur Company, known as Fort Lisa, and occupied by Mr. Manuel Lisa,

one of the most active persons engaged in the Missouri fur trade.

We were received by a salute from this establishment, and encamped

a little above, on the same side of the river.[173]

FOOTNOTES:

[157] For sketch of the Missouri Indians, see Bradbury's

_Travels_, in our volume v, note 26.--ED.

[158] For a description of the dog dance of the Sioux, see

Smithsonian Institution _Report_, 1885, part ii, pp. 307,

308.--ED.

[159] Grasshopper Creek rises near the northern line of the

state, its mouth being in Jefferson County, opposite Lecompton.

The name was changed to Delaware River when the tribe of that

name was removed to its lower course.

The route of the party on its return may have been across

Pottawatomie and Jackson counties, and through southern

Atchison; or, more probably, northern Jefferson and Leavenworth

counties.--ED.

[160] Jessup's MS. Report.--JAMES.

[161] The guilandina dioica of Linn., Marshall, &c. but referred

by Michaux to the new genus gymnocladus, of which it is the only

well ascertained species. It is common throughout the western

states, and territories, and in Canada, where it is called by

the French Chicot, or stump tree, from the nakedness of its

appearance in winter. In the English gardens, where it has been

cultivated many years under the name of the hardy bonduc, it has

attained considerable magnitude, but has not hitherto been known

to produce flowers.--JAMES.

[162] _Fringilla grammaca_, SAY.--Above blackish-brown; _head_

lineated; beneath white, a black line from the inferior base

of the inferior mandible, above this a dilated white line;

from the angle of the mouth proceeds a black line, which is

much dilated and ferruginous behind the eye, and terminates

in a contracted black line; a black line from the eye to the

superior mandible, enclosed, as well as the eye, by a dilated

white line, which is more contracted behind the eye; top of

the head with two dilated lines, which are black on the front

and ferruginous on the crown and hind head, and separated from

each other by a cinereous line; interscapulars and lesser wing

coverts margined with dull cinereous or brownish; _wings_ dusky

brown, a white spot on the outer webs of the second, third, and

fourth primaries, near their bases; _back_ dirty olive-brown;

_tail_ rounded; _tail feathers_ twelve, blackish-brown, two

intermediate ones immaculate, adjoining ones with a small white

spot at tip, which, on the lateral ones, increases in size until

on the exterior one it occupies half of the total length of

the feather; the exterior web of the outer feather is white to

its base; _chin_ and _throat_ white; _neck_ and _breast_ dull

cinereous; _abdomen_ and _vent_ white; _feet_ pale, tinged with

orange; nail of the middle toe slightly dilated on the inner

side.

Length six and a quarter inches.

Shot at Belle Fontain on the Missouri. Many specimens were

obtained. The auriculars of the female are yellowish-brown.

They run upon the ground like a lark, seldom fly into a tree,

and sing sweetly. They were subsequently observed at Engineer

Cantonment.--JAMES.

[163] _Coluber obsoletus_, SAY.--_Body_ black above, beneath

whitish, with large subquadrate black spots, which are

confluent, and pale bluish towards the tail; _throat_ and _neck_

pure white; _sides_ between the scales with red marks.

Description. _Body_ black, _anterior half_ with a series of

continuous, dilated dull-red large circles, formed upon the

skin between the scales, on the side; on many of the scales,

are white marginal dashes near their bases: these scales are

placed in groups each side of the vertebræ of the anterior

moiety of the body; _scales_ bipunctured at tip; _beneath_

flat, so as to produce an angle or carnia each side; white

slightly tinged with yellowish red, irrorate with black

points, and spotted with large oblong quadrate marks, which

gradually become more continuous, confluent and plumbeous

towards the tail, occupying nearly the whole surface; _head_

beneath and _throat_ pure white; posterior _canthus_ of the

eye two-scaled; _iris_ blackish; _pupil_ deep-blued black,

enclosed by a silvery line.

One specimen, Pl. 228 -- Sc. 67 ?

Another specimen Pl. 233 -- Sc. 84

Another specimen Pl. 228 -- Sc. 84

Total length -- 4 feet 11-5/8 inches.

Tail length 4 feet 10-1/8 inches.

The lateral red marks are not perceptible, unless the skin be

dilated so as to separate the scales; and the small white

marginal lines on the bases of some of the scales are

observable only on close inspection. It varies in being nearly

or quite destitute of spots on the anterior portion of the

body beneath, but the posterior half of the inferior surface

still remains blackish. The whole animal bears strong

resemblance to C. _constrictor_; but the scales are decidedly

smaller, and the number of its plates and scales approach it

still more closely to that uncertain species C. _ovivorus_. It

is not an uncommon species on the Missouri from the vicinity

of Isle au Vache to Council Bluff.

_Penis_ terminated by a hemisphere, covered with compressed,

white spines, which are reflected at tip; the series interrupted

on the posterior side of the member by a canal; _it_ is much

dilated, dark reddish brown, abruptly contracted at base from

the exterior side, and with a prominent tubercle on the middle

of the inner side: length one inch and a quarter, width about

seven-sixteenths of an inch.--JAMES.

[164] The Grand Nemahaw, now usually called Big Nemaha, does not

rise so far to the west as is here implied. Its sources are in

Lancaster County, Nebraska, almost directly north of the mouth

of Republican River. The confluence of the Big Nemaha is just

above the Kansas-Nebraska line.

There are two streams (Big and Little) called Tarkio Creek.

They flow parallel through Atchison and Holt counties,

Missouri. The mouth of the Big Tarkio is opposite that of the

Big Nemaha; that of the Little Tarkio is now about eleven

miles below, but the channel is very changeable. Tarkio is

said to mean "full of walnuts."--ED.

[165] The Little Nemaha flows through the Nebraska county of

the same name; its mouth is between the towns of Aspinwall and

Nemaha.--ED.

[166] Nishnabotna is an Indian word signifying "canoe making

river." Fifteen years earlier, Lewis and Clark found the

divide between the rivers about three hundred yards wide. At

that time the mouth of the Nishnabotna was on the line between

Atchison and Holt counties, Missouri. Since then its waters

have found their way across Grand Pass, and the old channel

below that point has been abandoned. In 1804 the main current

of the Missouri ran north of L'Isle Chauve (Bald Island), the

middle of which lay opposite Grand Pass. The channel now runs

south of this island, while the Nishnabotna, reaching the old

channel of the Missouri at the middle of the island, follows it

to the confluence of the island's foot. This was the condition

in 1879 (see _Map of the Missouri River_, from the government

survey, plates xx and xxi), but the channels are constantly

shifting.--ED.

[167] Lewis and Clark applied the name "Bald Hills" to "the

ridge of naked hills" here described, and "Bald-pated Prairie"

to the low lands at their base.--ED.

[168] Lewis and Clarke, vol. i. p. 28.--JAMES.

_Comment by Ed._ The reference is to Biddle's _History of the

Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark to

the Sources of the Missouri_, etc. (Philadelphia, 1814). See

also Thwaites, _Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark

Expedition_ (New York, 1904).

[169] This velocity of current is equalled by that of

the Cassiquiare in South America, and probably surpassed by

the Oronoko, the average descent of whose bed is thirteen

inches to the mile of 950 toises (6 feet 4.376 inches per

toise). See Humb. Pers. Nar. vol. v. p. 637, and vol. iv. p.

452. La Condamine and Major Rennel suppose the mean descent of

the Amazon and the Ganges, scarce four or five inches to the

mile, which is about equal to that of the Mississippi,

according to the most satisfactory estimates we have been able

to make.--JAMES.

[170] Platte River (sometimes called Flatwater and Nebraska, all

three names having the same meaning) is the largest tributary

of the Missouri. It joins the latter between Sarpy and Cass

counties, Nebraska, 640.8 miles from the Mississippi. Its

mouth is taken as the line between the "upper" and "lower"

Missouri.--ED.

[171] Species of apios, the glycine of Lin.--JAMES.

[172] See Bradbury's _Travels_, in our volume v, note 40.--ED.

[173] The Mosquito is on the Iowa side, in Pottawatomie County,

its mouth being a few miles below Council Bluffs.

For the Oto Indians, Missouri Fur Company, and Manuel Lisa,

see Bradbury's _Travels_, in our volume v, notes 42, 149, 64

respectively. Lisa established the post named for him, in

1812, and for a decade it was the most important trading

station on the Missouri. It stood about twenty miles above the

present town of Council Bluffs (Iowa), on the opposite side of

the river.--ED.

{137} CHAPTER VIII

Winter cantonment near Council Bluff--Councils with the Otoes,

Missouries, Ioways, Pawnees, &c.

The position selected for the establishment of winter quarters for

the exploring party, was on the west bank of the Missouri, about

half a mile above Fort Lisa, five miles below Council Bluff, and

three miles above the mouth of Boyer's river.[174] At this place

we anchored on the 19th of September, and in a few days had made

great progress in cutting timber, quarrying stone, and other

preparations for the construction of quarters.

Cliffs of sparry limestone rise in the rear of the site we had

selected, to an elevation of near three hundred feet.[175] At

times of low water, strata of horizontal sandstone are disclosed

in the bed of the Missouri. These pass under and support the

limestone. Both these strata probably extend in connexion, some

distance to the west; but as they are deeply covered with soil, we

could not accurately ascertain their boundary in that direction.

On the map accompanying this work, we have traced a line running

from the Canadian river of the Arkansa, to the Elk Horn, between

96° and 98° west longitude, and marking what we supposed nearly

the westernmost limit of the horizontal limestones, and the

argillaceous sandstones, disclosed in the beds of the larger

rivers.

{138} Both these strata embrace numerous relics of marine animals,

many of which we collected.[176]

Immediately after our arrival, an interpreter had been sent across

the country, to intercept the traders then on their way to the

Pawnees, with considerable quantities of merchandize. It was

thought proper to suspend all intercourse with those Indians,

until an adjustment of the recent difficulties should take place.

In addition to the outrage committed on Mr. Say's party, they had

made prisoners of two white hunters from the Arkansa, a father and

son, who had been found hunting in the Indian territories. These

men had been liberated through the interference of some of the

members of the Missouri Fur Company, and had recently arrived at

Fort Lisa. During their captivity, they had been treated with

such severity by the Pawnees, that they had often entreated an end

might be put to their lives.

The interpreter returned on the 20th, having accomplished the

object of his mission. Soon afterwards, Mr. Dougherty arrived from

the Oto village, whither he had been sent with a deputation to

Konzas, to aid in effecting a reconciliation between those

nations. This proposition, which originated with the Konzas, was

favourably received by the Otoes. Mr. D. was soon afterwards

despatched to the Pawnees, with instructions to demand of them the

property plundered from Mr. Say's party, also to require that the

persons who had committed that outrage should be given up. He was

accompanied by two Frenchmen acquainted with the Pawnees and their

language.

A party of Otoes arrived at Fort Lisa on the 26th of September,

with pack-horses laden with pelfries, and bringing with them a

soldier, who, having been accidentally separated from a small

detachment that were driving some beeves from Martin's Cantonments,

towards Council Bluff, had wandered about in the prairie for five

days, without tasting food, {139} when he at last had the good

fortune to fall in with the Otoes, who hospitably fed and conducted

him to the trading house.

The Council Bluff, so called by Lewis and Clarke, from a council

with the Otoes and Missouries held there on the 3d of August 1804,

is a remarkable bank rising abruptly from the brink of the river,

to an elevation of about one hundred and fifty feet. This is a

most beautiful position, having two important military features,

security, and a complete command of the river. Its defects are a

want of wood within a convenient distance, there being little

within a mile above, and much farther below, also a want of stone

and of water, except that of the river. From the summits of the

hills, about one mile in the rear of the bluff, is presented the

view of a most extensive and beautiful landscape. The bluffs on

the east side of the river exhibit a chain of peaks stretching as

far as the eye can reach. The river is here and there seen

meandering in serpentine folds, along its broad valley, chequered

with woodlands and prairies, while at a nearer view you look down

on an extensive plain interspersed with a few scattered copses or

bushes, and terminated at a distance by the Council Bluff.

This position is about five miles above that selected for the

wintering post of the exploring party. At the last mentioned

place, a very narrow plain or beach, closely covered with trees,

intervenes between the immediate bank of the river and the bluffs,

which rise near two hundred feet, but are so gradually sloped as

to be ascended without great difficulty, and are also covered with

trees. This spot presented numerous advantages for the cantonment

of a small party like ours. Here were abundant supplies of wood

and stone, immediately on the spot where we wished to erect our

cabins, and the situation was sheltered by the high bluffs from

the north-west winds. The place was called Engineer Cantonment.

{140} On the 26th of September, Mr. Say and Mr. Jessup arrived in

the flotilla from Cow Island, in company with Col. Morgan, Dr.

Gale, and Captain Magee.[177] They had both nearly recovered their

health, and entertained the liveliest sense of the eminent

politeness and hospitality which had been conferred on them by the

above named gentlemen, as well as the other officers of the

military expedition.

About one hundred Otoes, together with a deputation of the Ioway

nation, who had been summoned to a council by Major O'Fallon,

presented themselves at our camp on the 3d of October. The

principal chiefs advanced before their people, and upon invitation

seated themselves. After a short interval of silence Shonga-tonga,

the Big Horse, a large portly Indian of a commanding presence,

arose and said, "My father, your children have come to dance

before your tent, agreeably to our custom of honouring brave or

distinguished persons."

After a suitable reply, by Major O'Fallon, the amusement of dancing

was commenced by the striking up of their rude instrumental and

vocal music; the former consisting of a gong made of a large keg,

over one of the ends of which a skin was stretched, which was

struck by a small stick; and another instrument, consisting of a

stick of firm wood, notched like a saw, over the teeth of which

a smaller stick was rubbed forcibly backward and forward; with

these, rude as they were, very good time was preserved with the

vocal performers who sat around them, and by all the natives as

they sat in the inflection of their bodies, or the movements of

their limbs; after the lapse of a little time three individuals

leaped up and danced around for a few minutes, then, at a concerted

signal from the master of the ceremonies, the music ceased, and

they retired to their seats uttering a loud noise, which by patting

the mouth rapidly with the hand, was broken into a succession of

similar sounds, somewhat like the hurried barking of a dog. Several

sets {141} of dancers succeeded, each terminating as the first.

In the intervals of the dances, a warrior would step forward and

strike a flagstaff they had erected with a stick, whip, or other

weapon, and recount his martial deeds. This ceremony is called

_striking the post_, and whatever is then said may be relied upon

as rigid truth, being delivered in the presence of many a jealous

warrior and witness, who could easily detect and would immediately

disgrace the _striker_ for exaggeration or falsehood. This is

called the beggars' dance, during which some presents are always

expected by the performers, as tobacco, whiskey, or trinkets.

But on this occasion, as none of those articles were immediately

offered, the amusement was not, at first, distinguished by much

activity. The master of the ceremonies continually called aloud

to them to exert themselves; but still they were somewhat dull

and backward. Ietan now stepped forward and lashed a post with

his whip, declaring that he would thus punish those who did not

dance; this threat from one whom they had vested with authority

for this occasion had a manifest effect upon his auditors, who

were presently highly wrought up by the sight of two or three

little mounds of tobacco twist which were now laid before them, and

appeared to infuse new life.

After lashing the post and making his threat, Ietan went on to

narrate his martial exploits. He had stolen horses seven or eight

times from the Konzas; he had first struck the bodies of three of

that nation slain in battle. He had stolen horses from the Ietan

nation, and had struck one of their dead. He had stolen horses

from the Pawnees, and struck the body of one Pawnee Loup. He had

stolen horses several times from the Omawhaws, and once from the

Puncas. He had struck the bodies of two Sioux. On a war party, in

company with the Pawnees, he had attacked the Spaniards and

penetrated into one of their camps; the Spaniards, {142} excepting

a man and boy, fled; himself being at a distance before his party,

he was shot at and missed by the man, whom he immediately shot

down and struck. "This, my father," said he, "is the only martial

act of my life that I am ashamed of."[178] After several rounds of

dancing, and of striking at the post by the warriors, Mi-a-ke-ta,

or the Little Soldier, a war-worn veteran, took his turn to strike

the post. He leaped actively about, and strained his voice to its

utmost pitch whilst he portrayed some of the scenes of blood in

which he had acted. He had struck dead bodies of individuals of

all the red nations around, Osages, Konzas, Pawnee Loups, Pawnee

Republicans, Grand Pawnees, Puncas, Omawhaws, and Sioux, Padoucas,

La Plais or Bald Heads, Ietans, Sauks, Foxes, and Ioways;[179] he

had struck eight of one nation, seven of another, &c. He was

proceeding with his account when Ietan ran up to him, put his hand

upon his mouth, and respectfully led him to his seat. This act was

no trifling compliment paid to the well-known brave. It indicated

that he had still so many glorious acts to speak of, that he would

occupy so much time as to prevent others from speaking, and put to

shame the other warriors by the contrast of his actions with

theirs.

Their physical action in dancing is principally confined to

leaping a small distance from the ground with both feet, the body

being slightly inclined, and upon alighting, an additional slight

but sudden inclination of the body is made, so as to appear like

a succession of jerks; or the feet are raised alternately, the

motions of the body being the same. Such are the movements, in

which the whole party correspond; but in the figures, as they are

termed in our assembly rooms, each individual performs a separate

part, and each part is a significant pantomimic narrative. In all

their variety of action they are careful to observe the musical

cadences. In this dance Ietan represented one who was in the act

of stealing {143} horses. He carried a whip in his hand, as did

a considerable number of the Indians, and around his neck were

thrown several leathern thongs, for bridles and halters, the ends

of which trailed upon the ground behind him; after many preparatory

manœuvres, he stooped down, and with his knife represented the act

of cutting the _hopples_ of horses; he then rode his tomahawk, as

children ride their broomsticks, making such use of his whip as

to indicate the necessity of rapid movement lest his foes should

overtake him. Wa-sa-ba-jing-ga, or Little Black Bear, after a

variety of gestures, threw several arrows in succession over his

head, thereby indicating his familiarity with the flight of such

missiles; he at the same time covered his eyes with his hand to

indicate that he was blind to danger. Others represented their

manœuvres in battle, seeking their enemy, discharging at him their

guns or arrows, &c. &c. Most of the dancers were the principal

warriors of the nation, men who had not condescended to amuse

themselves or others in this manner for years before; but they

now appeared in honour of the occasion, and to conciliate in the

best manner the good will of the representative of the government

of the Big-knives.[180] Amongst these veteran warriors Ietan, or

Sha-mon-e-kus-se, Ha-she-a, the broken arm, commonly called Cut

Nose, and Wa-sa-ba-jing-ga, or Little Black Bear, three youthful

leaders, in particular attracted our attention. In consequence

of having been appointed soldiers on this occasion, to preserve

order, they were painted entirely black. The countenance of the

former indicated much wit, and had in its expression something

of the character of that of Voltaire; he frequently excited the

mirth of those about him by his remarks and gestures. Ha-she-a,

called Cut Nose, in consequence of having lost the tip of his nose

in a quarrel[181] with Ietan, wore a handsome robe of white wolf

skin, with an appendage behind him, called a _crow_. This singular

decoration is a large cushion, made of the skin of a crow, {144}

stuffed with any light material, and variously ornamented; it has

two decorated sticks projecting from it upward, and a pendant

one beneath; this apparatus is secured upon the buttocks by a

girdle passing round the body. The other actors in the scene were

decorated with paints of several colours fantastically disposed

upon their persons. Several were painted with white clay, which

had the appearance of being grooved in many places. This grooved

appearance is given by drawing the finger nails over the part so

as to remove the pigment from thence in parallel lines. These

lines are either rectilinear, undulated, or zigzag; sometimes

passing over the forehead transversely or vertically; sometimes in

the same directions, or obliquely over the whole visage, or upon

the breast, arms, &c. Many were painted with red clay, in which

the same lines appeared. A number of them had the representation

of a black hand with outspread fingers, on different parts of the

body, strongly contrasting with the principal colour with which the

body was overspread; the hand was depicted in different positions

upon the face, breast, and back. The face of others was coloured,

one half black, and one half white, or red and white, &c.; many

coloured their hair with red clay; but the eye-lids and base of

the ears were generally tinged with vermilion. At the conclusion

of the ceremony, whiskey, which they always expect on similar

occasions, was produced, and a small portion was given to each. The

principal chiefs of the different nations, who had remained passive

spectators of the scene, now directed their people to return to

their camp. The word of the chiefs was obeyed, excepting by a few

of the Ioways, who appeared to be determined to keep their places

notwithstanding the reiterated command of the chiefs. Ietan now

sprang towards them, with an expression of much ferocity in his

countenance, and it is probable a tragic scene would have been

displayed had not the chiefs {145} requested him to use gentle

means, and thus he succeeded, after which the chiefs withdrew.

October 4th. At ten o'clock, the hour appointed for the council,

the Indians, headed by their chiefs, arrived; and after shaking us

all by the hand took their seats. There were about one hundred

Otoes, seventy Missouries, and fifty or sixty Ioways. They

arranged themselves, agreeably to their tribes, on puncheon

benches, which had been prepared for them, and which described a

semicircle, on the chord of which sat the whites, with Major

O'Fallon and his interpreters in the centre. Sentinels walked to

and fro behind the benches; and a handsome standard waved before

the assembly. The council was opened by a few rounds from the

howitzers. A profound silence reigned for a few minutes, when

Major O'Fallon arose, and in a very animated and energetic manner

addressed his Indian auditors. Suitable replies were given by

Shonga-tonga, the Crenier, and others, with all the extravagant

gesticulation which is one of the prominent features of Indian

oratory.

[Illustration: Oto Council]

At the termination of the council, presents were made of blankets,

kettles, strouding, tobacco, guns, powder, and ball, &c. The Big

Horse and the Crenier only were acknowledged as chiefs, and to the

latter, who did not possess a large medal, one was given in

exchange for a smaller one which he possessed. No chief was

acknowledged amongst the Missouries, as it is the wish of Major

O'Fallon to extinguish as much as possible national prejudices

between these two nations or tribes.

Cut Nose now presented to the agent his crow and bison robe

ornamented with hieroglyphicks. The Little Black Bear presented

his robe of white wolf and bison skin, and a pair of handsome

leggings. The Black Bird presented a robe and the serrated

instrument of music before mentioned, observing, significantly,

that the latter was then the only weapon {146} he possessed with

which he could defend his father.

October 5th. Last evening Loutre, an old Missouri Indian died; he

had spoken in the council a few hours before, and remarked then

that he had not long to live. He was buried without ceremony near

the trading house.

October 9th. Messengers who had been sent yesterday for the

Pawnees returned, having met with them on the Elk Horn creek,

twenty-five miles distant, on their way hither.[182] They arrived

about noon, seventy in number, consisting of individuals of each

of the three tribes, called Grand Pawnees, Pawnee Republicans, and

Pawnee Loups, or Pawnemahas, and halted at some distance from our

camp. As we approached them we observed the majority of them

standing in a forest of young willow trees, holding their mules by

the bridles, and looking dubiously around. The chief of the

principal band, Long Hair, was haranguing them in a loud voice,

"Take off your saddles; why do you stand peeping and trembling in

the bushes? you ought to have trembled when the whites were seen

near the Konza village, &c." We saluted the principal men in the

usual manner of shaking by the hand, though not with much

cordiality. Major O'Fallon then said, "Pawnees, encamp here and

smoke your pipes in security; you have conducted yourselves badly,

but the whites will not harm the red-skins when they have them

thus in their power; we fight in the plains, and scorn to injure

men seated peaceably by their fires. Think well of what you will

have to say to me in council to-morrow." These assurances appeared

to annul their present apprehensions, and they proceeded to

encamp.

Three boats came from Camp Missouri to take on board a quantity

of provisions which are stored here for the troops; we exchanged

salutes with them. The noise of the artillery excited the

apprehensions of the {147} Indians; who, being sensible of having

grossly offended the whites, now anticipated some exemplary

punishment, and were not at ease until reassured of their safety,

and the cause of the firing of such great guns so near them was

explained.

In the evening, accompanied by several gentlemen of the party, we

visited the camp of the Pawnees, whom we found sitting round their

fires, smoking their pipes in silence. Some were employed in making

bows, having found plenty of hickory, and hop horn beam wood here,

which are not to be procured in the vicinity of their villages.

Their mules were tied to trees, feeding on the bark of the cotton

wood. The three tribes were seated around different fires. We sat

down in the group of Grand Pawnees, and smoked with their chief

Tar-ra-re-ca-wa-o, or Long Hair. This [is] an hereditary chief,

of a lofty and rather haughty mien; his mouth is, perhaps through

habit, drawn down a little at the corners. He has the appearance

and character of an intrepid man, although not distinguished as

a warrior, having, during his life, killed but a single man,

who was a Spaniard. He is, however, artful and politic, and has

performed some laudable actions. The following anecdote may serve

in part to illustrate the more amiable traits of his character.

Dorion, a Mestizo,[183] on a trading expedition, had accumulated a

considerable quantity of peltry, at the Pawnee republican village,

when it was situated on the Republican fork of the Konza river.

As he had no horses to transport his merchandize, he requested the

chief of that village to assist him in conveying it to the Grand

Pawnees on the Platte, as he intended to descend that river to

trade with the Otoes, on his way to St. Louis; the chief directly

ordered horses to be brought, the furs were packed upon them, and

they departed on the journey; but owing to some alleged misconduct

on the part of Dorion, the chief, when half way, ordered the goods

to be taken from the horses, and to be left on the plain. {148}

He then, with his followers, returned to his village. The trader,

after bewailing his unfortunate condition, at length resolved to

go to the Grand Pawnee village and solicit the aid of Long Hair.

Having arrived at the residence of the chief, he related to him in

what manner he had been used by the Republican chief, and concluded

by requesting assistance to bring in his goods. Long Hair, without

reply, ascended to the top of his lodge and called out to his

people to bring him one hundred horses. Taking the best of these,

and a sufficient number of attendants, he accompanied Dorion, and

assisted him to transport all his peltries, and did not cease with

his good offices, until he had aided him in building a skin canoe,

and had packed all the merchandize aboard, although previously

told by Dorion that he had nothing to reward him with, having, as

he said, traded every thing away, though at the same moment he had

a number of Indian goods concealed in his packs of buffalo robes.

After all was completed, "Now," said the chief, "Dorion, I know

that you are a bad man; I have no doubt but you have a quantity of

such goods as we want, concealed in those packs, and could reward

me if you were liberal enough; but I ask nothing: you have a forked

tongue. You have abused me to the whites, by calling me a rascal,

saying I robbed the traders, &c.; but go, I will not harm you; tell

the red head (Governor Clarke) that I am a rascal, robber, &c., I

am content."[184]

At another fire, surrounded by his particular band, sat the Knife

Chief, La-che-le-cha-ru, principal chief of the Pawneemahas. He is

a large portly man, with a very prepossessing countenance; the

hair on the sides of his head is gray; he has a deep scar on the

right side, from a wound which was inflicted by a female prisoner,

of the Padouca nation, whom he had adopted and taken into his

family. This squaw, becoming infuriated at the prospect of the

state of slavery to which she supposed herself now reduced, {149}

stabbed her child to the heart, mortally wounded the brother of

this chief, and, before she could be despatched, had inflicted

this wound, through which the bowels protruded. The individuals of

this band live in great harmony amongst themselves, owing probably

to their having but two chiefs, who are unrivalled. The second

chief is a Mestizo. Against this band we have no accusation; they

have always demeaned themselves well towards the American whites.

In a third group were collected the representatives of the Pawnee

Republicans; this nation or clan stands accused of whipping,

robbing, and otherwise abusing a white American and his son, whom

they found trapping beaver on the Arkansa river, this season; of

killing two American citizens, two years since, who were also

trapping beaver on the same river; and of robbing our party of

sundry articles and horses, near the Konza village, whilst under

the protection of the flag of our country, of the nature of which

they had been instructed, and perfectly well understood. These

outrages, and many others, they had committed on lands, to which

they do not pretend to have any claim, situated far from their own

territories, and in the immediate vicinity of nations with whom

they then were, and still are, at war.[185]

On the following day the Pawnees were summoned to council, and in

a short time they appeared marching leisurely in a narrow pathway,

in _Indian file_, led by the grand chief; near this pathway the

musical band was stationed, and when Long Hair arrived opposite,

they struck up, suddenly and loudly, a martial air. We wished to

observe the effect which instruments, that he had never seen or

heard before, would produce on this distinguished man, and

therefore {150} eyed him closely, and were not disappointed to

observe that he did not deign to look upon them, or to manifest,

by any motion whatever, that he was sensible of their presence.

The Indians arranged themselves on the benches prepared for them,

and the cessation of the music was succeeded by stillness, which

was suddenly interrupted by loud explosions from our howitzers,

that startled many of us, but did not appear to attract the notice

of the Pawnees.

Major O'Fallon rose and addressed them in a very austere tone and

manner; stating the offences they had committed against the white

people, and admonishing them to a reformation in their conduct,

and to restore the articles they had stolen from us; this was

chiefly directed against the Pawnee Republicans; the Loups were

applauded for their uniformly good deportment.

[Illustration: Pawnee Council]

The council terminated after much of the property taken from us

near the Konza village was restored, and a promise given that the

offenders should be punished by whipping.[186]

The leisure we enjoyed after our arrival at Engineer Cantonment,

afforded the opportunity of making numerous excursions to collect

animals, and to explore the neighbouring country. We give here

some account of two species of sorex, taken near our cabins.[187]

Early in October the cabins for winter-quarters were completed.

Having made arrangements for the subsistence of the party, and

being about to return to Washington, Major Long issued orders to

the officers and gentlemen of the expedition, for their government

during his absence. The following extract will show to what

objects they were instructed to direct their attention.

"Mr. Say will have every facility afforded him that circumstances

will admit to examine the country, {151} visit the neighbouring

Indians, procure animals, &c. for the attainment of which

he will call on Lt. Graham, who is authorized to make any

expenditures in behalf of the expedition that may be deemed

reasonable and necessary, and afford any aid in his power,

consistent with the performance of other duties. Mr. Seymour or

Mr. Peale will accompany him, whenever their services are deemed

requisite.

"Major O'Fallon has given permission to Mr. Dougherty to aid the

gentlemen of the party, in acquiring information concerning

the Indians, &c.; this gentleman will, therefore, be consulted

in relation to visits, and all kinds of intercourse with the

Indians, that may be necessary in the prosecution of the duties

of the expedition.

"In regard to these duties, the gentlemen of the expedition will

consult my orders of March last. The documents transmitted from

the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, by the Secretary of

War; and the instructions of Mr. Jefferson to Capt. Lewis, to

be found in vol. 1st of Lewis and Clarke's expedition,[188] and

regulate their observations and inquiries accordingly.

"Lt. Graham will embrace every opportunity for celestial and

barometric observations, and calculate the latitude, longitude,

magnetic dip and variation, with the utmost attainable

precision; also the heights of the neighbouring hills, and

the adjacent high table lands. He will also continue the

meteorologic observations as usual, noticing the changes of

weather, and all celestial and atmospheric phenomena. To aid

him in these duties, he will call on Lieut. Swift, or any other

gentleman of the expedition, who may not be particularly engaged

at the time in other important duties.

"It is believed, that the field for observation and inquiry is

here so extensive, that all the gentlemen of the expedition

will find ample range for the exercise of their talents in

their respective pursuits; and it is {152} hoped, that through

their unremitted exertions and perseverance, a rich harvest of

useful intelligence will be acquired."

On the 11th of October, Major Long and Mr. Jessup took leave of

their friends at Engineer Cantonment, and accompanied by several

other persons, began to descend the Missouri in a canoe, on their

way towards Washington and Philadelphia.

FOOTNOTES:

[174] The camp was in the southeast corner of Washington

County, Nebraska. Boyer River rises in Sac County, Iowa, flows

southwest through Crawford and Harrison counties, and debouches

in Pottawatomie County, nearly opposite the boundary between

Washington and Douglas counties, Nebraska.--ED.

[175] Height of the bluff, ascertained by Lieutenant Graham.

Trigonometrically, 271 feet.

Barometrically, 277 feet. --JAMES.

[176] We add some notices of a few of the most

important.

1. _Terebratula._--A specimen considerably resembling the T.

_subundata_ of Sowerby, in the undulated line of the edges of

the valves; but it is a much more depressed shell, and of a

much less rounded form.

In the young state, the undulation of the edge is not very

distinct; but this character increases with age, so that in

the young state, it appears like a totally different species

from the adult.

2. In the same rock are very numerous arquated spines, like

ribs of fish, some of them 1-1/2 inches long.

3. A fragment of a terebratula or productus, imbedded, with

very long spines, which may possibly be the same with the

above.

4. A specimen, being a mass of comminuted fragments of shells,

amongst which are only recognizable a few segments of the

column of the encrinus, and minute turretted univalves of five

whirls, which resemble turritella, and are about one-twentieth

of an inch long.

5. _Millepora cylindrica_, SAY.--Branched, cylindric; _pores_

very regular, alternate, oval, placed nearer to each other

than the length of their own transverse diameters, and

resembling those of an _alveolite_.

Diameter, about one-tenth of an inch.

6. Segments of the column of encrinus of authors, of a

pentangular form.

7. Ossiculæ of the body of a crinoid animal of the analogous

species to No. 21.

8. Fragment of Perna?

9. A mass of argillaceous sandstone, containing spines of a

Linnæan echinus, belonging probably to the genus cidarites

of Lamarck. Of these spines some are elongate-conic, others

slightly fusiform, obtuse and slightly dilated near the

tip, both are armed with short asperities throughout their

length. They resemble in some degree those of the _cidarites

pistillaris_ of Lamarck, but they are smaller, less fusiform,

and the asperities are not prominent.

In the same mass are segments of encrinus, and fragments of the

retepore.

10. Retepore, much resembling the _milleporites flustriformis_

of Martin, Petrif. Derbi. pl. 43. fig. 1 and 2., but the

alveoles in our specimens are rather smaller.

11. _Millepora cylindrica_, SAY.--Of the diameter of half an

inch.

12. _Productus subserratus_, SAY.--Shell transverse, convex

valve semicircular, destitute of asperities or striæ,

longitudinally indented in the middle; line of the hinge

rectilinear, half as long again as the length of the shell, with

three or four spines or serratures on each side towards the

angle; _umbo_ not prominent; the beak hardly prominent beyond

the line of the hinge. Length, more than three-tenths; breadth,

more than half an inch. A large specimen was four-fifths of an

inch wide.

If we except the beak, the outline of this shell, as respects

the hinge margin and the sides, considerably resembles that of

P. _spinulosus_ of Sowerby, but the base is far more obtusely

rounded, and it is a shorter shell comparatively with its

width. The serratures are very often broken off. The curvature

of the sides does not in the slightest degree project beyond

the angles of the hinge line.

13. An imperfect cast, very like the _terebratula subundata_

of Sowerby, and of equal magnitude.

14. Pentagonal ossiculæ of the trunk of encrinus of authors,

which in outline may be compared to figs. 61 and 62, of plate

13. vol. 2. of Parkinson's Organic Remains, but their surfaces

do not now exhibit any sculpture.

15. Many of these shells exhibit the most unequivocal

evidences of having been in a plastic state, at some period or

other, since their deposition in their present situations. The

fine striæ of a _productus lineolatus_, are so interlaced on

the middle of a valve of one of our specimens, as at once to

convince every observer of the shell having been thus

partially dissolved, and when in this state to have been

gently rubbed by some other body, in two directions proceeding

obliquely to the same point, so as to throw the striæ in that

part entirely out of their proper longitudinal direction. It

is very common to find shells unnaturally flattened, or

compressed in various ways and degrees, often without any

fracture in the shell or cast; a circumstance which certainly

could never happen to the shell, unless it was in a plastic

state, or in a state of partial solution.

16. A specimen of carbonate of lime, on its surface a mass of

sub-parallel tubes, connected by short lateral processes. The

whole much resembles, and is probably congeneric with the

erismatholithus tubiporites (_catenatus_) of Martin's Petrif.

Derbi. t. 42. fig. 2., but the connecting processes of the

tubes are much shorter than they are represented in that

figure; but it corresponds much more exactly with the

tubiporite, figured by Parkinson in his Organic Remains, vol.

2. pl. 1. f. 1., and may with great propriety form a new

genus, the type of which will be the tubipora strues of Lin.

The genus is probably allied to favosites and tubipora.

17. _Trilobus._--The abdomen of a species of this singular

genus frequently occurs in the sandstone of the Missouri; near

Engineer Cantonment they were very common. The largest was

rather more than one inch long, by about one and three-tenths

inches in breadth at base; but the more general length is

about three-fourths of an inch. The tergum or intermediate

lobe is narrow, being not more than two-thirds of the width of

the flanks, and much more convex than those parts.

But a single specimen occurred, which we can, without any

doubt, consider as the thorax of a trilobus; but whether or

not it appertains to the same species with the above, or to

some other of which we have no other fragment, we are at a

loss to determine. Like the above-mentioned abdomen, it is

distinct from any that we have seen figures of. It is of a

narrow lunate form, highly convex, the disk destitute of

sculpture, and the eyes prominent.

18. Many imperfect casts of two different kinds of bivalve

shells occur near Engineer Cantonment, of which one may

possibly have been a _cardita_.

19. Tooth of a squalus, which seems to approach nearest to

those of _Sq. maximus_, by its compressed conic form.

Greatest length 2-1/10 inches.

Thickness more than 2/5 of an inch.

The sides are rounded, without any appearance of serratures;

thickened near the tip, and more compressed near the base.

20. Tooth of a squalus, something like that of _S. galeus_,

but less of a triangular form, and the lateral processes are

more distinct, and also less triangular than in that species.

21. An imperfect body of a crinoid animal, _encrinite_ of

authors; the fragment is about one-half of the inferior

portion of the body, from which the following description is

made out, taking into view the whole circumference. The plates

composing the _first costal_ series (Miller), five in number,

are longitudinally pentangular, much curved inwards towards

the base, to join the _first columnar joint_, or perhaps the

_pelvis_; at which part the plate is narrow, being about

one-ninth of an inch, whilst the other sides are nearly

three-tenths of an inch each, the superior ones being somewhat

longer than the others; the _second costal plates_, (Miller,)

five in number, are transversely pentangular, the superior

joint being long, the lateral ones shortest, the former being

one-half an inch in length, the latter 3/20, and the inferior

sides which articulate to the segments of the pelvis, somewhat

less than 3/10 of an inch; the margins of the first costal

joints, as well as the superior margins of the segments of the

pelvis, are armed with a few tubercles, some of which seem to

have been perforated; all the superior pieces are wanting in

our specimen, but the truncated surface, on which the

_scapulars_ (Miller) rested, is of a pentagonal outline, and

composed of a series of horizontal equilateral triangles, two

to each side, which are separated on each side from the

adjacent pairs by a deep groove, which corresponds, and is

nearly at right angles with the exterior sutures, which join

the first costal joints to each other; these triangular

surfaces are also separated from the exterior edge by two

grooves, which are crenated, and enclose an oblong foramina

between them; a single _intercostal plate_ occurs, interposed

between two of the _second costals_; it is of an oblong

hexagonal form, its base resting upon the extremity of a

segment of the _first costals_, which is truncated to receive

it; the superior portion of this plate is much bent inward

towards the abdominal cavity; its tip is quadrate and concave.

The whole exterior surface of this reliquium, with the

exception of the tubercles, and sutural impressed lines, is

plain and equable.

If we have not mistaken the pieces of this imperfect specimen,

the pelvis is wanting, but the cavity in which it existed must

have been about 3/20 of an inch in diameter.

The plate-like form of the ossiculæ, and their mode of

articulation with each other, by an extension horizontally

inwards, as we have described above, in the case of those

plates which we have considered as the _second costals_, seem

to indicate, that this species ought to be referred to the

second division of the crinoidea, or _semiarticulata_ of

Miller. It certainly, however, cannot be at all referred to

poteriocrinites, the only genus which that author has framed

in this division of the family. We refrain from distinguishing

it by a name either generic or specific, until other specimens

can be obtained, in which the characters are less equivocal.

We have two _second costal plates_, which made part of

distinct individuals, larger than the above described one. Of

these the surface of one is perfectly glabrous, whilst that of

the other has light orbicular indentations instead of

tubercles; a third very small one is perfectly smooth like the

first, and doubtless formed part of the body of a young

individual.

Another plate found near the same spot with the above, is of a

somewhat triangular form exteriorly, or rather like the face

of a truncated pyramid, of which the middle of the summit is a

little produced in the form of a right angle, thus offering a

scollop on each side of the apex for the adaptation of

superior ossiculæ. On divesting it carefully of its extraneous

matrix, we discovered that it was readily adjusted by its base

to the summit of those segments of the fragment above

described, which we have supposed to be _second costals_, a

prominent line on its base corresponding with the inner one of

those grooves which we have described, to characterize the

superior face of those plates. This plate, then, agreeably to

the relations in which we have viewed the preceding pieces,

must be a _scapula_; it is susceptible of considerable

hinge-like motion, and appears to have been much less firmly

attached to the costals than the latter are to each other.

A segment of a crinoid animal, which seemed to have been a

_first costal joint_ of a _pentacrinus_ of Parkinson, occurred

near the same place.

22. _Productus pectinoides_, SAY.--Convex valve, with a

central longitudinal indentation; the whole surface is

longitudinally ribbed, each rib being marked by two striæ, in

addition to the central carina.

The shell is not of frequent occurrence, and a perfect

specimen has not yet been obtained, but the portions we have

examined, are sufficient to show that it is perfectly distinct

from either of the species we have mentioned. We do not find

any species figured or described by authors like it.

23. _Productus compressus_, SAY.--Shell much compressed, with

numerous acute striæ, upwards of fifty in number on each

valve, the alternate ones rather smaller; a very slight

central longitudinal indentation on the convex valve; outline

suborbicular; hinge edge rectilinear, shorter than the

greatest breadth of the shell.

Greatest breadth from 3/5 to 1 inch. In its proportions it

resembles the truncated portion of the productus of Martin, as

represented on his plate 22. fig. 3. It is very common.

24. A shell of the length and breadth of three inches

sometimes occurs, the convex valve of which is transversely

undulated, its umbo prominent, and curved like that of a

gryphæa, its tip resting on the base of the opposite valve

which is concave, with a transverse linear base; its muscular

impressions seem to have been lateral.

25. A single specimen was found of a valve of a shell, in some

degree resembling a pecten, but without the auricles. Length

more than 2-3/10 inches.

26. _Productus lineolatus_, SAY.--Valves with numerous, fine,

equal, equidistant, longitudinal striæ, and a few small

tubercles; convex valve very much elongated, its basal portion

is curved downwards, almost perpendicularly with respect to

the disk near the umbones.

So singular is the structure of this shell, that the internal

cavity appears to have been perfectly transverse, with respect

to the general length of the shell, and small in comparison

with the length. It strongly resembles the anomites productus

of Martin, as represented on plate 22. fig. 102. of his

Petrif. Derbi., and like that shell it is armed with small

tubercles, though fewer in number, and the striæ are much more

numerous and smaller.

27. Cast of a turretted univalve, probably a cerithium, of the

length of 2-1/2 inches.

28. Cast of the anterior portion of a valve of a shell like an

ostrea, of the breadth of 2-1/2 inches.

29. On the Missouri near the Platte, occur masses of rock,

which seem to be almost exclusively composed of a remarkable

petrifaction, belonging to the family of concamerated shells.

This shell is elongated, fusiform, and when broken transversely,

it exhibits the appearance of numerous cells disposed spirally

as in the _nummulite_, but its longitudinal section displays

only deep grooves. The shell was therefore composed of tubes or

syphons, placed parallel to each other, and revolving laterally,

as in the genus _melonis_ of Lamarck, with which its characters

undoubtedly correspond. But as in the transverse fracture, its

spiral system of tubes cannot be traced to the centre in any

of the numerous specimens we have examined, it would seem to

have a solid axis, and consequently belongs to that division of

the genus that Montfort regards as distinct, under the name of

_miliolites_, which seems to be similar to the _fasciolites_

of Parkinson, and altogether different from the miliolites

of Lamarck. Our specimens are conspicuously striated on the

exterior, which distinction, together with their elongated

fusiform shape, sufficiently distinguish them as a species

from the _sabulosus_ which Montfort describes as the type of

his genus. No aperture is discoverable in this shell, but the

termination of the exterior volution very much resembles an

aperture as long as the shell.

The length is three-tenths of an inch; and its greatest breadth

one-twelfth.

We call it _miliolites secalicus_, SAY.--Mr. T. Nuttall

informs me, that he observed it in great quantities high up

the Missouri.

In the same mass were some segments of the encrinus, and a

terebratula with five or six obtuse longitudinal waves.

30. Another petrifaction, abundant in some fragments of compact

carbonate of lime, also found on the shores of the Missouri,

possesses all the generic characters which we have attributed

to the preceding species, excepting that in the transverse

fracture the cells distinctly revolve from the centre itself,

and of course the shell was destitute of the solid nucleus as in

melonis, _Lamarck_. It has about four volutions. We have named

this species, which is, notwithstanding the difference of the

central portion of the same genus with the preceding _miliolites

centralis, Say_. As in the preceding, it is entirely filled

solidly with carbonate of lime, and this substance being of a

greater purity in the filled-up cavities of the fossil than in

the mass, its interior divisions are very obvious.

The latter species we observed about one hundred miles up the

Konzas river, where it forms the chief body of the rocks in

extensive ranges. It seems to be a carbonate of lime containing

iron.--JAMES.

[177] John Gale, of New Hampshire, was surgeon in the rifles.

He entered the army in 1812, as surgeon's mate in the 23d

Infantry. After an honorable discharge in 1815, he was the same

year reinstated as surgeon's mate in the 3d Infantry, and in

1818 made surgeon in the rifles. Three years later he became

major-surgeon. He died in 1830.

Matthew J. Magee was captain of a Pennsylvania company of

volunteers during the first two years of the War of 1812-15.

In 1814 he was made captain in the 4th Rifles. After being

discharged at the close of the war, he was reinstated (1816)

as first lieutenant of ordnance with brevet rank as captain. A

little later he was made captain, and in 1818 was transferred

to the rifles. In 1821 he was transferred to the infantry. His

death occurred in 1824.--ED.

[178] Ietan, as he was called by the whites, is said to have

been the son of Big Horse (Shonga-tonga). The name may have been

given him for some exploit against the Ietan (Comanche) tribe.

His Indian name (Shamonekusse, Shongmunecuthe) means Prairie

Wolf. In 1821-22 Ietan accompanied a deputation of chiefs to the

East; the Indians made careful observations of what they saw,

after their own fashion, and, it is said, attempted to count the

people of New York by means of notched sticks. Among his fellows

Ietan was noted for his wit and sagacity, as well as for warlike

prowess. His death resulted (April, 1837) from a wound received

while pursuing some young braves who had seduced two of his

wives.--ED.

[179] The Ietan Indians, more commonly known as Comanche, were

a branch of the Shoshoni family. Their range was the upper

Arkansas, Canadian, and Red rivers.

On the Pawnee and Pawnee Loups, see respectively Brackenridge's

_Journal_, in our volume vi, note 17, and Bradbury's _Travels_,

in our volume v, note 44. The Pawnee nation consisted of four

principal tribes: 1. Pawnee proper (Grand Pawnee); 2. Pawnee

Republican, who dwelt on the Republican fork of Kansas River; 3.

Tapage, on the Platte; 4. Pawnee Loups (Skidi; Pani-mahas).

The Omaha and Ponca were closely related tribes of Siouan stock.

For their early history and present condition, see our volume v,

notes 49, 63.

The Sioux (Dakota) were the chief branch of the great family

to which they have given their name. The branch was divided

into a number of tribes, including the Yankton and Teton,

mentioned below in the text.

Sketches of the Osage, Sauk and Foxes, and Iowa will be found

in our volume v, notes 21, 22.

The Padouca were a powerful tribe when visited by Bourgmont in

1724 (see succeeding volume, note 29), but the nation

disintegrated and lost its identity before the close of the

eighteenth century, if, indeed, the name was not from the

beginning applied collectively to several kindred tribes of

the plains. Their habitat was the banks of the upper Kansas

River; later they removed to the Platte, the North Fork of

which is sometimes designated by their name.

The Indians here called La Plais (La Playes) were reported by

Lewis and Clark (_Statistical View_) to be a numerous tribe of

Shoshoni stock, inhabiting the plains at the heads of the

Arkansas and Red rivers. Later authorities seem not to have

distinguished them from the kindred Comanche.--ED.

[180] The Indian name for Americans. On the origin of

the term, see Thwaites, _Daniel Boone_ (New York, 1902), p.

111, note.--ED.

[181] This quarrel, and the resulting loss of part of

the nose of one of the contestants, has given rise to a number

of fables. In one of them Ietan and his brother are the

combatants, and it is Ietan who loses the tip of his nose. In

his thirst for revenge he pursues his brother across the

plains and through the forest, both in friendly and hostile

villages, only to fall a prey to bitter remorse when, after

many months, he overtakes the fugitive and slays him.--ED.

[182] Elkhorn River (Corne de Cerf, of the French explorers) is

a considerable northern tributary of the Platte, into which it

falls on the western line of Sarpy County. The head waters are

only a few miles from the Niobrara River, in Rock County.--ED.

[183] One of the half-breed sons of Pierre Dorion (Durion),

who accompanied Lewis and Clark as interpreter. See Bradbury's

_Travels_, in our volume v, note 7.--ED.

[184] Red-head was the customary Indian name for Governor

William Clark, and St. Louis was "Red-head's Town." For sketch

of Clark, see Nuttall's _Journal_, in our volume xiii, note

105.--ED.

[185] It was a party of the Grand Pawnees that robbed and

ill-treated Lieutenant Pike and his party, when traversing the

country within their range.--JAMES.

[186] See Appendix C at the end of volume xvii.--ED.

[187] 1. _Sorex parvus_, SAY.--Brownish cinereous above; beneath

cinereous; teeth blackish; tail short, of moderate thickness.

_Body_ above brownish cinereous, beneath cinereous; _head_

elongated; _eyes_ and _ears_ concealed; _whiskers_ long, the

longest nearly attaining the back of the head; _nose_ naked

emarginate; _front teeth_ black, lateral ones piceous; _feet_

whitish, five-toed; _nails_ prominent, acute, white; _tail_

short, subcylindric, of moderate thickness, slightly thicker in

the middle, whitish beneath.

Length from tip of nose to root of tail, 2 3/8 inches.

Length of tail, 0 3/4 inches.

Length from the upper teeth to tip of nose, 0 3/20 inches.

Mr. Peale caught this animal in a pitfall, which he had dug

for the purpose of catching a wolf. It is a female.

Barton, in his Medical and Physical Journal for 1806, p. 67,

says, that, "Sorex minutissimus of Zimmerman, has been

discovered in the trans-Mississippi part of the United States,

in the country that is watered by the Missouri;"--had he

reference to this species?

This _sorex minutissimus_, is probably synonymous with S.

_exilis_, to which our specimens cannot be referred, whilst

the character attributed to that species, of "tail very thick

in the middle," is considered essential.

2. _Sorex brevicaudus_, SAY.--Blackish-plumbeous above,

beneath rather lighter; teeth, blackish; tail, short, robust.

Total length from nose to tip of tail, 4-5/8 inch.

Total length of the tail, 1 inch.

Total length from the upper teeth to the tip of nose, 0-1/8 inch.

_Above_ blackish plumbeous, when viewed from before; silvery

plumbeous when viewed from behind; _fur_ dense, rather long;

_beneath_ rather paler; _head_ large; _eyes_ very minute;

_ears_ white, entirely concealed beneath the fur, aperture very

large, with two distinct semisepta, (tragus and antitragus?)

which are sparsely hairy at tip; _rostrum_ short, with a

slightly impressed, abbreviated line above; _nose_ livid brown,

emarginate; _mouth_ margined with whitish and with sparse short

hairs; _teeth_ piceous-black at tip; _feet_, white, the second,

third, and fourth toes subequal, the first and fifth shorter,

the former rather shortest, anterior with but very few hairs,

nearly naked; _nails_ nearly as long as the toes; _tail_ with

rather sparse hairs, nearly of equal diameter, but slightly

thickest in the middle, depressed, and nearly as long as the

posterior feet.

This specimen, which is a male, closely resembles _S.

parvus_, but it is much larger; the head is proportionably

much larger and more elongated; the tail more robust, and the

inferior anterior pair of incisores are similar to those of

S. _constrictus_, fig. 7. pl. 15. of the Mem. du Mus. by Mr.

Geoffroy St. Hilaire. The incisors of the superior jaw are

twelve in number, in a cranium belonging to this species, five

on each side in addition the two larger anterior ones; the

posterior tooth of the lateral ones is smallest.

May not this be the animal mentioned by the late professor

Barton in his Medical and Physical Journal, for March, 1816,

which, he says, "may be called the black shrew?" I do not know

that the black shrew has ever received any further notice,

unless it is the same species to which Mr. Ord has applied the

name of _Sorex niger_.--JAMES.

[188] See Thwaites, _Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark

Expedition_, Appendix, vol. vii, doc. xviii.--ED.

{153} CHAPTER IX

Animals--Sioux and Omawhaw Indians--Winter Residence at

Engineer Cantonment

The subsequent account of the transactions at and near Council

Bluff, and of the observations made there, we copy from the

journal of Mr. Say.

Descriptions of some of the animals which occurred, are given in

the notes below.[189]

The prairie wolves[190] roam over the plains in considerable

numbers, and during the night, the principal season of their

hunts, they venture very near to the encampment of the traveller.

They are by far the most numerous of our wolves, and often

unite in packs for the purpose of chasing deer, which they very

frequently succeed in running down, and killing. This, however, is

an achievement attended with much difficulty to them, and in which

the exertion of their utmost swiftness and cunning are so often

unavailing, that they are sometimes reduced to the necessity of

eating wild plums, and other fruits, to them almost indigestible,

in order to distend the stomach, and appease, in a degree, the

cravings of hunger.

Their bark is much more distinctly like that of the domestic dog,

than of any other animal; in fact the first two or three notes

could not be distinguished from the bark of a small terrier, but

these notes are succeeded by a lengthened scream.

The wonderful intelligence of this animal is well worthy of note,

and a few anecdotes respecting it may not be amiss. Mr. Peale

constructed and tried various kinds of traps to take them, one of

which was of the description called "a live trap," a shallow box

reversed, and supported at one end, by the {154} well known kind

of trap sticks, usually called the "figure four," which elevated

the front of the trap upwards of three feet above its slab

flooring; the trap was about six feet long, and nearly the same in

breadth, and was plentifully baited with offal. Notwithstanding

this arrangement, a wolf actually burrowed under the flooring, and

pulled down the bait through the crevices of the floor; tracks of

different sizes were observed about the trap. This procedure would

seem to be the result of a faculty beyond mere instinct.

This trap proving useless, another was constructed in a different

part of the country, formed like a large cage, but with a small

entrance on the top, through which the animals might enter, but

not return; this was equally unsuccessful; the wolves attempted in

vain to get at the bait, as they would not enter by the route

prepared for them.

A large double "steel trap" was next tried; this was profusely

baited, and the whole, with the exception of the bait, was

carefully concealed beneath the fallen leaves. This was also

unsuccessful. Tracks of the anticipated victims were next day

observed to be impressed in numbers on the earth near the spot,

but still the trap, with its seductive charge, remained untouched.

The bait was then removed from the trap, and suspended over it

from the branch of a tree; several pieces of meat were also

suspended in a similar manner, from trees in the vicinity; the

following morning the bait over the trap alone remained.

Supposing that their exquisite sense of smell warned them of the

position of the trap, it was removed, and again covered with

leaves, and the baits being disposed as before, the leaves to a

considerable distance around were burned, and the trap remained

perfectly concealed by ashes; still the bait over the trap was

avoided. Once only this trap was sprung, and had fastened for a

short time upon the foot of a species, which was shot the

following day at no great distance; it proved to be a species

distinct from the {155} prairie wolf, and we have described it

under the name of C. nubilus.

In no respect disheartened by these futile attempts, many times

repeated, and varied in every obvious manner, another scheme was

executed, which eventuated in complete success. This was the log

trap, in which one log is elevated above another at one end, by

means of an upright stick, which rests upon a rounded horizontal

trigger stick, on the inferior log.

The latrans does not diffuse the offensive odour, so remarkable in

the two species of jackalls, (C. aureus and C. anthus) though in

many respects it resembles those animals. Like the Mexicanus, the

hair on the vertebral line is elongated; and we should be disposed

to regard it as the same animal, but it differs from the

description of that species, both in colour and physiognomy. The

ears are proportionally longer than those of C. cancrivorus, and,

as well as the tail, shorter than the corresponding parts of C.

mesomelas.

This animal, which does not seem to be known to naturalists,

unless it should prove to be the Mexicanus, is most probably the

original of the domestic dog, so common in the villages of the

Indians of this region, some of the varieties of which still

retain much of the habit and manners of this species.

On the 14th of October, four hundred Omawhaw Indians assembled at

Camp Missouri. Major O'Fallon addressed them in an appropriate

speech, stating the reasons for their being called to council;

upon which Ong-pa-ton-ga, the Big Elk,[191] arose, and after

shaking by the hand each of the whites present, placed his robe of

otter skins, and his mockasins under the feet of the agent, whom

he addressed to the following effect, as his language was

interpreted by Mr. Dougherty.

"He had heard that his father wished to see him, and he had

wished to see and to hear the words of his father, ever since he

learned that he was ascending {156} the river. He was informed

last fall of his being at the river Platte, and as he could not

then go to see him, he had now come to visit him; and here I

am, my father. All these young people you see around here are

yours; although they are poor and trifling, yet they are your

children. I have always loved the whites since I first remember

to have seen them, and this affection increases with my age. All

my nation loves the whites, and always have loved them. Amongst

all the good things of this world I place the whites first. But

it appears that there are many nations that live nearer to you

than I, that do not love you, though you have done more for

them, than you have done for me. When they meet with you, they

flatter you, in order to get presents from you, notwithstanding

which, they would not hesitate to kill some of your people on

their way home. Some of them shake hands with you in a friendly

manner, whilst their hands are yet stained with your blood;

and if you examine your own hands, my father, I think you would

find some of it adhering to them yet. For my part, my father,

I am proud to boast, that my hands are clean. Never has one of

my nation stained his hands with the blood of a white man. I

do not understand, my father, your mode of treating those well

who treat you ill. It is true, I know, that you have more sense

than I have, but I cannot understand it. I have heard that the

Pawnees have been to see you; a nation that has killed, robbed,

and insulted your people. I was also informed that you feasted

them, and at their departure you put weapons in their hands. I

should not be surprised to hear, that those very weapons were

stained with white man's blood before they reached the Pawnee

village. This is what I cannot understand. This circumstance

led me to believe, that if you treated those that have injured

you so well, you surely would treat your poor children the

Omawhaws, who have never done harm to your people, with much

kindness {157} also. But I am afraid the transaction will have a

bad effect on my young men. When they heard of American troops

ascending this river, they feared and respected them. But I am

fearful that this transaction will throw them off their guard,

make them lose their respect for you, and cause them to do

something that they would not otherwise have done, and thus

create trouble and difference between us. You said, my father,

that those troops do not come to harm us. I believe it is

true. I consider them all my brothers and friends. So far from

thinking they come to injure me, I regard them as my shield, to

guard me against bad nations around me. You say, that if ever

there is a difference between us, that it will be our fault; but

I hope not, my father, I cannot think that the Omawhaws will

offer any indignity to your people, now that they have seen all

those troops, when they have not harmed individuals who have

resided years in their village unprotected, although we were

then less enlightened than we now are. Some think, my father,

that you have brought all these warriors here to take our land

from us, but I do not believe it. For although I am but a poor,

simple Indian, yet I know that this land will not suit your

farmers; if I even thought your hearts bad enough to take the

land, I would not fear it, as I know there is not wood enough

on it for the use of whites. You might settle along this river,

where timber is to be found; but we can always get wood enough

in our country to make our little fires. There is one thing I

fear, my father; my nation is coming down here to hunt this

winter, and if you send out your soldiers to hunt also, they

will drive off all the game, and our women and children will

starve. We have heard of the ascent of the troops up this river

ever since last fall, and we have been told by other nations,

that if they chance to meet with any squaws unprotected, they

ravish them. But, my father, we shall soon know if this be true

or not; because, having {158} but little to eat, our squaws

will be obliged to go out into the prairies to dig roots; I

shall trust to you, and not hesitate to let them go." He also

observed, that he could not see the necessity of stationing so

many troops here, as there was no one to oppose; he thought it

desirable that they should go higher up the river, to chastise

those refractory Indians who will not listen to our words.

"There is one thing, my father," he observed, "which I wish you

to inform me of. We have heard of your tying up and whipping

individuals of several nations, as you ascended this river.

What is the offence which will subject us to this punishment?

I wish to know, that I may inform my people, that they may be

on their guard." He then observed that all his children were

poor, and that they had come with the expectation of receiving

something from their father.

This speech, contrary to the usual mode of Indian orators, was

commenced in a low tone, the voice gradually rising as the speaker

proceeded, until it attained its full intonation.

Several speakers subsequently went forward and delivered their

sentiments, generally alluding to the circumstance of our treating

those who injure us kindly, and neglecting our friends.

Ta-sone, the White Cow,[192] spoke with that allusion, and added,

"Look at me, my father, look at my hands; examine me well, I am a

wild man, born in the prairie;" and subsequently, "I told you, my

father, to look at me, that you might see if there is any of the

blood of your people upon me. Some, whose hands have been stained

with blood, endeavour to wash it off, but some of it will still

remain."

It is proper to mention, as explanatory of some of the allusions

in the above speeches, that the Pawnees, at the conclusion of

their council, had been invited to dine at Camp Missouri, and that

many of their chiefs were there presented with sabres, as I before

stated. It was to this circumstance that the above-mentioned {159}

speakers had reference, as being inexplicable to them; as it

seemed as if we wished to conciliate the good will of those

evil-doers through fear, and yet they could hardly accuse us of

fear, surrounded as we were by so formidable an array of troops.

It was evident, however, that the speakers had mentally no

reference to Major O'Fallon, as they knew he had not committed or

sanctioned the acts of which they complained in their truly

delicate and peculiar manner. But they looked upon him as

responsible for the actions of his people, knowing him to be the

representative of the government, and that in case of wrong, they

could not obtain redress from any other person. How much soever

Major O'Fallon may have disapproved of the treatment which the

Pawnees had received from the military, he was perfectly conscious

of having conducted himself towards them according to their

deserts, so far as power had been placed in his hands. But being

thus verbally accused, pointedly and repeatedly of injustice, for

acts not his own, he arose and said, "Omawhaws, you say I called

the Pawnees here to feast them and make them presents, after they

had killed and insulted us, but it is not true. I did not smoke

the pipe of peace with them, neither will I, until our differences

are settled. I told the Pawnees that, even if I stood unsupported

before them, I would, nevertheless, either compel them to make

reparation for their offences, or leave my bones amongst them for

my nation to come and bury."

The Big Elk, and Big Eyes, were the only chiefs acknowledged by

Major O'Fallon, who then made liberal presents to them for their

people.

Some of these presents were distributed by the Indians after a

peculiar manner, but which I learn is very common amongst the

Indians of this country. A certain portion of them is placed upon

the ground, and whoever can _strike the post_ the most frequently,

{160} gains them. Another portion is then staked for any other

competitors who may choose to advance. A valuable stake was then

offered, and an aged veteran stepped forth, and looking round upon

his nation with a majestic mien, in which there was not a little

expression of triumph, he seemed to challenge the bravest of the

brave to come forward and compete with him for the possession of

it; but agreeably to his expectations no one advanced, and he bore

off the prize by common consent, without going through the ceremony

of _striking_.

From the 24th of October to the 10th of November, the atmosphere

was generally filled with a dense smoke, like a fog or stratus,

which proceeded from the conflagrated prairies. It sometimes

affected our vision painfully, sometimes it so far intercepted the

rays of the sun that the disk of that luminary appeared of a

blood-red, and the eye could repose upon it uninjured. On the

morning of the 8th instant, it occurred in greater quantity than

at any other time, when it was so extremely dense as to intercept

a view of the opposite shore of the Missouri from Engineer

Cantonment.

On the 9th of November some rain fell, attended with thunder and

lightning. The rain continued on the day following, with the wind

from the south-east; at evening the smoke was almost entirely

dissipated, and the clouds, which were cirro-cumuli passing to the

north-north-west, became visible.

A party of Sioux visited us on the 15th of November, to view the

steam-boat. As Major Long had left orders to put the steam

machinery in action occasionally, in order to preserve it from

rust, Lieutenant Graham concluded to exhibit the boat with the

engine in action. The Indians hesitated to enter the boat,

fearing, as they said, that it was, or that it contained some

_great medicine_ of the Big-knives that might injure them. But

when on board and at their ease, one of them observed doubtingly,

{161} "he hardly thought the Big-knives had any medicine to hurt

them." They appeared much delighted with the boat; its size seemed

to surprise them, several measured the width of the deck by

straddling, instead of pacing as we do. We exhibited to them the

air-gun, magnet, &c. which considerably excited their attention.

Two of the howitzers were discharged, loaded with case-shot; the

effect produced, of the shot falling into the water, at unequal

distances and times, was new and unexpected, and they covered

their mouths with the hand, to express their astonishment. Of

these warriors, three are Tetons, one a Yancton, and a Sa-ho-ne;

three different tribes of the great Dacota or Sioux nation. They

are fine looking men, with very prominent cheekbones. They are

more attentive to their dress, and are much neater than the other

Indians we have seen; though it is proper to observe that, as

visitors, they are clothed in their best attire. They decorate

their hair with a profusion of feathers of the war eagle, and of a

species of owl which we have not seen. They also suspend in the

headdress an entire skin of the paroquet. The hair is in great

profusion, and is thrown upon the back in very long rolls; but

upon close inspection, the greater portion of it is perceived to

be false hair artificially attached to their own, the points of

junction being indicated by small masses of clay, with which the

attachment is effected. Two of these Tetons are inseparable

friends, were raised together from their infancy, and although not

allied by blood, there is a strong personal resemblance between

them, which is not a little enhanced by a studied similarity in

dress and ornaments. These two individuals are firm friends to the

whites. One of them was a few years since at the Sa-ho-ne village

in company with a trader, and being invited to a feast, they had

proceeded but a short distance, when a Sa-ho-ne rushed from his

concealment and knocked the trader down with his war-club. The

Teton immediately {162} attacked the assailant, felled him in his

turn to the earth, gashed his body with the spear of his war-club

and left him for dead. This is a strong evidence of the

determination of the savages, as they are called, to protect those

whom they consider under their guardianship. The Teton retaliated

the blow given to the trader, not only at the immediate risk of

his life in the combat, but of having to expiate the deed to many

a kindred exasperated warrior, and also at the hazard of

originating a war between the two bands.

In the course of the winter we received frequent supplies of

provisions from Camp Missouri; and by means of some exertion and

diligence in hunting, we were able to procure plenty of fresh

venison and other game. For coffee we substituted the fruit of the

gymnocladus canadensis, which afforded a palatable and wholesome

beverage. The flesh of the _skunk_ we had sometimes dressed for

dinner, and found it a remarkably rich and delicate food.

On the 5th of December, the gentlemen of the party dined by

invitation with Mr. M. Lisa.

The principal Ioway chief was once at our camp; he is a very

intelligent Indian, with a solemn dignity of deportment, and would

not deign to enter our houses or even to approach them until

invited. He is said to have a more intimate knowledge of the

manners of the whites, than any other Indian of the Missouri, and

to be acquainted with many of the words of our language, but will

not willingly make use of them, fearing to express himself

improperly, or not trusting to his pronunciation. He remained near

Council Bluff in the autumn, in order to be present at the

councils with the different nations, and to observe the conduct of

the whites towards them respectively, a considerable time after

his nation had departed down the river to their beaver trapping.

After this he went with his family to the head waters of the

Boyer, and during his stay there trapped sixty {163} beaver; when

with us he was about to go in search of his people. He had three

wives with him, one of whom appeared to be about nine or ten years

of age, and whom we mistook for his daughter, until he undeceived

us. We showed him our books of engravings, with which he was

highly pleased. The Indians, almost all of them, delight to look

over engravings, particularly those which represent animals; they

are not soon fatigued when employed in this way.

This Indian is known by several names, as Grand Batture, Hard

Heart, Sandbar, and in his own language, Wang-e-waha. During our

late contest with Great Britain, he turned his back upon his

nation, in consequence of their raising the tomahawk upon our

citizens, and crossing the Missouri, united his destiny with the

Otoes, who received and treated him with distinguished respect.

Last autumn his nation joined him, and submitted to his guidance;

so that the Otoes, Missouries, and Ioways were then united.

Some time since in a transaction with a captain, formerly of the

United States' army, he thought himself grossly insulted, and

demanded on the spot personal satisfaction, agreeably to the

custom of the whites, challenging his opponent to single combat,

with pistols or such other weapons as he might choose.

He is esteemed the bravest and most intelligent of the Ioways, and

amongst the Otoes he was associated with many equally brave with

himself. But as there are national prejudices amongst the Indians

as well as amongst the whites, he has not escaped from many a keen

allusion to his nation. In a quarrel, which arose from some

expressions of this nature, Ietan knocked him down with a

war-club.

He has been in fifty battles, and has commanded in seven.

He says the white people often request the Indians to abstain from

war, and yet the white people continue {164} to fight each other,

as if they wished to monopolize the occupation of war, and thereby

deprive the Indian of his principal avenue to honour and dignity.

Several Omawhaws, who have been trapping in the country opposite

to Blackbird-hill, remained with us last night. The principal one,

A-ha-ga-nash-he, or the Upright Horn, has a rather handsome Sioux

squaw, to whom he appears to be much attached, paying her great

attention in conversation, giving her a portion of his whiskey,

and handing her the pipe to smoke. She is, however, not exempted

from the ordinary employments of the Indian women, and we had an

opportunity to-day of seeing her depart from Mr. Lisa's with a

heavy load, consisting of the goods which her husband had received

in exchange for his beaver, on her back, whilst he carried only a

keg of whiskey slung over his shoulders, and his gun and hunting

apparatus. Previously to the departure of the Omawhaws from our

establishment this morning, the brother of one of them, who,

report said, had been killed by the Sioux, arrived; he has been

with about ten lodges, (about twenty men) of his tribe trapping on

the Elk Horn, and they had taken about two hundred beavers. He has

taken sixty himself, of which he presented his elder brother

twenty, and is on his way to Mr. Lisa, to have a trader with

merchandize sent to his party to deal for the skins. It is a

singular circumstance, that this is the second instance of these

two brothers meeting in this vicinity, after the one had been

supposed to have been killed by the Sioux.

A-ha-ga-nash-he, whom we invited to take up his lodgings for the

night in our room, became alarmed at my repute as a medicine man,

fearing that I would cast some spell upon him, or otherwise injure

him by the operation of some potent mystic medicine: he removed

his quarters to the adjoining room, where he seemed to think he

was safe from my incantations.

Our hunter, whose name is No-zun-da-je; or, "He {165} that does

not dodge," is esteemed a good hunter by his nation; but he is not

a distinguished warrior, although he has been in numerous battles.

He says he has killed several red skins in action, but never yet

had the honour to _strike_ a body. He showed us the scars of many

wounds, most of which he had inflicted on himself, when in

mourning for the death of his relatives and friends, by thrusting

arrows through the skin and a portion of the flesh of his arm. His

brother, at the same time, showed many scars which he had caused

by cutting out pieces from his body with a knife, on the same

occasions.

Several Omawhaws visited us on the 8th, and a party of three of

them, who were in possession of a keg of whiskey, invited our

hunter to accompany them, for the night, to "make his heart glad"

with a portion of its contents. The Omawhaws, Otoes, Missouries,

and Ioways are excessively attached to this destructive liquor.

On the 9th December, Lieutenant Swift, in company with Mr.

Pilcher[193] of the Missouri Fur Company, set out on a visit to

the Omawhaws. His course was first directed towards the Elk Horn

river, tributary to the Platte, and afterwards along the valley of

the former, to the Omawhaw encampment, which he reached at the

distance of about one hundred and twenty miles. The country over

which he travelled was almost entirely destitute of woodland; the

surface generally cut by numerous ravines; the soil for the most

part sandy, but in some instances enriched by a black loam. He

returned to camp on the 23d, his companion having purchased of the

Indians one hundred and thirty beaver skins, besides raccoon and

deer skins.