Our baggage is all embarked on board six small canoes, and two peroqués; we shall set out at the same moment that we dispatch the barge. One, or perhaps both of these peroques, we shall leave at the falls of the Missouri, from whence we intend continuing our voyage in the canoes, and a peroque of skins, the frame of which was prepared at Harper's ferry. This peroque is now in a situation which will enable us to prepare it in the course of a few hours. As our vessels are now small, and the current of the river much more moderate, we calculate upon travelling at the rate of twenty or twenty-five miles per day, as far as the falls of the Missouri. Beyond this point, or the first range of rocky mountains, situated about one hundred miles further, any calculation with respect to our daily progress can be little more than bare conjecture. The circumstance of the Snake Indians possessing large quantities of horses is much in our favour, as by means of horses the transportation of our baggage will be rendered easy and expeditious over land, from the Missouri to the Columbia river. Should this river not prove navigable where we first meet with it, our present intention is, to continue our march by land down the river, until it becomes so, or to the Pacific ocean. The map, which has been forwarded to the secretary of war, will give you the idea we entertain of the connexion of these rivers, which has been formed from the corresponding testimony of a number of Indians, who have visited that country, and who have been separately and carefully examined on that subject; and we therefore think it entitled to some degree of confidence. Since our arrival at this place, we have subsisted principally on meat, with which our guns have supplied us amply, and have thus been enabled to reserve the parched meal, portable soup, and a considerable proportion of pork and flour, which we had intended for the more difficult parts of our voyage. If Indian information can be credited, the vast quantity of game with which the country abounds through which we are to pass, leaves us but little to apprehend from the want of food.

We do not calculate on completing our voyage within the present year, but expect to reach the Pacific ocean, and return as far as the head of the Missouri, or perhaps to this place, before winter. You may therefore expect me to meet you at Montachello in September, 1806. On our return we shall probably pass down the Yellow Stone river, which, from Indian information, waters one of the fairest portions of this continent.

I can see no material or probable obstruction to our progress, and entertain. therefore, the most sanguine hopes of complete success. As to myself, individually, I never enjoyed a more perfect state of good health than I have since we commenced our voyage. My inestimable friend and companion, captain Clark, has also enjoyed good health generally. At this moment every individual of the party is in good health and excellent spirits, zealously attached to the enterprise, and anxious to proceed; not a whisper of discontent or murmur is to be heard among them; but all in unison act with the most perfect harmony. With such men I have every thing to hope, and but little to fear.

Be so good as to present my most affectionate regard to all my friends, and be assured of the sincere and unalterable attachment of Your most obedient servant,

MERIWETHER LEWIS, Captain of the 1st United States regiment of infantry.

Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States.

A STATISTICAL VIEW OF THE INDIAN NATIONS, &c.

67

A Statistical View of the Indian Nations inhabiting the Territory of Louisiana, and the countries adjacent to its northern and western boundaries.

EXPLANATORY REFERENCES.

A. The names of the Indian nations as usually spelt and pronounced in the English language.

B. Primitive Indian names of nations and tribes, English orthography, the syllables producing the sounds by which the Indians themselves express the name of their respective nations.

C. Nick-names, or those which have generally obtained among the Canadian traders.

D. The language they speak; if primitive, marked with an * ; otherwise derived from, and approximating to it.

E. Number of villages.

F. Number of tents or lodges of the roving bands.

G. Number of warriors.

H. The probable number of souls.

I. The rivers on which they rove, or on which their villages are situated. J. The names of the nations or companies with whom they maintain their principal commerce or traffic.

K. The place at which their traffic is usually carried on."

L. The amount of merchandize necessary for their annual consumption, estimated in dollars at the St. Louis prices.

M. The estimated amount, in dollars, of their annual returns, at the St. Louis prices.

N. The species of peltries, furs, and other articles, which they annually supply or furnish.

O. The species of peltries, furs, and other articles, which the natural productions of their country would enable them to furnish, provided proper encouragement was given them.

P. The places at which it would be mutually advantageous to form the principal establishments, in order to supply the several Indian nations with merchandize.

Q. The names of the Indian nations with whom they are at war.

R. The names of the Indian nations with whom they maintain a friendly alliance, or with whom they are united by intercourse or marriage. S. Miscellaneous remarks.

NOTATIONS.

over a, denotes that a sounds as in caught, taught, &c.

▲ over a, denotes that it sounds as in dart, part, &c.

a without notation has its primitive sound, as in ray, hay, &c., except only when it is followed by r or w, in which case it sounds as a.

1.

set underneath denotes a small pause, the word being divided by it into two parts.

THE INDIAN TRADE.

The sums stated under and opposite "L." are the amounts of merchandize annually furnished the several nations of Indians, including all incidental expences of transportation, &c., incurred by the merchants, which

V

f

by

no

the

generally averages about one third of the whole amount. The merchandize is estimated at an advance of 125 per cent. on the sterling cost. It appears to me that the amount of merchandize which the Indians have been in the habit of receiving annually is the best standard by which to regulate the quantities necessary for them in the first instance; they will always consume as much merchandize as they can pay for, and those with whom a regular trade has been carried on have generally received that quantity. The amount of their returns stated under and opposite "M" are estimated by the peltry standard of St. Louis, which is forty cents per pound for deer skins; (i. e.) all furs and peltries are first reduced by their comparative value to pounds of merchantable deer skins, which are then esti mated at forty cents per pound.

These establishments are not mentioned as being thought important at present in a governmental point of view.

A. Grand Osâge.

B. Bar-har-cha.

C. Grand Zo.

D. *

E. Two.

F.

G. 1200.

H. 5000.

1. At the three forks of the Arkansas river, and eighty leagues up the Osage river, on the south side.

J. Merchants of St. Louis.

K. At their villages.

L. 15,000.

M. 20,000.

N. Principally skins of the small deer, black bear, some beaver, and a few otters, and racoons.

O. Small deer skins, black bear, and a much larger proportion of beaver, otter, racoon, and musk-rats.

P. About the three forks of the Arkansas river, six hundred miles from
its junction with the Missisippi.

Q. With all their Indian neighbours, except the Little Osage, until the
United States took possession of Louisiana.

R. With the Little Osage only.

S. Claim the country within the following limits, viz.: commencing at the mouth of a south branch of the Osage river, called Neangua, and with the same to its source, then southwardly to intersect the Arkansas about one hundred miles below the three forks of that river; thence up the principal branch of the same, to the confluence of a large northwardly branch of the same, lying a considerable distance west of the Great Saline, and with that stream nearly to its source; thence northwardly, towards the Kansas river, embracing the waters of the upper portion of the Osage river, and thence obliquely approaching the same to the beginning. The climate is delightful, and the soil fertile in the extreme. The face of the country is generally level, and well watered; the eastern part of the country is covered with a variety of excellent timber; the vestern and middle country high prairies. It embraces within its limits our salines, which are, in point of magnitude and excellence, unequalled any known in North America: there are also many others of less te. The principal part of the Great Osage have always resided at ir villages, on the Osage river, since they have been known to the

inhabitants of Louisiana. About three years since, nearly one half of this nation, headed by their chief, the Big-track, emigrated to the three forks of the Arkansas, near which, and on its north side, they established a village, where they now reside. The Little Osage formerly resided on the south-west side of the Missouri, near the mouth of Grand river; but being reduced by continual warfare with their neighbours, were compelled to seek the protection of the Great Osage, near whom they now reside. There is no doubt but their trade will increase: they could furnish a much larger quantity of beaver than they do. I think two villages, on the Osage river, might be prevailed on to remove to the Arkansas, and the Kansas, higher up the Missouri, and thus leave a sufficient scope of country for the Shawnees, Dillewars, Miames, and Kickapoos. The Osages cultivate corn, beans, &c.

A. Little Osâge.

B. Ood'-za-tâu.
C. Petit Zo.

D. Osâge.

E. One.

F.

G. 300.

H. 1300.

I. Near the Great Osages.

J. Merchants of St. Louis.

K. At their village.

L. 5000.

M. 8000.

N. The same as the Great Osages.

O. The same as the Great Osages.

P. The same as the Great Osages.

Q. With all their Indian neighbours, except the Great Osage.
R. With the Great Osage only.

S. See page 68, S.

A. Kanzas.

B. Kar'-sa.

C. Kah.

D. Osâge.

E. One.

F.

G. 300.

H. 1300.

I. Eighty leagues up the Kanzas river, on the north side.

J. Merchants of St. Louis.

K. On the Missouri above the mouth of the Kanzas river, not stationary,

and at their village.

L. 5000.

M. 8000.

N. The same as the Osage, with buffaloe grease and robes.

O. The same as the Osage.

P. On the north side of the Kansas river, at a bluff, one and a half miles from its confluence with the Missouri.

Q. With all nations within their reach.

R. They are sometimes at peace with the Ottoes and Missouris, with whom they are partially intermarried.

S. The limits of the country they claim is not known. The country in which they reside, and from thence to the Missouri, is a delightful one, and generally well watered and covered with excellent timber; they hunt on the upper part of Kansas and Arkansas rivers: their trade may be expected to increase with proper management. At present they are a dissolute, lawless banditti; frequently plunder their traders, and commit depredations on persons ascending and descending the Missouri river population rather increasing. These people, as well as the Great and Little Osages, are stationary, at their villages, from about the 15th of March to the 15th of May, and again from the 15th of August to the 15th of October: the balance of the year is appropriated in hunting They cultivate corn, &c.

A. Ottoes.

B. Wâd-doke-tâh-tâh.

C. La Zóto.

D. Missouri.

E. Ottoes and Missouris, one.

F.

G. 120.

H. 500.

I. South side of the river Platte, fifteen leagues from its mouth.

J. Merchants of St. Louis.

K. On the Missouri, below the river Platte; not stationary, and at their villages.

L. 4000, including the Missouris.

M. 8000, including the Missouris.

N. Principally deer skins, black bear, a greater proportion of beaver than the Osage, some, otter, and racoon.

O. Skins of the deer, black bear, beaver, otter, racoon, musk-rat, and wolves, buffaloe robes, tallow and grease, bears' oil, deer and elk tallow, elk skins dressed and in parchment, all in much larger quantities than they do at present.

P. The Council Bluff on the south-west side of the Missouri, fifty miles above the mouth of the river Platte.

Q. With the Mahas, Pon'cârs, Sioux, the Great and Little Osage, Kansas, and Loups.

R. With the Panis proper, Saukees, and Renars.

S. They have no idea of an exclusive possession of any country, nor do they assign themselves any limits. I do not believe that they would object to the introduction of any well disposed Indians: they treat the traders with respect and hospitality, generally. In their occupations of hunting and cultivation, they are the same with the Kansas and Osage. They hunt on the Saline and Nimmehaw rivers, and west of them in the plains. The country in which they hunt lies well; it is extremely fertile and well watered; that part of it which borders on the Nimmehaw and Missouri possesses a good portion of timber: population rather increasing. They have always resided near the place where their vil lage is situated, and are the descendants of the Missouris.