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Show xsviii Contents. · h f' th 't.sso\tri Captain Clarke with the main bo1ly ~till d1scover t c sourtc o t ~· · • . . , 1 d · d' g tll.e Missouri or Jeffet·son river. Captam Lew1s s RC· ernp oye 10 ascen 111 • • • cond intcniew with the Shoshonecs attcntled with success. Tl•c mtcrcstmg reremonies of his first introduction to the natives, detail ell at large. The\1· hospitality. Their mode of hunting the antelope. The difficulties encou.n~erell by captain Clarke and the main body in ascending the riYer. The BUSl)ICIOns ~ntcrtained of cartain Lewis by the Shoshonees, and his mode of allaymlj them. The ravenous np}Jetites of the savages illustrated by a singular adventUre. The Indians still jenlous, and the great pains taken by captain Lewis lo P reserve their confidence. Captain Clarke arrives with the main body .354 f!Xhaustcd by the diffiualties which they underwent. CHAPTER XV. Affecting interview between the wife of Chabonenu and the chief of the Sho· ~honees. Council held with tltat nation, and f:wournble 1·esult. The extl'cme naYigable point of the Missouri mentioned. General ch:u-acter of the river nnd of the countrv tlJrOU"'h which it passes. Captain Clarke in exploring tl•e .. , .. t> l>Ource of tl1e Columbia falls in company with another party of Shoshonees. The gcog1·aphic:.tl inf01·mat.ion acquired ft·om one of that party. Their man· ncr of catching fi sh. The l)arty reach Lewis ri\·cr. The difficulties which captain Clarke had to encounter in his route. l~ricndship and hospitality cf the Shoshont:es. The party with captain Lewis employed in making saddles, ~81 nnd prCl)aring for the journey. ..., CIIAPTE'.R XVI. Contest between Drewyer nod a Shoshonce. The fidelity and honour of th::~t 1ribe. The party set out on their journey. The conduct of Cameahwait reproved, and himself reconcilcrl. The easy llarturition of the Shoshonce women. History of this nation. Their terror of the Pawkees. Their goYCI'II· mcnt :mu family economy in their treatment of thcil· "omen. Their com· 'fll:unts of Spanish treachery. Description of the it· wen pons of warfare. Their curious mode of making a shielu. The caparison of t hl'ir horses. The dress of the men and of the women llarticularly describe!]. Th~.:ir mode of nc- 40\,· quiring new namcll. CIIAl'TER XYII. 'l'he party, after 1woeuring l10rscs !rom the Shoshonces, pt·occeti on their Journey throush the mountains. The difliculties and d:mgers of the route. A cnuneil held with another band of the Shoshonecs, of whom some account is gi•en. 'they are rcduceu to the necessity of killing their l10rses for food. Cnptain Clarke with a small varty pt·ecedcs the main body in quest of food, ~dis hospitably receh·cd by the Pierced-nose Indians. Arrival of the main \ody amongst this tribe, with whom a council is held. They resolve to pet·· form the remainrler of their journey in canoes. Sickness of the t>arty. They descend the Kooskooskce to its junction 'vith Lewis ri\'ct·, after passing seve ·ral dangerous r:tpids. Short description of tbe manners and dress of the riereell-nose lndi:.ms. 435 LE,VIS AND CLARKE'S EXPEDITION lJP THE MISSOURI . CHAP. I. The party set out on the expedition and pass \Vood r iver-Descriptio& of the town of ~t. Charles-Osage Woman 1·iver-Gasconadc and 05agc Rivers decribed- Character of the Osage Indians-Curious traditionary account of their Origin-The party proceed and pass the Mine rivet-The two CharitonSr- The Kanzas, Nodawa, Newahaw, Neeshnabatona, Little Nemahar, each of which sre particularly desc1·ibed-They encamp at ,the mouth of the riv~r J>latte-:\. pa1·ticu\ar desc1·iption of the surrounding country-The varioUJ Creeks, Bays, Islands, Prairies, &c. givc'n in the course of the route. ON the acquisition of Louisiana, in the year i803, the attention of the government of the United States, was early directed towHrds exploring and improving the new territory. Acco1·dingly in the summer of the same yea.r, an expt'ditiou wa~ I,lanned by the president for tltc purpose of (liscoTering the courses and sources of the l\Iissouri, and the most convenient water communication thence to the Pacific ocean. His private sccrdary captain 1\-leriwcther Lewis, and captain 'Villiam Clarke. both officers of the army of the United States, ~were associated in the command of tJ1is enterpl'izc. After receiving the requisite instructions, captain Lewis left the scat of government, and being joined by (•aptain Clarke at Louisville, in Kentucky, proccClled to St. Louis, where they arrived in the month of December. Their ot•riginal intention wa~ to pass the winter at La Charrette, VOL. I. n |