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Show 2 12 JUUHNAL OF A VOYAGI.:: Its app arancc from a distance, struck my mind w.ith the same effect as a fleet of the flat bottomed boats, wh1ch arc seen in the spring and fall seasons, descending the Ohio river. There are two churches, the magnificence of whose steeples forn1 a striking contrast to the miserable appearance of the houses. On the north side of the town is the square of soldiers houses, equal to 120 or 140 on each .flank. The public square is in the centre of the town . on the north side of which is situated the palace (as the te:·m it) or governn1ent house, with th: quarte:s for guards, &c. The other side of the square Is occupied by the clergy and public officers. In general the house~ have a shed before the front, some of which have a floormg of brick ; the consequence is, that the streets are ver~ na~· row, say in general 25 feet. The supposed populatiOn IS -1·,.'JOO souls. On our entering the town, the crowd was <Treat and followed us to the government house. When ~e dismounted we were ushered in through various rooms the floo;s of which were covered with skin of bufl~tl~, bear, or some other animal. W c waited in a chamber for some time, until his excellency appeared, when we rose, and the following conversation took place in French. Governor. Do you speak French? Pike. Yes sir. Governor. You con1e to reconnoitre our country. do you? Pike. I marched to reconnoitre our own. Governor. In what character are you ? . Pike. In my proper character, an officer of the Um· ted States army? Governor. And this Robinson, is he attached to your party? Pike. No. THROUGH 1"IIE TNTJ':RIOR PROVINCES, &c. 2 rs Governor. Do you know him? Pike. Yes, he is from St. Louis. [I had under .. stood the doctor was sent 15 leagues fron1 Santa Fe, un~ er a strong guard, a~d the haughty and unfriendly receptiOn of the governor Induced me to believe war 1nust have been decl~red, and that if it was known Dr. Robinson accomparued n:e, he. would be treated with great severity. I was correct m saymg he was not attached to my party, for he was only a volunteer, he could not properly be said to be one of my command. J Governor. IIow many n1en have you? Pike. Fifteen. Governor. And this R()hins()n makC's sixteen. Pike. I have already told your excellency that he does not ~elong to my party' and shall answer no more intcrrogatones on that subject. Governor. When did you leave St. Louis? Pike. 15th July. Governor. I think you n1arched in June. Pike. No, sir ! h' h Governor. Well! return with Mr. Bartholemew to JS ouse, and come here again at seven o'clock, and bring ~~ur papers; on which we returned to the house of my nc~d Bartholemew, who seemed lnuch hurt at the intcrv1ew. At the do f h F or 0 t e government house, I met the old rcnchman to h I 1 I . 07 h , ' w om 1ac gnren the scrap of paper on the ., t February H 1 d 1 fi . suppose h · · d · e 1a c t us In the 1norning' and as I ' urne m to make his report and I presume had presented this p h · ' a 1 k f aper to IS excellency. I demanded with oo o conte t 'f h h . he d mp ' 1 e ad made h1s report ? to which Ina e reply in an 1 bl l1imself b . lUin e tone, and b ·gan to excuse ho ' ~t I did not '''ait to hear his excuses. At the ur appomted we d r turne , when the governor demand- |
