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Show 10! JOUH~ A L Of A VOYAGE dian's intoxication at this place, for they were all drunk. They had stoleu a horse from the establishment, anJ ofirrcd to bring him back for liquor, but laughed at them when ofFered a blanket and powder. Passed two canoes and two barges. At the establishment received two letters from Mrs. Pike, took with us corporal },ddy and the other soldier whom capt. Many hatl left. Rowed with four oars all night. A citizen took passage with me. 28th April, Monday.-In the morning passed a wintering ground , wh re fron1 appearance, there must have been at least seven or eight different establishments. At 12 o'clock arrived at the Fnmch house, mentioned in our yoyage up, about the 16th of August. Here we landed our citizen, his name was , and he belonged to the settlement on Copper river. He informed me there were about 25 families in the settlement. Stopped at some islands about 10 miles above Salt river, where there were pidgeon roosts, and in about fifteen minutes my men had knocked on the head and brought on board 298. I had frequently heard of the fecundity of this bird, but never gave credit to what l then thought inclined to the marvellous ; but really the most fervid imagination cannot conceive their numbers. Their noise in the woods was like the continued roaring of the wind, and the ground may be said to have been absolutely covered with their cxc1·ement. 'The young ones which we killed were nearly as large as the old, they could fly about ten steps, and were one mass of fat ; their craws were filled with acorns and the wild pea. They were still reposing on their nests, which were merely small bunches of sticks joined, with which all the small trees were covered. Met four canoes of the Sacs, with wicker baskets filled with young pidgeons. They made motions to exchange them for liquor, to which 1 returned the back of my hand. Indeed those scoundrel'> had become so insolent through the instigation of TO THE SOURCES OF THE MTSSISSIPPI. 10 j the traders, that nothing but the lenity of our government and humanity for the poor devils, could have rest r::tined me on my descent from carrying some of their towns by surprize, which I was de!termined to have done had the information of their firing on capt. Many proved to have been correct. Put into the mouth of Salt river to cook supper, after which although raining, we put off and set our watches, but so violent a gale and thunder storm came on about 12 o'clock, that we put ashore; discovered that one of 1ny sleigh dogs was missing. 29tb April, Tuesday.-In the morning still rammg, and wind up the river, hoisted sail, and returned to the mouth of the river; but neither here nor on the shore could we find my dog ; this was no little n1ortification, as it broke the match, whose important services I had already experienced, after having brought them so near home. We continued on until 1.2 o'clock, when it ceased raining for a little time, and we put ashore for breakfast. R owed till sun-down, when I set the watch. Night fine and mild. 30th April, vVednesday.-By day light found ourselves at the Portage de Sioux. I here landed captain Many's two men, and ordered them across by land to the cantonment. As I had never seen the village, I walked up and through it ; there arc not more than twenty-one houses, at furthest, which arc built of square logs. Met lieut. Hughes, about four miles above St. Louis with more than twenty Osage prisoners, conveying then1 to the cantonment on the Missouri; he infonned n1e my fi-iends were all well. Arrived about 12 o'clock at the rown, after an absence of eight months and twenty two days. (Signed) z. M. PrKE, Lieut. 0 |
