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Show 46 APPENDIX TO PAH f 11. come to opep the road, but that in the spring his superior would be here, and teach the Indians what w::ts good fot· them ; an<l that they would build a town n car them. In short, it appears to me to have been an expedition expressly for the purpose of striking a dread into those different nations of the Spanish power, and to bring about a gcne1·al combination in their favor. Under these impressions, I have taken the eal'liest opportunity t)f reporting the infringement of our territory, in order that our government may not remain in the dark, as to the views of her neighbor. l effected a meeting at this place, between a few Kans and Osages, who smoked the pipe of peace and buried the hatchet, agreeably to the wishes of their grcnt father; in consequence of which a Kans has marched for the Osage n ation, and some of the latter p1·opose to accompany the formet· to their village; whether this good understanding will be permanent, I will not take on me to determine; but at least, a temporary good effect has succeeded. From the Osage towns, I have taken the courses and distances, by the route we came, marking each rivel'OI' rivulet we crossed, pointing out the dividing riu gcs, &c. The wa· ters which we cros~cd, were the head of the Osage, 'Vhite, and Verdi grise rivers, ( br<mches of the Arkansaw) and the waters of the Kans rive1·. The latitude of this place, I presume, will be in about 39° 30' N. and I hope to obtain every othe1' astronomical obser· vation, which will be requisite to fix its geographical situation beym1d clispute . I expect to march from h*re in a few <lays, but the future prospects of the voyage e.re euti rely uncertain, us the sa\'agcs strive to throw every impediment in our way, agreeably to the OJ'· clers received from the Spaniards. Being seated on the ground, and writing on the back of a book, I hope \r ill plead my excnc;e for this scrawl. I am, sir, 'Vith high respect, Your obedient servant, (Signed) z. l\1. PIRF, L t. T!Je hrm. llenry D ('arborn, Secretary war department. . ·- APPENDIX TO PART II. 47 [ No. 14. J Pawnee R ejtublic, 2cl Oct. 1806\ DEAR GENERAL, INCLOSED you have a copy of my lette1· from this place, to the sec1·etary of war, in ot·der, that should you think any communication on the contents necessary, you may have a perfect command of the information given the war department, and will be the more capable of illustrating the subject. You will pct·ceive by said communication, that we were led considerably out of ou1· course by our guides, and in my opinion not less than 100 miles; this was entirely owing to the j)usillanimity of the Osage, who were more afraid of the Kans, than I could possibly have imagined. You will likewise pe1·ceive the council which took place between those nations (under our auspices~ and its effects, but which I candidly confess, I have very little hopes will be productive of a permanent peace, as none of the principal men of either nation were present ; but as both are anxious lor a cessation of hostiliti-es perhaps it may have the desired effect. Two of the Kans chiefs have said they will pursue the voyage with me agreeably to my orders; I do not yet know whether they will descend the Arkan::saw with Iieut. Wilkinson, or continue on to Red river with me, but they have their own selection. The general will no doubt be struck with some surpl'ize, to perceive that so large a party of Spanish troops have been so lately in out· territory ; no doubt at first you would conclude that it must have been militia; but when informed that their infantry was armed with muskets and bayonet~, and had dl'Ums ; that the men wore long mustaches and whisker·s, which almost covered the whole of theiL' faces; their cavalry armed with swords and pistols, and that regular guards and patl'Oles were kept by horse and foot, you may probably change your· opinion. The route by which they came, and retumcd, was hy no means the direct one from Santa Fe, and why they shoultl have struck so low down as the Gt·and Saline, unless they had an idea of stt·iking at the village of the Gmnd P est: o1· cooceived the Saline in their· territory, I cannot imagine. On our an·ival here, wo were recei,,cd with great pomp ana cet·emony, l>y about 300 men on horseback, and with g1·eat upp~rc nt friendship by the chief. The Osage (one chief and fi.mr w<~niors~· 1 ~ |