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Show . X'V). Life of trcL1Jtai1t Lewis. and mineral waters, noting the temperature or the last, anti auch tircurnstancrs as may indie.ate theit· character; "Volcanic appt~arance s; "Climate. as charal'te.riz~'d lly the thermometer, by the proportion or rainy. cloudy, and c•lcar days: lly lightning, hail. snow, ier; by fhe access and rec•ess of fr·ost; by tht \vinds 1w~vailing at diffi·rent s~asons; t h(' dates at which pal'· ticular plants put forth, ot• lose theit· flower or l~af; times of appParancc of p:.U'ticular bh·ds reptiles or insects. u Although your· route will be along the cl1anncl uf the 1\lissouri, yet you will endeavout• to inform yourself. by in- . quil·y, of the character and extent of tlu~ country watered by its branches. and especially oft its south~rn side. 'rhe North l'iver, ot· Rio B1·avo. which runs into the gulf of Mexico, and the Not·th t'ivet·, or Rio Colot·ado. which t·uns into the gulf of California., arc understootl to IJe the lH'incipal streams beading opposite to the waters of the Missouri, and runnin~ southwardly. 'Vhether the dividin' grounds betw~en the l\1.issouri and them at·e mountains or flat lands, what at'e their distance from the Missout·i, the character of the intermediate country. and the people inha· biting it. ar·r wol'thy of pal'ticular inquiry. 1'hc northcru. wa1f'rs of the l\lissouri al'e less to he inqnit·rd after, hecause thry have been ascertained to a considet·ablc degree, anu arc stili in a course of ascet•tainnwnt by En!-;lish traders anti tra,'ellers~ but if you can lca1·n any thing cct·tain of the most northH'D source ol' the ~1.issisipi. and of its position rela· tivt•lv to the Lake of the \Voods, it will be interesting to us. Som~ account too of the path of the Canadian traders from tllt' l\li~sisipi, at the mouth of the Ouisconsing to whet·~ it str·ikes f lae l\1issout·i, and of the soil and rivers in its coUl'se, is desil·able. '"In all your intercourse with the natives, treat them in the most fl'icndly and conciliatot·y mannm· which their oWR eontlutt will admit; allh.y all jealousies as to the ol,jcct of your journey; satisfy them of its innocence; make t~cm ae· Life oj Captain Lewis. xvii ttuainted with tl1e position, extt-nt. character, 1waceable and commercial dh posit ions or the U nitt·d States; of ou•· wish to be n<'ighbnurly . fr·irndly, and ust•ful to them, and of our dh. positions 1o a comnwrciuJ intt.•rcourse with them; confer \fith ttl<'m on 1he points most con,·enient ns mutual rmpot·iums, and thr articles of most drsit·ahl<' inter·change for them noel us. If a few of thch· influl'ntial chit~f~:~, within practicable di sfan('c. wish to visit us. ar·•·a.ng<' sueh a visit wi1h them, and furnish them with authot·ity to call on our officers on their· ent<'r·ing the Unitecl Stales. to have th!'m conveyed to this pla<'e at the puhlic l'Xpcnse. If any of them shouhl wish to ~~~,· c some of tlwir· young people b1·ought up with us. and taught such ar·ts as may IJe usf•ful to them, we will receive, in str·u<'t, and take car·~ of tht•m. Such a mission. whether of influential chit>fs, or of young people. would give some sf'cur·ity to your own par·ty. Carr·y with you some matter of the kine-pox; infor·m those of them with whom you may be of its ~fth·acy as a preservative from the small-pox, and instl'ur t and +·n(•ourage them in the usc of it. This may be CS}leeiaJly done wh<'revf' t· you wiutcr. •' As it is impossilJ1t· for us to for·est•e in wlJat manneryou will he reN·ivt·d hy those pt•ople . \\hctht>r with hsspitality or hostility. so is it impossiiJlt• to pr·r sC' t·ihc 1 he cxaet degree of' p«>r·seveJ•ancr \\i1h \\ hich you ar·e to JHII'Sll~ your joul'ncy. \\'e ' 'ttlue too mtu•h II!<' lin·s of ritiz(·ns to otft·r tht'm to prohah1tt dt'sh·uc· tion. You r· nunlf><•t·s will be suffi<·icnt to secut ·e you against the unauthor·ized opposition or individuals~ 01' Of small parties; IJut if a SUJlt'f'iOl' for·N~ . autJaor·iz<·tl, 01.' not author·izctl, hy a nation, should he al'l'a~'cd a.~ainst your fut·th •r• pas~agt>. and inlll'.xihly deter·mincd to atTest it, yon must dc·••liuc its furthc1· pur·suit auc.li·ctur·n. Jn the loss of youPselves we slw ul(l Jose also tue inf01·mation you wiJlllavc aequh·ctl. Dy r e tlll·ning saft·ly with that, JOU may enable us to t·enf'w the essay with !Jetter calculated means. ,..ro youl' OWn discretion, lhf'l'Cf'Ol'f' , must be lt~ ft the degl'Ct' of dangel' ~ ou tnay l'i sk, aud the point at "hich ) ou should decline, (.! |