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Show JOUH.NAL 01· A Vl)YAGE march ., by which I had some flankers on .b oth sides. of the river, who were excellent guards agamst surpn~e, 1 hey abo served as hunters. \¥ e had but one racoon ktl-lcd by alL Distance 20 miles. . 9th Ort. Trcdncsday-Embarked early ; w1nd ahead ; barrens and prairie. Killed one deer and four pheasants. Distance 3 miles. lOth Oct. Thursday-Came to large islands and str~ng water early in the morning. Pa<ssed the place at wh1ch Mr. Reinville and Mons. Perlier, wintered in 1797; passed a cluster of islcmJs, more than 20 in :he cour ·:of t;,n1r miles ; these I called Beaver islanus, fr01n the m1- mense sjgn of those animals, for they have dams on eYcry ishmd and roads fi·om them every two or three rod. l would here attempt a description of this wonderful ~mimal, and its admirable system of architecture, was not the subject already exhausted, by the numerous travcl~ers who have written on this subject. Encamped at the foot of the Grand Rapids. Killed two geese, five ducks, and four pheasants. Distance 16 1-2 miles. 11 tb Oct. Friday-Both boats passed the worst of the rapids, by 11 o'clock, but we were obliged to wade and lift them over rocks, where there was not a foot of water, when at times the next step would be in water over our heads. In conscqu •nee of this, our boats were frequently in imminent danger of being bilged on the rocks. About 5 miles above the rapids, our large boat was discovered to leak so fast, as to re1,1dcr it necessary to unload her, which we did. Stopped the leak and reloaded. Ncar a war encampnwnt, I found a painted buckskin and a piece of scarlet clPth, suspendetl by the liu1b of a tree ; this 1 ~upposcd to be a sacrifice to Matcho Maniton, to render their enterprize ~ucccssful; but I took the liberty of invading the rights of hi~ diabolical majesty, by treating them, as the priests of old have often done, that is, con- TO THE SOURCES OF TllE MISSISSII)PI. verting the sacrifice to my own use. Killed only two ducks. Distance eight miles. 12th October, Saturday.-IIard ripples in the morning. Passed a narrow rocky place, after which we had good water. Our large boat again sprung a leak, and we were obliged again to encamp early and unload. Killed one deer, one wolf, two geese and two ducks. Distance 12 1-2 miles. 13t/; OctobPr, Sunday.-Einbarked early and can1e on well. Pas ed a handson1e little river on the cast, which we named Clear river; water good. Killed one deer, one beaver, two minks, two g esc, and one duck. Fair wind. Discovered the first buft~·llo sign. Distance 29 tniles. l 4th October, Monday.-Ripples a considerable way. My hunters killed three deer, four geese, and two porcupines. When hunting, discovered a trail, which I supposed to have been made by the savages. I followed it with much precaution, and at length started a large bear feeding on the carcase of a deer : he soon made his escape. Y esterdar we came to the first timbered land above the fall . Made the first discovery of bear since we left St. Louis, excepting what we saw three 1niles below St. Peters. Distance 1 7 miles. 15th October, Tueulay.-Ripplcs all day. In the morning the large boat came up, and I on~e n1ore got my party together ; they had been detained by taking in the game. Yesterday and this day passed sotne skirt of good land, well timbered, swamps of he1nlock and white pine. Water very hard. The river became shallow and full of islands. V\T e ~ncamped on a beautiful point, on the west, below a fall of the river over a bed of rocks through which we had two narrow shoots to n1ake ou1: way the ~:~t day. Killed two deer, five ducks, and two geese. l hzs day'~ marrh tnade n1e think seriously of our winter .. .1! |
