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Show lu-2 JOUH~AL OF A VOYAGl·: men into four watches and put off, wind a-head. Obscn' .. cd for the first time the half formed leav~s on the trees. 2-1·tb April, '[bursday.-Iu the n:ornmg used. our oars until 1 o 0 'clock, and then floated while breakfa tmg. At this time two barges, one bark, and two wooden, canoes passed us under full sail ; by one of which I sent ba:k a letter to Mr. Dubuque, that I had forgotten to dehver. Stopped at dark to cook supper, after which, rowed under the windward shor expecting we could make head way with four oars · but were blown on the lee shor in a few ' . moment , when all hands were summoned, and we agam with difficulty made to windward, came too, placed one sentry on my bow, and all hands beside went to sleep. It rained, and before n1orning, the water overflowed my bed in the bottom of the boat, having no cover, or any extra , accommodations, as it might have retarded n1y voyage. The wind very hard a-head. 25tb April, Friday.-Obiiged to unship our mast to prevent its rolling overboard with the swell. Pas5ed the first Reynard village at 1 2 o'clock, counted l 8 lodges. Stopped at the prairie in descending on the left, about the middle of the rapids, where there is a beautiful cove or harbor. There were three lodges of Indians here, but none of them came near us. Shortly after we had left this, observed a barge under sail, with the United Stat:s flag, which upon our being seen put to shore on the B1g Island, about three miles above Stony river, where I also landed ; it proved to be capt. Many of the artillerists, who was in search of smne Osage prisoners amongst the Sacs and Rcynards. lie informed me that at the village of Stony Point, the Indians evinced a strong disposition to commit hostiliti s; that he was met at the mouth of the river by an old Indian, who said that all the inhabitants of the vi llage were in a state of intoxication, and advi cd (. . him to go up alone. This advice however he had re_1ect- TO THE SOUH.CES Ol· THE l\IrSSlSSI PPJ. I o.; l'<l. That when they arrived there, they were , aluted by the appellation of the bloody Americans who had killed such a person's father, and such a pcr~mn's mother, brother, &c. The women carried off the guns and other arms, and concealed them. That he then crossed the river opposite to the village, and was followed by a number of Indians, with pistols und 'r their blankets. That they would listen to no conference whatever, 1~elating to the delivery of the prisoners; but demanded msolcntly why he wore a plume in his hat ; an_d decl~red that they looked on it as a mark of war, and Immediate] y decm·ated themselves with their raven's feathers, worn only in cases of hostility. We regretted that our orders would not permit of our punishing the scoundrels, as by a coup de main we might easily have carried the village. Gave capt. Many a note of introduction to Messrs. Campbell, Fisher, Wilmot, and Dubuque, and every information in my power. We sat up late conversing. 26th April, Saturday.-Capt. Many and myself took breakfast and embarked; wind directly a-head, and a most tremendous swell to combat, which has existed ever since we left the prairie. Capt. Many under full sail : descended by all the sinuosity of the shore to avoid the strength of the wind and force of the waves. Indeed I was confident I could sail 1nuch faster up than we could possibly make down. Encamped on Grant's prairie, where we had encamped on the 25th August when ascending. There was one Indian and family present, to whom I gave some corn. 27th April, Sunday.-lt cleared off during the night. We embarked early and came from eight or ten league~ above the river Iowa, to the establishment at the lower Sac village1 by sundown, a distance of nearly 48leagues. Here I met with Messrs. Maxwell and Blondeau; took the deposition of the former, on the subject of the In- |
