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Show 140 JOURNAL OP A VOYAG£ one of them, who owned a horse and had received a gun and other property for his hire, and told him, " I knew his plans, and that if he was disposed to desert, I should take care to r etain his horse ; that as for himself~ he might (cave me if he pleased, as I only wanted men \vith us." He replied, " that he was a man, that he always performed his promises, that he had never said he would r eturn, but that he would follow me to the Pawnee village, which he intended to do." l-Ie then brought his baggage and put it under charge of the sentinel, and slept by my fire; but notwithstanding I had him well watched. Killed one elk. Distance 10 miles. 22d September, M onday.-"'-r c did not march until eight o'clock, owing to the indi. position of lieutenant Wilkinson. At eleven waited to dine. Light mists of rain, with flying clouds. \V e nurcheJ again at three o'clock, and continued our route twelve 111iles to the first branch of the republican fork. Met a Pawnee hunter, who informed us that the chief had left the village the day after the doctor arrived, with 50 or 60 horses and many people, and had taken his course to the north of our route; consequently we had missed each other. l-Ie likewise informed that the 'Tetaus had recently killed six Pawnees, the Kans had stolen some horses, and that a party of 300 Spaniards had lately been as far as the Sabine; but for what purpose unknown. Distance 11 n1iles. 23d September, Tuesday.-Marched early and passed a large fork of the Kans river, which I suppose to be the one generally called Solomon's. One of our horses fell into the water and wet his load. I-Ialted at ten o'clock on a branch of this fork. We marched at half past one o'clock, and encamped at sun-down, on a stream where we had a great difficulty to find water. \ll.T e were over- TO TilE SOURCES OF THE ARKANSAvV, &c. 141 . taken by a Pawnee, who encamped with us. }Ie offered his horse for our usc. Distance 21 miles. 24th September, vVednesday.-We could not find our horses until late, when we marched. Before noon n1ct Frank (who had accompanied Dr. Robinson to the village) and three other Pawnees, who inforn1cd us that the chief and his party had only arrived at the village yesterday, and had dispatched them out in search of us. Defore three o clock we were joined by several l ·awnces : one of tlwm wore a scarlet coat, with a small medal of general vVashington, and a Spanish n1edal also. We encamped at sun-set on a midd~c sized branch, and were joined by several Pawnees in the evening , who brought us some buffalo meat. Here we saw son1e nltdcs, h orses, bridles and blankets, which they obtained of the Spaniards. Fe\ only had breech cloths, 1nost being wrapped in buffalo robes, otherwise quite naked. Distance 18 miles. 25th September, Tbursday,-W e marched at a good hour, and in about eight miles struck a very large road on which the Spanish troops returned and on which we could yet discover the grass beaten down in the direction which they went. \iVhcn we arrived within about three nulcs of thC' rillage, we were r equested to remain, as the ceremony of recci,,ing the Os:tge into the towns wa to be performed here. There was a small circular spot, clear of grass, before which the Osage sat down. W e were a small distance in ac.lvance of the Inc.lians. 'The P awnees then advanced to within a n1ile of uR, and hal ted, divided into two troops, and c~m' on each nank at full charge, making all the gestures and performing the 1nan~uvrcs of a real war charge. They then encircled us around, and the chief advanced in the centre and gcwe us his hand : his name was Caractfri.rb. lie wa<> accompanied by his two son |
