The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-08-29 00:00:00

TM? 05.16 E INDIAN,".

I,I:XINGTON (gENTI:C • 11 Jl'Ng 12.
On Saturday eveling last twelve deputed
front the Osage nation of Indians, and two boys,
arrived in this town, on their way to Cie city of
Washington, on a e:sit to the President of the
United States. It is sail, the o',jeslt of their visit
is to enter into a treaty with the United States, with
whom they are desirous to he on friendly terms.
Their towns are situx.ed upwards of five hundred
miles up the Missouri, on the Osage river. The
tribe consists of about fifteen hundreSwarriors, who
live in two settlements, at no great distance from
each other. They as.: of a gigantic stature, being
all (the men) above six feet in height, and well pro-
portioned. They arc rep:esented as a ferocious
people, who wish to be at war with all the other
tribes of Indians. On their passage down the Mis-
souri, five of their party were killed by the Sacquias
and Renard tribe of Indians. Several others re-
turned from St. Louis, having fallen sick.
M. Chouteau, a French gentleman of the first
respeßability, and a citizen of Loui-iana, and who
I: fora number of years had the exelwive privilege
of trading with the Usages, has been induced by
Captain Lewis to accompany them. There are
also in company several young French gentlemen,
who intend applying to be admitted into the Military
Academy.
The party left St. Louis the I 7th ultiMo ; at
which time Captains Lewis and Clarke were there,
and would leave it the 19:11, on their tour to ex-
plore Louisiana. 'Three men, who had been for
three years hunting in that country, and whose
knowledge of the different tribes of Indians extended
a considerable distance, have been engaged to go
with Captain Lewis as guides. Thos.: hunters re-
late, that, during their excursions, they saw an In-
dian woman, who had been taken a prisoner from
a nation who live on the shores of the Pacific
Ocean.

M. Chouteau carries with him to the President,
a toad or frog, of a very curious species—its form
is that of a land. tortoise, very Ist, covered with
scales, of a dark grey colour, a short tail, and a
bead formed like that of a buffalo, and is orna-
mented wi,h six horns : it lived four months in the
possession of M. Chouteau, without taking any other
nourishment than a little water, which was given it
from time to time.
This species of frog is frequently found in the
prairies within the territory of the Osage nation.
fhey live in association with a species of ground
squirrel, and a species of snake. Those assocratiuns
occupy an area of from one to two acres of ground :
from the surface are a number of holes, wh eft com-
municate with their subterranean bah tations. It
is kept free from dust or grass by the squirrels, who
brush it with their tails; the• are of a brown co-
lour, slender made, and very aaive. They fre-
quently play among themselves, on the surface.
keeping centinels. As soon as any person appears,
the watch gives the signal, and they all instantly
disappear. The snakes do not move until they prr-
ceive the objea themselves. The frogs. being of
a slow, indolent disposition, are easily taken.