Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-11-24
On tbe M1sso,sri.


On the Missouri andiSs watesssare many
and numerous nations, the. best known OF
mhicL are The Osages, situated on the
river Of sam name on the right bank O. the
RIissouri, at about eighty leagues from It's
confluence whit: they consist OF one
thousand warriors, who livein two settie.
snents- AT no great dis lance from each other.
They are of a gigantic stature md well pro-
! portioned, are. enemies to the whites and OF
all other Indian nations, and commit de-
predictions from the Illinois 70 the Arkan-
zas. The trade Of this nation is said to be
under An exclusive grant. They are a Cruz
Ell aud feroeious race, and are hated and
feared by the other Indians. The conhu-
ence Of the Usage river with the Missouri
is about eighty leagues from the Missls-
siPpi.
Sixty leagues higher up the Missouri,
and the same bank, is the river kan2as,
and on It the nation Of the same name. but
at about seventy oreighty leagues from its
mouth. It consists Of about two hundred
and fifty warriors, who are as fierce as the
Osages, and often modest and il-treat those
who go to trad among them.
sSixtyleagues above the river Kanzas,
and about two hundred from the mouth of
the Missouri, still on the right bank, is the.
Rt0iiere Ptatte, or Shallow River, remarka-
bic for its quick-sands and bad navigation;
and near It's confluence with the Missouri
dwells the nation Of Octolactos, common
" called Otos, consisting of about two
hundred warriors, among whom are twenty
FIVE or thirty Of the nation of Missouri,
who took refuge among them about twenty
Ave years sig3ce.
Forty leagues up the Pioer Platte you
come 10 nation OF the Panis, composed
o OF about ven hundred warriors in four
neigaboring villages they hunt but Little,
and ara u provided with fire arms: they
often make war on the Spaniards in the
neighborhood OF Santa Fe, from which
they are not ar distant.
All tbFee hundred leagues from the Mis-
sissippi and one hundred from the Rl0cr
atge on the same bank are situated the
villages Of the Mahas They consisted IN
1899 Of five hundred warriors, but are said
70 have been almost cut of last year b. the
small box.
At fifty leagues above the Mahas and on
tie left bank OF the Missouri dwell the Pom
cas-, to the humber Of two hundred and fifty
warriors, possessing in common with the
Mahas their language, terocity, and vices.
Their trade has never been Of much value,
and those engaged in it are exposed to pill
lagc and i'll treatment.
At the distance of $50 leagues from the
Mississippi, and on the right bank Of the
Missouri, dwell the Africans to the number
of7O0 warriors, and 60 leagues above them,
the Mandane nation consisting of about
7oowarriors likewise. The two last ma
tons are well disposed to the whites, but
have been the victims Of the Sious, or the
Nandowessies, who being themselves wei
provided with fires arms, have on all oc-
Casions murdered them without mercy.
No discoveries on the Missouri, beyond
the Mandane nation, have been accurately
detailed, though the traders have been IN
formed, that many large navigable rivers
discharge their waters into it, far above it,
and that there are many numerous nations
settled on them,
The Sioux, or Mandawessies, who fre-
! quent the country between the north bank
Of the Missouri and Mississippi area great
npedimeattotrade and navigation. They
endeaEor to prevect all communication with
the nations dwelling high up the Missouri,
to deprive them of ammunition and arms,
and thus keep them slbservieat to them
selves In the winter they are chiefly on
the banks Of the Missouri, and massacre
all who tall into their hands.
There are a number of nations at a dis.
taEce from she banks of the Missouri, to
the north and south, concerning whom tnt