The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-07-16
NEw-ORLsAN., Iune %.
LEXINGTON, tK.) JuNE ls.

tnfrnarv or diicovcry, under the command
ct CAPTAINS Lewis and Clark, left the mouth of
the Miiiouri on the 18th day Of Nav, 1901.
An exprcfs with difpatches from their winter
quarters which left them the l4th ApriI. has re-
turned to st. Louis. By the exprefs, letters
were received from Capt. Clark hv his correc.
oondents IN kcntuckv. A gentleman from Jef-
ferfon county, has oblyingly favouret the E,ii-
tor OF the Kentucky Gazette with the following
account, which he obtained from one of the
men who returned with the exprefs. ard from
letters from Tome of the party. They fortified
themirlves in November laft. on the hank of the
Minnuri, 1909 miles from the mouth by actual
meat,irernent, IN latitude 81, 81. North: called
their Fort Mundane, after a nation of Indians
who rehde in the neighbourhood and who have
been very friendly to them. On their pafIaee
M, they were delighted with the beautiful an
pearance of the country for about 200 leagues
| or TO the mouth Of the river LIE Plate. which
comes from the South; after which 70 their
winter quarters it isiefcribe:i not 70 he 70 fer
tile The PERRIN who brought the dispatches,
'neaks of the op'nirg made nv the river, being
| about one mile wide with high cliffs ON each
ii'e.--'The bed Of the river occupies about
fourth part OF it, the remainder of the bottom
entirely coirpoitii ~ coarfe land, covered with
cotton wood. This bottom is continually Civ
| ing way either on one fide or the other, and
| gaining on1the orpofits iide. The cliffs in fome
places are covered with red cedar, which with
the cotton wood ,and few fma black ain trees,
's the only tir'hti defcribed to be in that coun-
try. From the height, there is not tree or
| tw'g tn he feen, as far as the fight can extend,
nr as they have explored. Out from the river
the land goes ofFlperfedly level, with but few
exceptions-and fheir plains are covered with
! %rafs. They pai'td the mouths of number of
firearms, the moi of which had names given by
the French-One they have named Floyd's ri
yer, TO perpetuate the name of a young man of
their party named Charles Floyd, who died
much regretted on the goth Augnt. They re-
prefent the Indian, to have been friendly, with
hat few exceptions. The Sioux are the mott
numerous, are organized in bands bearing diff
ferent names, move about from place to place,
from the banks of the river out to the plains, in
purfuit of game .snd plumber, having no fixed
place of refdence, and in continual fate of
! warfare. Theie were the mof troublefome In
dams to the party of difcoverv, as they exprefI-
ed jealouiy, leaf they wouId fupplv their e
nemies higher up with arms, sc. The higher
up they went the more friendly they found the
favages, and the better armed. They have
more regular trade with the North Wet COM
pany, and the Hudfon Bay company: which
fupples come TO them by the way of Lake
Winnepeck. The Mandanes cultivate corn.
which is of a fmall kind, from whomthe party
was inpp'ied durin. tire winter, and their hunt
ers kc,,t them in abundance of meat
Bufaloes are faid 70 be in great numbers. and
of large 6ze-two dsfcrptions of deer are def.
| cribed thofe refembline the common kind cf
this country being larger, and the tails 8 inch
es long and the hair much longer on their bo.
| dies; the other kind having black tail. Elks
and goats are numerous. The groufe, or prairie
hen, are in plenty; and before the clofinp of
the river in the fall, water fowls in abundance.
FIJI, fcarce, & thofe principally of the cat kind.
Some of the white bear-fkins, had been brought
&c The fort by WHITING Indians from higher m
but the party had feen none of thofe animals.
The Indians keep horfes, which are ufed entire
ly for the chafe. and in war.
From fuch information as they have received
of the country above there, it is about 500 miles
TO the great falls, which are made nv ledge of
mountains, called the Rocky Mountains. in
which it is prefnmed the MifIouri terminates.
At their winter quarters the river is nearly
quarter of mile wide; is equally as muddv
as at its mouth, and has continued its ranid;tv
with very little alteration, as high as they have
gone, though il has become confiderably more
| lhallow, 70 that they viii not be allie 10 take
their large barge any higher. From wha, in
formation they have obtained of the courfe of
| the upper part of the river, they are at the
Northwardlv art--from where they wit, red
| to the falls, is nearIva South courfc. The def.
cription given by M'Kepzie of the head waters
! Of the river, Is accurate.
| Thew hive fent on TO the preident of the IT.
nited States, an accurate journal, with man
of tte country through which they pa1ed.
| Six of the party were fem back-the party
now confifs of % men, executive of the two of
! ficers. They have erioyed psrfed heaItll-not
one having been fick, except the unfortunate
Young man before mentioned, ard he was taken
OF in few hours with cr9plp in his ftomach.
| The greatea friend1hip has ozifted with the rar
| ty (; and the men who have ftturned, fpeak in
the highef terms Of the huminity, and uncom-
mon pains and attention of both the Captains,
Lewis and Clark, towards the whole Of them I.
and that they lief, them in good fpirifs, fully con-
WINGED that they wou'd winter on the Pacific
! Ocean.
| They were told Of tx nations of Indians they
would have 10 pats, before they would arrive
at the falls. from only one of which, thev appre.
heDded any difficulty-they are called the Snake
/ tribe, and reiide high up.
| Curiofities Of different kiBds--live beats.
birds, feverll boxes of minerals, pair Of un-
common rams horns, from the Rocky Noun
tains, fcions of new difcovcred berry, called
the bufFaIoe berry, &c. have been brought on
by the returned party, and depohted with the
commanding officer at 81. Louis, TO be fent bv
him to the PreGdcnt.
We exped IN few ,davs further particulars
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