Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-03-26

streams of it, as. by Its course and commu.
nication with the waters of the Pacific O.
cean, whether the Columbia, OreKan, Colo,
RADIO. or any other river, may offer the most
direct and practicable water-communicatio
across the continent, for the purposes Of
commerce.
Beginning at the mouth of the Missouri,
you WIN take observations of latitude and lon
gitude, at all remarkable points on the river.
especially at the mouths Of rivers, at rapids,
at islands, and other places and objects distin.
guisiSd by such natural marks and characters.
OF darable Kind, as that they may with GER
tsinty be recognized hereafter. The courses Of
the river between these points of observation
may ne supplied by the compass, the log.line,
ana by time corrected. by the observations
themselves. The variations of the needle, too,
IN d;fierenrpiaces, should be noticed
" Ebe interesting poir;s Of the portage be-
tween the.heads OF the Missouri, and Of the
water Offering the best communicat on with the
racine ocean, should also be fixed by observa-
ton and the course of that water to the ocean
III the same manner as that Of the Missouri.
-FOUR observations are to be taken with great
pains and accuracy /; to be entered distinctly
and inseiiigibly for others as wei rs yourself;
TO comprehend ali the elements necessary, with
the aid OF the usual tables, to iix the latitude
and Longitude of the places at which they were
nee, Tor the purpose of having the calculations
made concurrcnty by proper persons within
the United States. Several copies Of these, as
we'll as other notes, should be made at leisure
times, and put into the care of the most trust
worthy OF our attendants to guard, by multi.
Piy,hs them, against the accidental losses to
which they will be exposed "A further guard
would he, that one OF these copies be on the
cnticular membrance, of the paper-birch, as
less liable to injury from damp than common
paper.
:. The commerce which may be carried on
with the peor.c inhabiting the line you will
Pursne, renders a knowledge of these people
Important You viii therefore enleavour to
make yourself acquainted, as far as diIigens
pursuit OF your journey shall admit, with the
names of the nations and their numbers:
{" The extent and limits of their possessia
ons
Their relations with other tribes or natl
ons
Their Observation-Disclosures
!" Their ordinary occupations in agriculture,
fishing, hunting, war, arts, and implements for
these;
:. Their food, clothing, and domestic accom-
modations:
:" The diseases prevalent among them, and
tho remedies they use;
- Moral and physical circumstances which
distinguish them from the tribes VIC know
fecu'larities IN their laws, customs and
| dispositions
And articles of commerce they may need
| or furnish and to what extent
Aud, considering the interest which every
nation has ia extending and strengthening The
au hority otreason and justice among the peo-
pie around them, it will be useful to acquire
what knowledge you can of the state of morali-
! ty, religion, and information among them; IS
| it may better enable those who may endeavor
| to civilize aud instruct them, to adapt mea-
! sures to the existing notions and practices of
those ON whom they are TO operate.
Other objects worthy of notice will be-
The soil and face ofthe country, its growth
and vegetable productions, especially those not
OF the United States /;
"The remains and accounts of any which
! may be deemed rare or extnctt
Ihe mineral productions of every kind, but
more particularly metals, lime stone, pit coal,
and saitpetre salnes aid mineral waters, no.
ting the temperature of the LIST, and such
circumstances as may indicate their character
volcanic appearances
Climate, as characterized by the thernome.
ter, by the proportion of rainy, cloudy, {; clear
days;by lightning, hail, snow, ice by the &C.
cess and recess OF frost by the winds preval.
ing at different seasons; the dates at which
particular plants put forth, or lose their flower
orleat; times OF appearance of particular birds,
reptiles or insects
channel OF the Missouri, vet YOU wiiendeayor
10 inform yourself, by inquiry, OF the character
and extent OF the country watered by its bran.
ches, and especially on its southern side. The
North river, or Rio Bravo, which runs into the
guph ct Mexico, and the North river, or Rio
Coarado, which runs into tile gulph OF Cali
'ornia, are understood to be the principal
streams heading opposite the waters OF the Mis-
sour, and running soutbwardiy. Whether the
dividing grounds between the Missouri and
them are mountains or lat lands, what are their
distance from the Missouri, the character of
the intermediate country, and the people inha-
biting it, ara worthy of particular inquiry. Tho
northern waters of the Missouri are less To be
inquired after, because they have been ascor-
tanned to considerable 'egree, ard are still
IN a course Of ascertainment by English traders
aud travellers but il you can learn any thing
certain OF the most northern source OF the Mis-
sissippi, and of its position relatively to the
Lake OF the Woods, it will be interesting to us.
Some account too o. the path of the Canadian
traders from the Mississippi, at the mouth OF
tie Ouiscons;ng to where it strikes the Mis-
souri,, and OF tho soil and rivers in its course,
is desirable.
In all your intercourse with the natives, treat
them IN the most friendly and conciliatory mana
ner which their own conduct will admit sllay
all jealousies as to the object Of your journey,
satisfy them of its innocence make them ac-
quaintFd with the position, extent, character,
peaceable and commercial dispositions of the
United States of our wish to be neighborly,
friendly, and useful TO them, and Of our dispose
ton to a commercial intercourse with them
confer with them on the points most conyen-
ent as mutual emporiums, and the articles of
most desirable Interchange for them and us IL
few OF their infuential chiefs, within practi.
cable distance, wish TO visit us. arrange such a
visit with them, and furnish them with authors
~ to call on our officers on entering the United
States. 90 lave them conveyed To This Mace az