Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-11-06
vi INSTALLATIONS.
from the New York Commercial Advertisor.l
SCENES ON THE UPPER MISSOURI.
.lLnMLh nc EeLLnn .Sfnme- LLLLu IhM Is

tux ~ Il Gttbtt ioNC JNiT lDtNs 1909.
Since wrote you my last letter, have been so much
engaged in the amusemcnls OF the county, and in the use
OF my pencil, that | have been unable 10 drop you a line
MIN, the present moment. Before let you into the
,hnas,rcs an amusemontso of this delightful country, how
ever. must hasu,, travel with you over the lelious
Journey of 1000 miles, from - Louis, over which dis
lance one is obliged to pass before ne caches this place
The Missouri is perhaps different from all orr; rivers III
the world. There is a terror in its waters which we SEN
sibly fee. the moment we enter into it from the MiSSissip-
nj 'Gsam tho mouth of the Yellow Stone TO the mouth OF
- MISSOURI, itsweeps OIL in one unceasing current, and
IN the Whole t's'a"ce there is scarcely a resting place.
owing TO the continual falling oil as """@",'' hanks It's
water is always turbid and opaque, having more the
appearance Tin COLOR OF a cup of chocolate than any
thing else | can think of. have made experiments
with "A piece OF silver, and also with a she'll, which is a much
whittier substance, and have ascertained that they cannot
be discovered through the sixteenth part of an inch fthe
water. For the distance of about 1000 miles from St
Louis, the shores Of the river, and in many places the
whole bed of the stream, are filled with snags, trees Of the
largest size, which have been undermined by the falling
banks, their roots becoming fastened in the bottom Of the
river, and tops pointing down the stream, form a most
inghtlul and dIscouraging prospect for the adventurous
voyageT. Almost every island and sand bar is covered
with huge piles OF these floating trees; and when the ri
yer is high, it is almost impossible Tor the boat to proceed,
IN consequence oil the continued rats OF this material,
which almost literally cover the surface of the water.
With what %propriety we might call it the "River Styx,"
| will not undertake to say, but nothing could be more
appropriate than to denotuinate it the "River of Sticks"
The scene is not all so dreary, for the eve is delightfully."-
relieved the moment you glance it over the beautiful
prairie, most OF the way gracefully slipping down to the
waters edge, carpetted with the deepest green, and in
distance softening into velvet of the richest hues, entire
y w pHu tC 81 u ID ius ; penCll. IL has nerctO-
lore been very enormously represented in the world, that
the scenery on this river was mOnotOnous, and waniinp i'm
picturesque beauty. This Intelligence, | find, has come
altogether from a set of men, who, if they had been ca
pable OF relishing the beauties OF Nature, would have
passed them in this place without noticing Them, for every
moment they are trembling for the safety of their peltries.
&c, or for their lives, which are at the mercy OF the Yell
ing savages who inhabit Ibis delightful country.
One thousand miles or more of the upper part of the ri.
yer was 10 my eye like &c fairy land." | was the whole
time rivetted to the deck of the boat, from which beheld
with rapture the changing scenes Of every moment. /
CannOf an t.al agrrfEa ,,fI, ra,. a. Ill - -
have therefore filed my Port Folio with sketches, which
It may, eventually amuse you TO look over. The whole
face OF the country, from st. Louis TO the falls of the Mis-
sour, 600 miles above the mouth OF Yellow Stone } is one
continued prairie, except the bottoms formed along the ri.
Ver' and the streams which empty into it, which are CO.
vered win the most luXuriant growth Of forest timber
The surface level of the prairie is from 200 TO 300 feet
above the level OF the river, forming a valley the whole
way for the river, varying in width from two TO twenty
miles. The river is alternately running from one bluff to
another, which present themselves TO its shores In all tho
most picturesque and beautiful shapes and colors imagina.
be- Some with their green sides gracefully slope down.
81 the most beautiful groups, TO the waters edge whilst
others, Invested OF their verdure, present themselves i'm
immense masses of clay of different colors, some standing
III te most perfect forms OF huge domes, cupolas, turrets,
towers, aud ruined castles. In distance, some of those
groups have the appearance OF ancient cities in ruins, with
solitary standing columns, falling domes, and ruined edi-
bees. IL Is amidst these wild haunts that the mountain
sheep and the fleet bounding antelope, sport in herds, Sc
cure IN these rude places, which are inaccessible to their
enemies.
fany thing did ever literally "astonish the natves"n
was ue ~approdch oil tie steamboat along side of their viii
hgcs. lhcy were astOuishcd, and thousands Of hem drop
ped themselves upon the shore, viewing it with wonder
and astonishmeut SOmc called it the "Fire Boat ~ others
called II the "Mediciue boat, with eyes, for thew declar.
eu It saw its own way, and went along without help. At
THIS place, from which ! am writing, The American Fur
Company have a very strong fort, well picqneted, and pro.
tected WIN baslions mounting cannon. This fort was built
ny, and - now ~ charge Of Mr.. Mckenzie, who receives
aI the trade OF the Northern and Western Missouri In
dams. This post, and the posts aud Indian villages which
4 snail visit on my way down the river, will enable me TO
GET my sketches Of the most interesting tribes Of Indiansin
Worm America, inasmuch as they are less known 10 the
world, aud more cleanIy in their persons, and more richly
dressed man any other Indians On the continent. This teur
up we m's>is ippi presents To inc the Sioux. Ricarees
mtn1ans, GiOs-ventres or Minaterees. Assinn,Lpins
Creeks, Oiibeways, Crows, Blackfeet, Snakes. Delawares
anu SldwanOcs. Al these nations Of Indians sneak diff
lefoht languages, and most Of them differ i'm their dress
domestic habits, dmusemcuts, &c. and IT my life is SHARED
ior a le" years, NY unwcaricd cxeri0ns will enable me 10
I1y d Preuy iIr representation Of them, together with the /
Other tribes of North America. before the World.
! ne splendid costume aud elegant taste with which the
Cfo"s ana biacklect dress and ornament themselves, can
only DC appreciated og realized by those who can see
Them. J shall devote a uure letter entirely TO the COS.
tune and domestic habits peculiar 10 each nation. where
you viii he able 10 get = detailed account. and form, +, cor-
rect idea Of The beauty Of their dress and department.
As Tar as my travels have yet led me into the Indian
country, have more than realized my former p-redictons
that those Indians who could be found most entirely in a.
s''ie OF nature, without The least knowledge of civilized
society, would be found 10 be the most Clearly i'm their
P~ersous-elcgsnt IN their dress and manners. and ENJOYING
life to The greatest perfection"
Every one OF these red sons ofthe forest, Tor rather the
grli1eD Is q knight. and ~ lord; HE sauaws arc his slaves
The only thing which he deems worthy Of his exernons
70 mount hs snoriing steed with his bow and quivcrl
Sung, his arrow shield upon hs arm, and his long lance