, 1862-09-06

was well reflected in the character of their outfit.
No refined luxuries overladened their boats-no
costly viands were stored away for an epicurean
feast-no expensive gewgaws and trinkets were
to form part of their attire when far away in the
heart of the continent-no holiday festivities were
prepared for to haunt the vision of the future or
to squander the hours of the present but their
outfits consisted of the simplest and the best that
the village of St. Louis could boast. They took
special care to be well armed, and provided them
selves with goodIy quantity of powder, all of
which was carried in hermetrcally sealed, leaden
boxes, so that these latter could be moulded into
bullets whenever their contents were exhausted.
They were also literally supplied with medals and
presents for distribution among the Indians when
they would meet along their route Thus were
they prepared to appeal either to the good under
standing OR avarice of the savage tribes; or, on
the other hand, to offer him what has SO often
proved the more effective alternative.
Thus equipped they started on the 10Th of May,
1904, on their long and eventful pilgrimage, with
the cordial cooperation and warm support of the
good people of the village of St, Louis each and
all wishing God-speed, but fearing in their own
hearts that they had parted with their friends and
comrades for the last time
1t is not necessary to accompany, mile by mile,
the bold explorers as they threaded the tortuous
age,of the Missouri nor stop, as they stopped,
to map the site of future city, which should bear
the name of the father of the project, and which
to-day forms the Capital of the great central State
of Missouri; nor tarry, as they tarred to exchange
friendly greetings with the numerous tribes who
roamed where now the spire and steeple of Leav-
enworth and St. Joseph point to the habitatons
of thousands Of citizens on their great westwardly
march of wealth and civilization, and which to-day
are embraced within that great system of railway
and telegraph that like network, covers the en-
tire country from the Mississippi to the Atlantic
nor enter as they entered, the great council with
the confederateG Indian tribes in the southwestern
corner of Iowa-whch point of the Missouri
should ever be commemoraed as Council Bluff"
a treaty ground with the Indians, and which to-
day is depot of trade and new starting point
for homes nearer the setting sun. Nor need we
halt, as they halted, at Seargeant's Bluff" and
shed with them the tear ofsympathy and sorrow
as they silently and mournfully inferred the re-
mains of one their noblest companions. whose
grave was to add a new name to the geography of
the river, and whose headstone was to beal an in
scription rehearsed by each traveller as he to-day
traces their footsteps. Nor need we lnger in
their onward march at Floyds Bluff" when
death again had become their vsitant and claimed
another soul from that small band Of explorers
who by this time had more than a foretaste of
Tuat WHICH f~ll~... sv~-..sii---- r.~l,.s.i-
them in midsummer, when all was gay, cheerful
and propitiousj nor in the autumn when despon-
dency, for the first time, caused the hearts of all
to turn towards the comfortable homes and villa
ges now left far behind.
But we will tarry to pass the winter with them
at the Mandan villages, the terminus of their first
seasons work, and where the bleak winds of au-
tumn had already warned them to cease from their
labors, and we will learn from them short reci-
tai of their movements and incidents.
Entering a rudely constructed abode that the
hand of industry had quickly erected for shelter
and comfort, we find our explorers cantonned for
the winter Swarthy bands offriendly tribes were
encamped without. A bold promontory on the
right bank of the Missouri, in latitude Al deg Is
min., north, had been selected as the point where
the winter should be Tassed, and which now bears
the name of "Fort Clark" This point visited
in 1858, and of all the points along the Missouri,
II has hold cbaracterietics ,vb;ob oro ,,oo,l;o -.
ITSELF Unlike the country below, it is the com
mencement of high, elevated plateau, which ex-
tends westwardly to the Manvaises Terres of
Nebraska, and which defes the highest floods TO
which the Missouri is subject, and affords one of
the few picturesque points on the upper Missouri.
Then, as now, the buffalo roamed in countless
herds between the Yellowstone and the Missouri
on the south, and hence they here could be secure
in an abundance of game for their wants. The
thickets of cottonwood that border the Missouri
river bottoms afforded them fuel to use and to
spare, and hence their material comforts and wants
caused neither anxiety or annoyance. Here were
| prepared the maps of the country, which for the
first time witnessed the presence the white man
and here were written the reports of six months
toiling against an unkind current-through count
less bands of Indians-but where the kind hand
of fortune had sheltered and protected them.-
Their labors of this year embraced complete
map of the Missouri from its mouth to latitude
Al deg. 10 min north. It's each and every trib-
utary had now for the first time its position cor
rectly given it upon the map, and the entire coun-
try bordering the river upon either bank was
mapped and reported upon as far as their fscili-
ties extended.
ITO be Continued