Created by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
in partnership with the University of Nebraska Press
and funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Set out early and proceeded on very well. this being the part of the Missouri the Kanzas nation [1] resort to at this Season of the year for the purpose of robbing the perogues passing up to other nations above, we have every reason to expect to meet with them, and agreeably to their Common Custom of examining every thing in the perogues and takeing what they want out of them, it is probable they may wish to take those liberties with us, which we are deturmined not to allow of and for the Smallest insult we Shall fire on them. at 2 P. M. a little below the lower of the old Kanzas Village [2] we met three large boats bound to the Yanktons and Mahars the property of Mr. Lacroy, Mr. Aiten & Mr. Coutau [3] all from St. Louis, those young men received us with great friendship and pressed on us Some whisky for our men, Bisquet, Pork and Onions, & part of their Stores, we continued near 2 hours with those boats, makeing every enquirey into the state of our friends and Country &c. those men were much affraid of meeting with the Kanzas. we Saw 37 Deer on the banks and in the river to Day 5 of which we killed [4] those deer were Meager. we proceeded on to an Island near the middle of the river below our encampment of the 1st of July 1804 and encamped [5] haveing decended only 53 miles to day. our party received a dram and Sung Songs untill 11 oClock at night in the greatest harmoney.
Sunday 14th Sept. 1806. a fair morning. we Set as usal and procd. on Soon passed the old village of the Kansers. Some of the hunters killd. Several deer from their Canoes about 3 oClock P. M. we discovred three keel Boats Sailing up the river. we put to Shore Spread our flags they Sailed up to us and halted with us a Short time they were tradors from St. Louis and frenchman but could Some of them Speak English. they are bound for the Mahars nations. they gave us ardent Spirits buiscuits and cheese &C. onion we then procd. on Gibson Shot an other deer from his canoe at dark we Camped on N. Side.—
Sunday 14th. In a fine morning we proceeded on early and went very well, until 3 o'clock when we met three large batteaux [6] loaded with merchandize, going up to different nations of Indians for the purpose of trade. The people in them were very glad to see us, and gave us some whiskey, pork, and biscuit. We remained with them two hours and again went on. We killed five deer on the bank to day, as we floated down: and saw a fine young horse. At sun set, we encamped on a small island.
Created by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
in partnership with the University of Nebraska Press
and funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.