CONTENTS.

VOL. I.

CHAPTER I.

The party set out on the expedition and pass Wood river. Description of

the town of St. Charles. Osage Woman river. Gasconade and Osage rivers

described. Character of the Osage Indians; curious traditionary account of

their origin. The party proceed and pass the Mine river. The two Chari.

tons. The Kanzas, Nodawa, Newahaw, Neeshnabatona, Little Nemahar,

each of which are particularly described. They encamp at the mouth of the

river Platte. A particular description of the surrounding country. The va

rious creeks, bays, islands, prairies, &c. given in the course of the route.

CHAPTER II,

Some account of the Pawnee Indians. Council held with the Otto and

Missouri Indians. Council held with another party of the Ottoes. Death of

sergeant Floyd. The party encamp near the mouth of Whitestone river.

The character of the Missouri, with the rivers that enter it. The surround-

ing country. The various islands, bays, creeks, &c. given in the course of

the expedition.

CHAPTER III.

1

32

Whimsical instance of superstition of the Sioux Indians. Council held with

the Sioux. Character of that tribe, their manners, &c. A ridiculous instance

of their heroism. Ancient fortifications. Quicurre river described. Vast

herds of Buffaloe. Account of the Petit Chien or Little Dog. Narrow es-

cape of George Shannon. Description of White river. Surprising fleetness

of the antelope. Pass the river of the Sioux. Description of the Grand Le

Tour, or Great Bend. Encamp on the Teton river.

52

CHAPTER IV.

.

Council held with the Tetons. Their manners, dances, &c. Chayenne

river described. Council held with the Ricara Indians. Their manners and

habits. Strange instance of Ricara idolatry. Another instance. Cannon-

ball river. Arrival among the Mandans. Character of the surrounding coun-

try, and of the creeks, islands, &c.

CHAPTER V.

Council held with the Mandans. A prairie on fire, and a singular instance

of preservation. Peace established between the Mandans and Ricaras. The

party encamp for the winter. Indian mode of catching goats. Beautiful ap-

pearance of northern lights. Friendly character of the Indians. Some ac-

count of the Mandang. The Anahaways and the Minnetarees. The party

82

acquire the confidence of the Mandans by taking part in their controversy

with the Sioux. Religion of the Mandans, and their singular conception of

the term medicine. Their tradition. The sufferings of the party from the

severity of the season. Indian game of billiards described. Character of

the Missouri, of the surrounding country, and of the rivers, creeks, islands,

&c.

CHAPTER VI.

118

The party increase in the favour of the Mandans. Description of a buffa-

loe dance. Medicine dance. The fortitude with which the Indians bear the

severity of the season. Distress of the party for want of provisions. The

great importance of the blacksmith in procuring it. Depredations of the Si-

oux. The homage paid to the medicine stone. Summary act of justice

among the Minnetarees. The process by which the Mandans and Ricaras

make beads. Character of the Missouri, of the surrounding country, and of

the rivers, creeks, islands, &c.
148

CHAPTER VII.

Indian method of attacking the buffaloe on the ice. An enumeration of the

presents sent to the president of the United States. The party are visited

by a Ricara chief. They leave their encampment, and proceed on their jour-

ney. Description of the Little Missouri. Some account of the Assiniboins.

Their mode of burying the dead. Whiteearth river described. Great quan-

tity of salt discovered on its banks. Yellowstone river described. A parti-

cular account of the country at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Mis-

souri. Description of the Missouri, the surrounding country, and of the ri-

vers, creeks, islands, &c.

CHAPTER VIII.

174

Unusual appearance of salt. The formidable character of the white bear.

Porcupine river described. Beautiful appearance of the surrounding coun-

try. Immense quantities of game. Milk river described. Extraordinary

character of Bigdry river. An instance of uncommon tenacity of life in a

white bear. Narrow escape of one of the party from that animal. A still

more remarkable instance. Muscleshell river described.

199

CHAPTER IX.

The party continue their route. Description of Judith river. Indian mode

of taking the buffaloe. Slaughter river described. Phenomena of nature.

Of walls on the banks of the Missouri. The party encamp on the banks of

the river to ascertain which of the streams constitute the Missouri. Captain

Lewis leaves the party to explore the northern fork, and captain Clarke ex-

plores the southern. The surrounding country described in the route of cap-

tain Lewis. Narrow escape of one of his party.

CHAPTER X.

Return of captain Lewis. Account of captain Clarke's researches with his

exploring party. Perilous situation of one of his party, Tansy river descri-

225

bed. The party still believing the southern fork the Missouri, captain Lew-

is resolves to ascend it. Mode of making a place to deposit provisions, called

cache. Captain Lewis explores the southern fork. Falls of the Missouri

discovered, which ascertains the question. Romantic scenery of the surround-

ing country. Narrow escape of captain Lewis. The main body under cap-

tain Clarke approach within five miles of the falls, and prepare for making a

portage over the rapids.

CHAPTER XI.

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Description and romantic appearance of the Missouri at the junction of

the Medicine river. The difficulty of transporting the baggage at the falls.

The party employed in the construction of a boat of skins. The embarrass-

ments they had to encounter for want of proper materials. During the work

the party much troubled by white bears. Violent hail-storm, and providen-

tial escape of captain Clarke and his party. Description of a remarkable

fountain. Singular explosion heard from the Black mountains. The boat

found to be insufficient, and the serious disappointment of the party. Cap-

tain Clarke undertakes to repair the damage by building canoes, and accom

plishes the task.

CHAPTER XII.

275

The party embark on board the canoes. Description of Smith's river.

Character of the country, &c. Dearborne's river described. Captain Clarke

precedes the party for the purpose of discovering the Indians of the Rocky

mountains. Magnificent rocky appearances on the borders of the river de-

nominated the Gates of the Rocky mountains. Captain Clarke arrives at the

three forks of the Missouri without overtaking the Indians. The party ar

rive at the three forks, of which a particular and interesting description is

- 301

given.

CHAPTER XIII.

The name of the Missouri changed, as the river now divides itself into

three forks, one of which is called after Jefferson, the other Madison, and

the other after Gallatin. Their general character. The party ascend the

Jefferson branch. Description of the river Philosophy which enters into the

Jefferson. Captain Lewis and a small party go in advance in search of the

Shoshonees. Description of the country, &c. bordering on the river. Cap-

tain Lewis still preceding the main party in quest of the Shoshonees. A sin-

gular accident which prevented captain Clarke from following captain Lew-

is's advice, and ascending the middle fork of the river. Description of Phi-

lanthropy river, another stream running into the Jefferson. Captain Lewis

and a small party having been unsuccessful in their first attempt, sẹt off a

328

second time in quest of the Shoshonces.

CHAPTER XIV.

Captain Lewis proceeds before the main body in search of the Shoshonees;

tis ill success on the first interview. The party with captain Lewis at length

discover the source of the Missouri. Captain Clarke with the main body still

employed in ascending the Missouri or Jefferson river. Captain Lewis's se-

cond interview with the Shoshonees attended with success. The interesting

ceremonies of his first introduction to the natives, detailed at large. Their hos-

pitality. Their mode of hunting the antelope. The difficulties encountered by

captain Clarke and the main body in ascending the river. The suspicions en-

tertained of captain Lewis by the Shoshonees, and his mode of allaying

them. The ravenous appetites of the savages illustrated by a singular adven-

ture. The Indians still jealous, and the great pains taken by captain Lewis tò

preserve their confidence. Captain Clarke arrives with the main body

exhausted by the difficulties which they underwent.

CHAPTER XV.

Affecting interview between the wife of Chaboneau and the chief of the Sho-

shonees. Council held with that nation, and favourable result. The extreme

navigable point of the Missouri mentioned. General character of the river

and of the country through which it passes. Captain Clarke in exploring the

source of the Columbia falls in company with another party of Shoshonees.

The geographical information acquired from one of that party. Their man-

ner of catching fish. The party reach Lewis river. The difficulties which

captain Clarke had to encounter in his route. Friendship and hospitality of

the Shoshonees. The party with captain Lewis employed in making saddles,

and preparing for the journey.

CHAPTER XVL

354

381

Contest between Drewyer and a Shoshonee. The fidelity and honour of that

tribe. The party set out on their journey. The conduct of Cameahwait re-

proved, and himself reconciled. The easy parturition of the Shoshonee wo-

men. History of this nation. Their terror of the Pawkees. Their govern-

ment and family economy in their treatment of their women. Their com-

plaints of Spanish treachery. Description of their weapons of warfare. Their

curious mode of making a shield. The caparison of their horses. The dress

of the men and of the women particularly described. Their mode of ac-

quiring new names.
407

CHAPTER XVII.

The party, after procuring horses :rom the Shoshonees, proceed on their

journey through the mountains. The difficulties and dangers of the route. A

council held with another band of the Shoshonees, of whom some account is

given. They are reduced to the necessity of killing their horses for food.

Captain Clarke with a small party precedes the main body in quest of food,

and is hospitably received by the Pierced-nose Indians. Arrival of the main

body amongst this tribe, with whom a council is held. They resolve to per-

form the remainder of their journey in canoes. Sickness of the party. They

Jescend the Kooskooskee to its junction with Lewis river, after passing seve-

ral dangerous rapids. Short description of the manners and dress of the

Pierced-nose Indians.

455