CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Brief reminiscences of scenes from 1809 to 1817—­Events preliminary to a knowledge of western life—­Embarkation on the source of the Alleghany River—­Descent to Pittsburgh—­Valley of the Monongahela; its coal and iron—­Descent of the Ohio in an ark—­Scenes and incidents by the way—­Cincinnati—­Some personal incidents which happened there.

CHAPTER II.

Descent of the Ohio River from Cincinnati to its mouth—­Ascent of the Mississippi, from the junction to Herculaneum—­Its rapid and turbid character, and the difficulties of stemming its current by barges—­Some incidents by the way.

CHAPTER III.

Reception at Herculaneum, and introduction to the founder of the first American colony in Texas, Mr. Austin—­His character—­Continuation of the journey on foot to St. Louis—­Incidents by the way—­Trip to the mines—­Survey of the mine country—­Expedition from Potosi into the Ozark Mountains, and return, after a winter’s absence, to Potosi.

CHAPTER IV.

Sit down to write an account of the mines—­Medical properties of the Mississippi water—­Expedition to the Yellow Stone—­Resolve to visit Washington with a plan of managing the mines—­Descend the river from St. Genevieve to New Orleans—­Incidents of the trip—­Take passage in a ship for New York—­Reception with my collection there—­Publish my memoir on the mines, and proceed with it to Washington—­Result of my plan—­Appointed geologist and mineralogist on an expedition to the sources of the Mississippi.

CHAPTER V.

Set out on the expedition to the north-west—­Remain a few weeks at New York—­Visit Niagara Falls, and reach Detroit in the first steamer—­Preparations for a new style of traveling—­Correspondents—­General sketch of the route pursued by the expedition, and its results—­Return to Albany, and publish my narrative—­Journal of it—­Preparation for a scientific account of the observations.

CHAPTER VI.

Reception by the country on my return—­Reasons for publishing my narrative without my reports for a digested scientific account of the expedition—­Delays interposed to this—­Correspondents—­Locality of strontian—­Letter from Dr. Mitchell—­Report on the copper mines of Lake Superior—­Theoretical geology—­Indian symbols—­Scientific subjects—­Complete the publication of my work—­Its reception by the press and the public—­Effects on my mind—­Receive the appointment of Secretary to the Indian Commission at Chicago—­Result of the expedition, as shown by a letter of Dr. Mitchell to General Cass.

CHAPTER VII.