Below the mouth of the Platte, September 12, Lewis and Clark met Gravelines, the interpreter who was sent to Washington from Fort Mandan, in 1805, with despatches, natural history specimens, and a Ricara chief.  The chief had unfortunately died in Washington, and Gravelines was now on his way to the Ricaras with a speech from President Jefferson and the presents that had been given to the chief.  He also had instructions to teach the Ricaras in agriculture.

It is interesting to note how that the explorers, now tolerably well acquainted with the Indian character since their long experience with the red men, had adopted a very different bearing from that which they had when coming up the river, in 1805.  Here is an extract from their journal, September 14:—­

“We resumed our journey.  This being a part of the river to which the Kansas resort, in order to rob the boats of traders, we held ourselves in readiness to fire upon any Indians who should offer us the slightest indignity; as we no longer needed their friendship, and found that a tone of firmness and decision is the best possible method of making proper impressions on these freebooters.  However, we did not encounter any of them; but just below the old Kansas village met three trading-boats from St. Louis, on their way to the Yanktons and Mahas.”

Thirty miles below the island of Little Osage village, the party met Captain McClellan, formerly of the United States army.  He informed Captain Lewis that the party had been given up for lost, people generally believing that they would never again be heard from; but, according to the journal of one of the party, “The President of the U. States yet had hopes of us.”  The last news received in “the U. States” from the explorers was that sent from Fort Mandan, by Gravelines, in 1805.

Scarcity of provisions once more disturbed the party, so that, on the eighteenth of September, the journal sets forth the fact that game was very scarce and nothing was seen by the hunters but a bear and three turkeys, which they were unable to reach.  The men, however, were perfectly satisfied, although they were allowed only one biscuit per day.  An abundance of pawpaws growing along the banks sufficed as nutritious food.  The pawpaw is native to many of the Western States of the Republic.  It is a fruit three or four inches long, growing on a small tree, or bush.  The fruit is sweet and juicy and has several bean-shaped seeds embedded in the pulp.  The voyagers now began to see signs of civilization on the banks of the river.  Near the mouth of the Gasconade, above St. Louis, they beheld cows grazing in the meadows.  The journal says:  “The whole party almost involuntarily raised a shout of joy at seeing this image of civilization and domestic life.”  Men who have been wandering in pathless wildernesses, remote from man, for more than two years, might well be moved by the sights of a homelike farm and a settled life.  Soon after