The party, after procuring horses from 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 perform the remainder of their journey in canoes.  Sickness of the party.  They descend the Kooskooskee to its junction with Lewis river, after passing several dangerous rapids.  Short description of the manners and dress of the Pierced-nose Indians. 435

Lewis and Clarke’s expedition

Up the Missouri.

Chap.  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 Charitons—­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 various Creeks, Bays, Islands, Prairies, &c., given in the course of the route.

On the acquisition of Louisiana, in the year 1803, the attention of the government of the United States, was early directed towards exploring and improving the new territory.  Accordingly in the summer of the same year, an expedition was planned by the president for the purpose of discovering the courses and sources of the Missouri, and the most convenient water communication thence to the Pacific ocean.  His private secretary captain Meriwether Lewis, and captain William Clarke, both officers of the army of the United States, were associated in the command of this enterprize.  After receiving the requisite instructions, captain Lewis left the seat of government, and being joined by captain Clarke at Louisville, in Kentucky, proceeded to St. Louis, where they arrived in the month of December.  Their original* intention was to pass the winter at La Charrette, the highest settlement on the Missouri.  But the Spanish commandant of the province, not having received an official account of its transfer to the United States, was obliged by the general policy of his government, to prevent strangers from passing through the Spanish territory.  They therefore encamped at the mouth of Wood river, on the eastern side of the Mississippi, out of his jurisdiction, where they passed the winter in disciplining the men, and making the necessary preparations for setting out early in the Spring, before which the cession was officially announced.  The party consisted of nine young men