May 26.  The wind being favourable we made eighteen miles to-day.  We passed in the morning several islands, the largest of which is Buffaloe island, separated from the southern side by a small channel which receives the waters of Buffaloe creek.  On the same side is Shepherd’s creek, a little beyond which we encamped on the northern side.  The next day we sailed along a large island called Otter island, on the northern side, extending nearly ten miles in length, narrow but high in its situation, and one of the most fertile in the whole river.  Between it and the northern shore, three small creeks, one of which has the same name with the island, empty themselves.  On the southern shore is a creek twenty yards wide, called Ash creek.  In the course of the day we met two canoes loaded with furs, which had been two months on their route, from the Mahar nation, residing more than seven hundred miles up the river—­one large raft from the Pawnees on the river Platte, and three others from the Grand Osage river.  At the distance of fifteen miles we encamped on a willow island, at the entrance of the river Gasconade.  This river falls into the Missouri from the south, one hundred miles from the Mississippi.  Its length is about one hundred and fifty miles in a course generally northeast through a hilly country.  On its banks are a number of saltpetre caves, and it is believed some mines of lead in the vicinity.  Its width at the mouth is one hundred and fifty-seven yards, and its depth nineteen feet.

Here we halted for the purpose of hunting and drying our provisions, and making the necessary celestial observations.  This being completed, we set sail on the 29th at four o’clock, and at four miles distance encamped on the south-side, above a small creek, called Deer creek.  The next day, 30th, we set out early, and at two miles distant reached a large cave, on the north, called Montbrun’s tavern, after a French trader of that name, just above a creek called after the same person.  Beyond this is a large island, and at the distance of four miles, Rush creek coming in from the south, at eleven, Big-muddy river on the north, about fifty yards wide; three miles further, is Little-muddy river on the same side, opposite to which we encamped at the mouth of Grindstone creek.  The rain which began last night continued through the day, accompanied with high wind and some hail.  The river has been rising fast for two days, and the country around appears full of water.  Along the sides of the river to day we observe much timber, the cotton wood, the sycamore, hickory, white walnut, some grapevines, and rushes—­the high west wind and rain compelled us to remain all the next day, May 31.  In the afternoon a boat came down from the Grand Osage river, bringing a letter from a person sent to the Osage nation on the Arkansaw river, which mentioned that the letter announcing the cession of Louisiana was committed to the flames—­that the Indians would not believe that the Americans were