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.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 354 of 362
Words from 107740 to 108003
of 110166
