It Is A Common Practice With The Pawnees, And Probably With Other
Roving Tribes, When Departing On A Distant Expedition, Which Will
Not Admit Of Incumbrance Or Delay, To Leave Their Aged And Infirm
With A Supply Of Provisions Sufficient For A Temporary
Subsistence.
When this is exhausted, they must perish; though
sometimes their sufferings are abridged by hostile prowlers who
may visit the deserted camp.
The poor squaws in question expected some such fate at the hands
of the white strangers, and though the latter accosted them in
the kindest manner, and made them presents of dried buffalo meat,
it was impossible to soothe their alarm, or get any information
from them.
The first landmark by which the travellers were enabled to
conjecture their position with any degree of confidence, was an
island about seventy miles in length, which they presumed to be
Grand Isle. If so, they were within one hundred and forty miles
of the Missouri. They kept on, therefore, With renewed spirit,
and at the end of three days met with an Otto Indian, by whom
they were confirmed in their conjecture. They learnt at the same
time another piece of information, of an uncomfortable nature.
According to his account, there was war between the United States
and England, and in fact it had existed for a whole year, during
which time they had been beyond the reach of all knowledge of the
affairs of the civilized world.
The Otto conducted the travellers to his village, situated a
short distance from the banks of the Platte.
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