MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. -273 



hunters of all the settlers in the French possessions from Canada to 

 New Orleans; besides which, large quantities were shipped to France, 

 Following" these explorers were others, who are said to have come out 

 from the colony of Ste. Genevieve, somewhere about 1785, and who, 

 from their descriptions of the country, seem to have gotten as far as 

 Barry or McDonald counties, in the extreme southwestern corner of 

 the State; but they left no authentic records. 



In the map accompanying the expedition made by Zebulon Pike, 

 in 1806, the Osage river was explored, somewhat accurately traced, 

 and many of its tributaries named and imperfectly located. On it the 

 White and James rivers are also intelligently located. 



In 1815, the United States Land Office commenced its survey of 

 this State, and the meridian upon which all the subdivisions of the 

 State were based was laid out from the mouth of the Arkansas river 

 north to the Missouri river. Some of the results of this survey were 

 probably made available by the next explorer, Schoolcraft, and enabled 

 him to accurately locate his route. Schoolcraft came into Southern 

 Missouri in 1818-19 to study the lead mines, and with a view to tracing 

 with more accuracy than had yet been done, the reputed course of De 

 Soto from Southeast to Southwest Missouri, and in l!^"orthern Arkansas. 

 On the 5th of November, 1818, with one friend and a pack-horse, he 

 started from Potosi on his journey southwestward into the wilderness. 

 Although most of the region through which he passed was destitute 

 of any landmark save nature's own, his journal is so faithfully kept 

 and his descriptions so vividly drawn that it has been a comparatively 

 easy matter to trace his wanderings to the White river, where he came 

 in contact with the scattered settlers who were some of the advance 

 guard of the future civilization of Southwest Missouri, In one case 

 it is a cave that has been so accurately described; in another a stream ; 

 and again, of some natural feature still in existence, that has enabled us 

 to follow him almost day by day through a trackless wilderness. His 

 records are most interesting, from the fact that he not only describes the 

 topography of the country through which ho passed, but his journal 

 contains most authentic information in regard to its resources, its 

 animals, the Indians, and the few white settlers whom he found on the 

 White river. The following is his description of this river: 



The White river Is one of the most beautiful and enchanting streams, and by far the 

 most transparent, which discharge their waters Into the Mississippi. To a width and 

 depth which entitle It to be classed as a river of the third magnitude In western America, 

 It unites a current which possesses the purity of crystal, with a smooth and gentle flow, 

 and the most Imposing, diversified and delightful scenery. 



H— 18 



