INDIAN MIGRATION. 277 



Indians, having given up their lands to the United 

 States on condition of receiving other equally good 

 lands in the AVest, were conducted by the parties who 

 had engaged to provide for them on their journey. 

 Numerous square holes cut in the fallen trees showed 

 where the squaws had pounded their maize to make 

 bread. More melancholy traces were visible in the 

 bones of human beings and animals which were strewed 

 about. Many a warrior and squaw died on the road 

 from exhaustion, and the maladies engendered by their 

 treatment ; and their relations and friends could do 

 nothing more for them than fold them in their blankets, 

 and cover them with boughs and bushes, to keep olF 

 the vultures, which followed their route by thousands, 

 and soared over their heads ; for their drivers would 

 not give them time to dig a grave and bury their dead. 

 The wolves, which also followed at no great distance, 

 soon tore away so frail a covering, and scattered the 

 bones in all directions. This is a sad instance of the 

 abominable haggling spirit so prevalent in America. 

 The government, to avoid trouble, had contracted with 

 individuals for a certain sum, which was quite sutlicient 

 to have conveyed the poor Indians comfortably ; but 

 they were obliged to part with all they had for bread, 

 selling their rifles and tomahawks, horses going for 

 two and three dollars ; and, while they died of hunger 

 and distress, the contractors made a fortune. 



About three in the afternoon we reached the Ozark 

 mountains, and passed close by some farm buildings 

 where there were several tame white turkeys. My 

 dog, who was a capital fellow for turkeys, had as yet 

 never seen any but wild, consequently black ones, lie 

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