METEORITES OF NORTH AMERICA. 367 



In February, 1812, John Maley, a man who with a roving disposition appears to have possessed a strong and in- 

 quiring though uncultivated mind, went with a few associates up the Red River, with a view to explore the country, 

 trade with the Indians, and (if practicable) to bring away the two remaining masses of metal. He saw one or both of 

 the masses; but being unable to make the remuneration for them demanded by the Indians, he continued his tour 

 farther west. Returning he contracted to barter for the pieces of metal a certain quantity of merchandise, to procure 

 which he returned to Natchitoches and proceeded to New Orleans. 



On his second expedition up the Red River, in 1813, he and his associates, being robbed by a party of Osages of 

 their merchandise and horses, were compelled to return on foot, relinquishing their object. 



Undoubtedly, therefore, two masses at least of thid metal still remain in that region, and will probably at some 

 future time enrich some cabinet of natural history. Their precise situation is not so well known as could be wished. 

 The following hints are subjoined, as they may afford some aid to any who may hereafter explore these regions: 



Some hundred miles above Natchitoches, on the banks of the Red River, is a Pawnee village; southwest of which, 

 about 50 or 60 miles, are the probable localities of this metal. The distances, however, of this village above Natchi- 

 toches and of these localities from the village are variously stated. 



"We are informed by the Indians," says Captain Glass, "of a remarkable piece of metal some days' journey to the 

 southward (of the Pawnee village) on the River Brasses," but he subsequently speaks of proceeding south and west in 

 going to the mass. "The Indians informed me that they knew of two other smaller pieces, the one about 30, the other 

 about 50 miles distant" (probably from the Pawnee village). Captain Glass gives no estimate of the whole distance 

 from Natchitoches to the Pawnee village; but, from intermediate distances mentioned, he seems to have considered 

 it about 400 miles. 



Doctor Sibley frequently conversed with Captain Glass and others of the party which went in quest of this 

 metal. He states the distance from Natchitoches to the place where the transporting party lost their horses, which 

 must be about the distance from Natchitoches to the Pawnee village, as nearly 400 miles by land; and the distance 

 bv water from the place of embarkment to Natchitoches as nearly 1,000 miles. 



John Maley traveled in these regions subsequently to the removal of the large mass, but visited one or more 

 smaller masses. "Crossing the river," he says, "at the Pawnee village, we took a southwest course over large ledges 

 of limestone, and extensive prairies. After a journey of three days, we were conducted by the Indians to this metal. 

 It lay a few miles from the mountain which appeared to be the same that I have before described as running parallel 

 to the Red River." He does not state whether he saw one piece or more, but he afterwards stipulated for "the two 

 pieces of metal." The Pawnee village, he says, is 1,500 miles above the confluence of the Red River with the 

 Mississippi. 



Judge Johnson, being in company with Mr. Maley some years since, entered into conversation on this subject. 

 According to his recollection he was informed by Maley that "the pieces were found in the midst of an open sterile 

 plain lying near each other and appearing as if broken and scattered in the fall of one entire mass." "The place was 

 described by Maley as about 200 (400?) miles, a little north of west from Natchitoches, on (near?) the ridge between 

 the waters of the Red River and the Rio Bravo." 



The readers of this journal will recollect some "Notices of the geology, etc., of the regions around the Mississippi 

 and its confluent waters," by L. Bringier, Esq., of Louisiana, who traveled in this region in 1812. 



Mr. Schoolcraft, who states that the large mass was found about "one hundred miles above Natchitochee," must 

 have been misinformed concerning the distance. 



The following hints given by Mr. Win. Darby, to whose travels the public are indebted for much important infor- 

 mation concerning the western part of our country, are probably as definite as can at present be obtained. " If with 

 one of Mr. Melish's maps of the United States in your hand you run your eye up Red River to the Pawnee village you 

 will perceive a small creek entering Red River a short distance below the village. This creek is called by the French 

 hunters and traders Bayou Bois d' Arc. It was at its mouth that the transporting party reached Red River with their 

 prize. Continue your glance upon the map a little south of west, to the headwaters of the River Brasses a Dios, and you 

 will find the words Haywa Wandering. Through the latter you will perceive a small' creek represented flowing south 

 into the Brassos. From comparing the account of their journey from Red River and of their return to that stream I am 

 induced to believe that the latter creek flows from or near the place where the mass of iron was found. The place is 

 about latitude 32 20 7 north, and longitude 20 West from Washington City. They must have advanced across the 

 upper streams of the Trinity in their expedition. That part of Mr. Melish's map was constructed almost entirely from 

 my papers. When the manuscript lent me by Doctor Sibley was in my possession I collated it as carefully as waa in 

 my power with draughts of the country which I had previously collected, and upon my map traced as nearly as possible 

 the route which the party pursued. I can not, it is true, guarantee the accuracy of the delineation, as I never was 

 myself upon Red River above the limits of Louisiana, but from the pains I took to arrive at correct results I think that 

 the general representation may be depended upon with much confidence." 



Aided by these directions alone a traveler might experience some difficulty in finding the masses now remaining in 

 that region, but it will probably never be difficult to obtain guides from among the Indians. A mineral substance so 

 remarkable generally engages their attention and often their veneration. These masses of iron before they were visited 

 by our countrymen were among the Indians objects of notoriety, and it is by no means probable that their notoriety has 

 diminished since adventurers have manifested such earnestness to obtain them. 



Some interesting remarks upon the native iron of Louisiana by Colonel Gibbs are published in Brace's Journal , page 

 218, with a concise account of similar masses from other countries. Colonel Gibbs was the first to make the interesting 

 observation of the occurrence of crystals in native iron ; he discovered two of an octahedral form in the iron of Louisiana. 



