12 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



tivate tlicir acquaintance. There was another circumstance, too, 

 that was not a very attractive one ; I allude to the custom so 

 universal amongst Indians, of seeking for vermin in each others' 

 heads, and then eating them. The fair damsels were engaged 

 in this way during most of the time that I remained on board, 

 only suspending their delectable occupation to take their bites of 

 bread as it passed them in rotation. The effect upon my person 

 was what an Irishman would call the attraction of repulsion, as 

 I found myself almost unconsciously edging away until I halted 

 at a most respectable distance from the scene of slaughter. 



At noon, Mr. N. and myself started on our pedestrian tour. 

 Captain Wyeth offering to accompany us a few miles on the way. 

 I was glad to get clear of St. Louis, as I felt uncomfortable in 

 many respects while there, and the bustle and restraint of a town 

 was any thing but agreeable to me. We proceeded over a road 

 generally good, a low dry prairie, mostly heavily timbered, the 

 soil underlaid with horizontal strata of limestone, abounding in 

 organic remains, shells, coralines, &c., and arrived in the evening 

 at Florisant, where we spent the night. The next day Captain 

 Wyeth lefl us for St. Louis, and my companion and myself pro- 

 ceeded on our route. We observed great numbers of the brown, 

 or sandhill crane, (Grus canadensis,) flying over us ; some flocks 

 were so high as to be entirely beyond the reach of vision, while 

 their harsh, grating voices were very distinctly heard. We saw 

 several flocks of the same cranes while ascending the Mississippi, 

 several days since. At about noon, we crossed the river on a 

 boat worked by horses, and stopped at a little town called St. 

 Charles. 



We find it necessary, both for our comfort and convenience, 

 to travel very slowly, as our feet are already becoming tender, 

 and that wc may have an opportunity of observing the country, 

 and collecting interesting specimens. Unfortunately for the 

 inirsuits of my companion, tho plants (of which he finds a 



