474 



AUDUBON 



Hawk, and a great number of Blackbirds, but could not 

 ascertain the species.^ The wind was still high when we 

 left our stopping place, but we progressed, and this after- 

 noon came alongside of a beautiful prairie of some thou- 

 sands of acres, reaching to the hills. Here we stopped 

 to put out our Iowa Indians, and also to land the goods 

 we had for Mr. Richardson, the Indian agent. The goods 

 were lam' 'd, but at the wrong place, as the Agent's agent 

 would not receive them there, on account of a creek above, 

 which cannot at present be crossed with wagons. Our 

 Sac Indian chief started at once across the prairie towards 

 the hills, on his way to his wigwam, and we saw Indians 

 on their way towards us, running on foot, and many on 

 horseback, generally riding double on skins or on Spanish 

 saddles. Even the squaws rode, and rode well too ! We 

 counted about eighty, amongst whom were a great num- 

 ber of youths of different ages. I was heartily glad that 

 our own squad of them left us here. I observed that 

 though they had been absent from their friends and rela- 

 tives, they never shook hands, or paid any attention to 

 them. When the freight was taken in we proceeded, and 

 the whole of the Indians followed along the shore at a 

 good round run; those on horseback at times struck into 

 a gallop. I saw more of these poor beings when we ap- 

 proached the landing, perched and seated on the promon- 

 tories about, and many followed the boat to the landing. 

 Here the goods were received, and Major Richardson 

 came on board, and paid freight. He told us we were 

 now in the country of the Fox Indians as well as that of 

 the lowas, that the number about him is over 1200, and 

 that his district extends about seventy miles up the river. 

 He appears to be a pleasant man; toid us that Hares^ 



^ No doubt the species named Brewer's Blackbird, Quiscalus hrewerii of 

 Audubon, B. of Am. vii., 1844, p. 345, pi. 492, now known as Scolecophagm 

 cyaiiocephalus. — E. C. 



"^ The Prairie Hare, Lepus virginianus of Richardson, Fauna Boreali- 

 Americana, i., 1829, p. 229, later described as Z. axmpestris by Bachman, 



