100 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [ BULL. 77 
we arrived, saluting with a volley as we passed on to the landing 
place, where we met Mr. Crooks, who had come down from the 
wintering station at the mouth of the river Naduet to meet us. 
There were also collected at the landing place about 200 Indians, 
men, women, and children, of the Petit Osage nation, whose village 
was then about 300 yards from the fort.” And continuing: “ At 
evening Dr. Murray proposed that we should walk into the village, 
and I found it to consist of about one hundred lodges of an oblong 
form, the frame of timber, and the covering mats, made of the 
leaves of flag, or Typha palustris. On our return through the town, 
we called at the lodge belonging to a chief named Waubuschon, 
with whom Dr. Murray was particularly acquainted. The floor was 
covered with mats, on which they sat; but as I was a stranger, I 
was offered a cushion. A wooden bowl was now handed round, con- 
taining square pieces of cake, in taste resembling ginger-bread. On 
enquiry I found it was made of the pulp of the persimon, mixed 
with pounded corn. This bread they called staninca.” (Bradbury, 
(1), pp. 35-87.) 
Less than three weeks elapsed before Brackenridge reached the 
fort in the company of Manuel Lisa. April 25, 1811, “ About eleven, 
came in sight of Fort Osage, situate on a bluff, three miles off, on a 
commanding eminence. ... A number of Indians of the Osage 
nation, of all ages, and sexes, were scattered along the bank, attracted 
by curiosity, some with old buffalo robes thrown over their shoulders, 
others dressed out in the gayest manner. ... On landing at the 
fort, on a very rocky shore, a soldier under arms, who waited for 
us at the water’s side, escorted Mr. Lisa and myself to the fort, 
where we were politely received by the commanding officer. While 
Mr. Lisa was transacting some business, accompanied by Mr. Sibley, 
the factor, and an interpreter, I went to deliver a pipe to Sans 
Oreille, (a warrior, and head man of this tribe) sent to him by 
pen: Clark ..:.. 
“The lodges of the Little Osage, are sixty in number, and within 
gun shot of the fort; but they are about to remove their village to 
a prairie, three miles off. Their lodges are of a circular form, not 
more than ten or fifteen feet in diameter, constructed by placing 
mats, made of coarse rushes, over forks and poles. 
“ All three of the Osage bands, together with some Kansas, were 
lately encamped here for the purpose of trading, to the number of 
fifteen hundred warriors.” (Brackenridge, (1), pp. 216-217.) 
It is more than probable the Little Osage were then returning to 
their distant villages. Within less than three weeks the group of 
dwellings in the vicinity. of the post had been reduced in number 
from about 100 to 60, and undoubtedly before the lapse of many 
