Bringier on the Region of the Mississippi, ^c. 33 



Salt Springs. 



Fifteen miles from the village, is the saline which yields 

 the water that gives one-sixth of salt. One Herhart had 

 put up about thirty kettles on that spring. 



Historical Anecdote, 

 But last year the Cherokees persuaded a number of other 

 tribes to join them, and destroy the Osages, in order to take 

 their rich possessions, (for these prairies afford the most fer- 

 tile lands in the United States;) but they were deceived in 

 their expectations. Six hundred and fifty of them, after 

 committing the most atrocious act towards a flag of truce, 

 sent to them by the Osages, were defeated by three hundred 

 and fifty Osages, whom they had even surprised in the night ; 

 but returned home shamefully beaten, after butchering ninety- 

 six women and children whom they traced into a cave, where 

 they had hid-tljemselves. As the Herhart mentioned be- 

 fore, had committed a murder in the Indiana territory, the 

 Cherokees threatened to deliver him to the governor, if he 

 did not draw the Osages into their ambuscade. To effect 

 this object, he did his best; but the Osages mistrusting the 

 propositions of the Cherokees, which Herhart was charged 

 to interpret, refused to come and treat for peace without 

 arms, as they were requested to do. One warrior said he 

 would go, and followed Herhart; as he arrived, the Cherokees 

 fell on him, and while they were disputing who should have 

 the honour of killing a defenceless wretch, having already 

 several spears through his body, " Finish your deed," (said 

 he :) " my death, justifying the opinion we had of your ' ca- 

 nardiere\^ will manifest the wisdom of our old men."f 



The Osages. 



The Osages on the Verdegris, may amount to about four- 

 teen hundred altogether : and they had, in this last engage- 

 ment, all the men they could or can muster. It is said that 

 the White Hare village, on the Osage river, the Missouri 



two villages, and the band de la Chenierre^ amount to » 



^ Decoy — ambush, 

 f Herliart; since thai tirap- ha= ahandonrd h!= Fait ivf>rk= 



VoT>. TTI No. ]. n 



