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Notice of ‘the Malleable Tron of Lowisvana. 227 
iheir party went down in a boat with the iron, while oth- 
ers took the horses down by land. From Natchitoches the 
metal was taken down the Red River and Mississippi to 
New-Orleans, whence it was shipped to New-York.* : 
~ In February, 1812. John Maley, a man who, with a ro- 
ving disposition appears to have possessed a strong and in- 
quiring though uncultivated mind, went with a few asso- 
ciates up the Red River, witha view to explore the coun- 
try, 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 re- 
muneration for them demanded by the Indians, he con- 
tinued his tour farther west. Returning he contract- 
ed to barter for the pieces of metal a certain quantity 
of merchandize ; to procure which he returned to Natchi- 
toches 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 merchandize and horses, were compelled to return 
on foot relinquishing their object.t 
Undoubtedly therefore two masses at least of this metal _ 
still remain in that region, and wil) probably at some future 
time enrich some cabinet of natural history. Their pre- 
cise 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 those regions. | 
Some hundred miles above Natchitoches, on the banks of 
the Red River, is a Pawnee village : south-west of which, 
about 50 or 60 miles are the probable localities of this 
metal.—The distances however of this village above Natch- 
itoches, and of these localities from the village are various: 
ly stated. 
‘‘ We were informed by the Indians,” says Capt. Glass, 
“ of a remarkable piece of metal some days journey to the 
southward [of the Pawnee village] on the River Brassos.” 
* Letter from Dr. John Sibley, Indian agent at Natchitoches, to Prot. 
Silliman, dated June 2nd, 1822. 
+ “ Journal of Travels up the Red River, &c. by John io Malet Gis: het 
pp. 180. 
