424 Ex. Doc. No 41. 



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tention, and now threw away the stick that he had at first resolved 

 to take home and show to his people, v ' 



Our Indian friends intended leaving here yesterday, but as they 

 get well fed, and have nbtliing to pay, they are not over anxious 

 to ffo away. , 



In the evening I was carried down to the river, and took a bath 

 in the refreshing waters of the Arkansas. Between the fort and 

 the river there :s a low piece of ground that was once cultivated, 

 the traces of the " Acequia," by which it was irrigated, are yet 

 visible, but the Indian destroyed everything before the owners could 

 reap the fruits of their labor; hence, although the soil gave great 

 promise of being productive, it has ever sipce been neglected. 

 This bottom land was now chequered with brilliant masses of color, 

 produced by the groups of plants which were growing in great 

 luxuriance. The p-olden rnd.rS: nUisQimQ ^ the purp. Eupatorium, 





(E. purpurea,) 



(S. altissima,) 



raargi- 

 ether, clad in their brightest 



huesj and the sandy plain that skirted the bottom was varied with 

 the golden gourd, cucumis perenius, and a beautiful species of so- 



lance. 



tb 



6J feet in length from the end of the nose to the root of the tail: 

 It had been killed on the Canadian by the Kioways. I also exam- 

 ined some skins of the grey and white wolves; and, from all I can 

 learn, these animals are one and the same kind, as the grey wolf 

 becomes^ whiter as it advances in age. Some of The skins we/e 

 white, some grey, and others in a transition state. 



September 1. — I obtained several singular plants, and amongst 



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th 



them a beautiful species of the lobelia; and I had scarce finished, 

 my drawihgs of them, when "Nah-moust" and « Ah-mah-nah-co" 

 knocked at the door of my room. I showed them my port-folio, 

 and got them to give ' " " ^ -r. . , 



that they knew. After making a complete inspection of my port- 

 lolio, I induced *' Ah-mah-nah-co" to sit forme; he willingly com- 

 ? j1' T^-' '^^^^^^^g ^is attitude, sat perfectly motionless until I '^ 

 had both drawn and painted my sketch. I then showed it to him, 

 whereupon he seemed much pleased, and after regarding it for some 

 time, he desired me to write his name underneath; I commenced 



and he gave me two names, first, " Nah-moust," and then " Ah- 

 ■lah-nah-co," which means the bear above. The surname had beea 



bestowed in accordance with an Indian custo'm",' sirailar to that of 

 the knights of ancient chivalry, who always received a surname 

 after they had done some valiant deed. 



Our Indian friends have become completely domiciled here, where 

 they are fed and have every thing they need furnished to them; for 

 If their wishes were not gratified, they would not bring their furs 

 to this place to trade. As food is scarce, the people of the fort are 

 obliged to give them something to eat, and the Indians never fail 

 to be present. at meal times. 



^:^t.Vl'^.^."^^'^, ""^^^^^ " Isse-wo-ne-mox-ist," supplied his family 



With fish that he caught in a species of dam or trap that he had 



lu' 



