408 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
ment, and a compromise was finally effected in 1819, by which the two companies 
were merged into one. Since 1836 Selkirk's settlement has been revived, and is 
now known as Manitoba. At present the posts of the Hudson Bay Company are 
scattered all over British America, and up to about 1840 they had posts within 
the territories of the United States, in Oregon, and traded also east of the mount- 
ains. Within their posts and with their men, and toward the Indians their power 
is despotic. Their traders seriously obstructed the plans of the U. S. Companies 
and broke up John Jacob Astor's traders. 
Beyond these companies there was but little exploring done by the British. 
Jonathan Carver, in 1763, visited the country west of Lake Superior and near 
the head of the Mississippi and published a valuable book which can yet be 
obtained. 
II. American Explorers West of the Mississippi. — My chief object in 
this is to direct attention to those (now) rare books of explorations now difficult 
to obtain, in order that students may know what has been written thereon, es. 
pecially " officially," and procure them if desired. I shall confine myself to the 
period from 1800 to 1850. 
Previous to 1800 the U. S. Government had made several futile attempts at 
creating a trade with the western tribes, but it was left to the keen foresight of 
President Jefferson and the able assistance of Lewis and Clark to make the first 
bold strike. Meriwether Lewis and Wm. Clark led the first exploring expedition 
west of the Mississippi. The main plan of this expedition was conceived by 
President Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis being his secretary. 
May 4, 1804, Lewis and Clark left their encampment at the mouth of Wood 
River opposite the mouth of the Missouri and passed up the Missouri. June 21st, 
they encamped at the mouth of Platte River. November 3d, went into winter 
quarters among the Mandans. April 9, 1805, they proceeded up the Missouri 
and on July 28th reached the forks of the Missouri at the junctions of Madison, 
Gallatin, and Jefferson Rivers. On the 17th of August they reached the extreme 
point of navigation. August 27th they proceeded through the mountains (Bitter 
Root) suffering much for lack of food, and ate horse meat. They passed down 
Kooskookie River, finding great scarcity of game. October loth they reached 
the mouth of Lewis' Fork of the Columbia. November ist they reached the 
Pacific and went into winter quarters, but were very much troubled by frequent 
torrents of rain. March 23, 1806, they set out on their return. Captain Lewis 
by way of the head of the Missouri, and Captain Clark passing up Clark's Fork, 
crossing over to and down the Yellowstone, joining Lewis, August 12th, at the 
mouth of that river. They reached St. Louis September 23, 1806. 
Captain Zebulon Montgomery Pike, in 1805 made a partial exploration of the 
Upper Mississippi, but cold weather forced him to return. 
On June 24, 1806, Gen. James Wilkinson, U. S. Commander of Upper 
Louisiana, issued orders from St. Louis to Capt. Z. M. Pike to accompany cer- 
tain Osage captives to the Osage villages on the Osage River, and if possible to 
accomplish a peace between the Kansas and Osage tribes ; also to establish a 
