16 MEXICAN CAPTIVES.—LITTLE RIVER. 
have seen, towards the southwest, a burning mountain, from which smoke and flames had issued 
for three years. The story is, that the Delaware, while pursuing a bear, followed him into a 
cave ; taking a torch with him, he planted it in a crevice, and, after shooting the bear, left it 
there burning. From this the ground took fire, and could not be extinguished, and the earth 
occasionally crumbles and falls in. If this be not an entire fabrication, it is probable that the 
cave penetrated a vein of bituminous coal. 
The train came up, and after a march of 8.5 miles, we encamped upon a small creek. Here, 
through the kindness of Captain Montgomery, we received, by express, the mail from Fort 
Smith. Mr. Rogers accompanied it, hoping to obtain permission to join our expedition ; but 
the party being complete, it was impossible to comply with his request. This evening, from 
the loquacious Jim, a vocabulary of the Shawnee language was obtained. 
August 11—Camp 17.—Our route to-day passed over an interesting region ; more thickly 
settled, and better cultivated, than any seen since leaving the Choctaw agency. A few miles 
from camp we left on our right the road leading to Little river, and soon afterwards were in a 
labyrinth of trails. We inquired of an Indian for the right road, but gained little satisfaction. 
We doubted whether he understood our wishes, for the few replies his taciturnity allowed him 
to utter seemed to denote that any one would answer our purpose. At length he intimated 
that we might as well follow him. He was mounted upon a spirited horse, and our poor mules 
were somewhat jaded, but we managed to continue a pursuit for about a mile, and then arrived 
at an opening in the forest where were cultivated fields and a few houses. Our Indian friend, 
being now at home, laid aside his dignity, and became quite communicative. He conversed 
fluently in English, but surprised us more by addressing a good looking lad in Spanish. Upon 
inquiry we found that the boy was a Mexican captive and slave. Speaking in Spanish, he told 
his own story in few words, for his master appeared jealous of his holding intercourse with 
strangers. He called himself Pablo. He is the son of Manuel Melendez, of the city of Durango. 
His mother's name was Guadalupe Gonzales. "When very young he was stolen from his friends 
by Comanches. How long he remained with them he does not know; but three and a half 
years since, he was purchased from them by an Indian trader, and sold to this Shawnee. He 
appears to be ten or twelve years old, and is nearly as dark as an Indian. He speaks Spanish 
with ease. He seems quite happy in his present condition, but says he would prefer to return 
to his parents. Another ‘‘Spanish boy,’’ as they are here called, lives with Johnson, a Shawnee. 
Several are owned by Jesse Chisholm, the famous Cherokee guide. One of these captive boys 
is valued at two or three hundred dollars. Nearly all of the more wealthy Indians of this 
country—Shawnees, Creeks, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Cherokees, and Delawares—possess either 
African or Mexican slaves. : 
Upon inquiring of our host the direction to Shawneetown he seemed nonplussed. After a 
while, however, he made us understand that we might already consider ourselves within its 
precincts. The numerous paths are, as it were, streets, uniting the various houses of this 
extensive if not populous.place. From one house to another the distances vary from a few 
hundred yards to half a mile. Taking the direction indicated, we passed through the town, 
with its numerous cultivated fields and gardens, to a small rivulet, some miles beyond, where 
we found the train encamped. The road had proved rough and rocky, shattering the wagons 
and breaking king-bolts. One broken wagon was left behind for repairs. The distance from 
the last camp is but ten miles. Dr. Bigelow, Mr. Marcou, and some others made a detour of 
about a mile to the Canadian ; and, erossing to the opposite side, visited the flourishing settle- 
ment and trading post called Little River. It is pleasantly situated upon the banks of the 
river where a stream bearing the same name as the town flows into the Canadian. Some inter- 
esting collections were made there. Fossil shells were found belonging to strata below the 
coal formation. In the vicinity are fragments of several Indian tribes. The “ Quapois,”” 
according to Shawnee authority, are the remnant of a tribe formerly from Mississippi; but for 
some time they have lived a roving life, and lately moved hither from the West. Their lan- 
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