THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 469 



After leaving this place we fairly entered the Indian 

 country on the west side of the river, for the State of Mis- 

 souri, by the purchase of the Platte River country, contin- 

 ues for about 250 miles further on the east side, where 

 now we see the only settlements. We saw a good num- 

 ber of Indians in the woods and on the banks, gazing at us 

 as we passed; these are, however, partly civilized, and are 

 miserable enough. Major Mason, who commands here at 

 present, is ill, and I could not see him. We saw several 

 fine horses belonging to different officers. We soon passed 

 Watson, which is considered the head of steam navigation. 



In attempting to pass over a shallow, but a short, cut, 

 we grounded on a bar at five o'clock; got off, tried again, 

 and again grounded broadside; and now that it is past six 

 o'clock all hands are busily engaged in trying to get the 

 boat off, but with what success I cannot say. To me the 

 situation is a bad one, as I conceive that as we remain 

 here, the washings of the muddy sands as they float down 

 a powerful current will augment the bar on the weather 

 side (if I may so express myself) of the boat. We have 

 seen another Turkey and many Parrakeets, as well as a 

 great number of burrows formed by the "SifHeurs," as 

 our French Canadians call all and every species of Mar- 

 mots; Bell and I have concluded that there must be not 

 less than twenty to thirty of these animals for one in any 

 portion of the Atlantic States. We saw them even around 

 the open grounds immediately about Fort Leavenworth. 



About half-past seven we fortunately removed our boat 

 into somewhat deeper water, by straightening her bows 

 against the stream, and this was effected by fastening our 

 very long cable to a snag above us, about 200 yards ; and 

 now, if we can go backwards and reach the deep waters 

 along shore a few hundred yards below, we shall be able 

 to make fast there for the night. Unfortunately it is now 

 raining hard, the lightning is vivid, and the appearance 

 of the night forbidding. 



