Rocky Mountains. 45 



with another encampment, where were several families. 

 These Indians have very little acquaintance with the English 

 language, and appeared reluctant to use the few words they 

 knew. The squaws wore great numbers of trinkets, such as 

 silver arm bands and large ear rings. Some of the boys had 

 pieces of lead tied in various parts of the hair. They were 

 encamped near the Mississippi, for the purpose of hunting on 

 the islands. Their village is on Apple creek, ten miles from 

 Cape Girardeau. 



June 2nd. As it was only ten miles to Cape Girardeau, and 

 the progress of the boat extremely tedious, several of the 

 party, taking a small supply of provisions, went on shore, 

 intending to walk to that place. 



Above the settlement of Tyawapatia, and near cape a la 

 Biuche, is a ledge of rocks, stretching across the Mississippi, 

 in a direct line, and in low water forming a serious obstacle 

 to the navigation. These rocks are of limestone, and are 

 placed at the commencement of the hilly country on the 

 Mississippi. Here the landscape begins to have something 

 of the charm of distant perspective. We seem released from 

 the imprisonment of the deep monotonous forest, and can, 

 occasionally, overlook the broad hills of Apple Creek, and 

 the Au Vaise, or Muddy river of Illinois, diversified with a 

 few scattered plantations, and some small natural meadows. 



About five miles above Cape Girardeau we found the steam 

 boat Jefferson, destined for the Missouri. She had been de- 

 tained some time waiting for castings which were on board 

 the Western Engineer. Several other steam boats, with 

 stores for the troops about to ascend the Missouri, had en- 

 tered that river, and were w.ajting to be overtaken by the 

 Jefferson, and the Calhoun, which last we had left at the 

 rapids of the Ohio. On the 3d of June we passed that insu- 

 lar rock in the middle of the Mississippi, called the Grand 

 Tower. It is about one hundred and fifty feet high, and 

 two hundred and fifty in diameter. Between it and the right 



