CHAPTER III. 



Tumuli and Indian graves about St. Louis, and on the Mera- 

 meg— Mouth of the Missouri — Charboniere — Journey by 

 land from St. Charles, to Loutre Island. 



Saint Lours, formerly called Pain Court, was founded 

 by Pierre La Clade and his associates in 1764, eighty -four 

 years after the establishment of Fort Crevecceur, on the Il- 

 linois river. Until a recent period, it was occupied almost 

 exclusively by people of French extraction, who maintain- 

 ed a lucrative traffic with the Indians. The history, and 

 present condition of this important town, are too well known 

 to be dwelt upon in this place. Its population has been 

 rapidly augmented within a few years, by the immigration of 

 numerous families, and its wealth and business extended by 

 the accession of enterprising merchants and mechanics from 

 the Eastern States. As the town advances in importance 

 and magnitude, the manners and customs of the people of 

 the United States, are taking the place of those of the French 

 and Spaniards, whose numbers are proportionally dimin- 

 ishing. As this place seems destined to be the depot for 

 such articles of merchandize, as are to be sent from New 

 Orleans to the upper rivers, it is unfortunate, that no good 

 harbour offers for the protection of boats against the im- 

 petuosity of the current, and from the clanger occasioned 

 by floating ice. In this respect, the site of a projected town, 

 a few miles below, has a decided advantage over Saint Louis, 

 as it possesses a good harbour. It was selected many years 

 since, by some Canadian Frenchman who formed a settle- 

 ment there. 



The horizontal strata of limestone which underlay the 

 town of Saint Louis and the surrounding country, have 



