Rocky Mountains. 71 



pid advances of the white population, the town remained in 

 a somewhat declining condition for several years; but as the 

 surrounding country was soon occupied by an agricultural 

 population, a more permanent, though less lucrative exchange 

 is taking the place of the Indian trade. Accordingly within 

 two or three years, many substantial brick buildings had 

 been added, and several were now in progress: we could 

 enumerate, however, only about one hundred houses. There 

 are two brick kilns, a tanyard, and several stores. 



A mile or two below St. Charles, are many trunks of 

 trees projecting from the bank, like those mentioned at Bel- 

 lefontain. In the face of the banks, are usually great num- 

 bers of the holes made by the bank-swallow for its nest, and 

 the birds themselves are frequently seen. 



At St. Charles, arrangements were made for the purpose 

 of transporting baggage for such of the gentlemen of the par- 

 ty as should choose to ascend the Missouri by land, that 

 the) might have the better opportunies for investigating the 

 natural history of the country. Messrs. Say, Jessup, Peale, 

 and Seymour, having provided themselves with a horse and 

 packsaddle, on which they fastened their blankets, a tent, 

 and some provisions, accompanied by one man, left St. 

 Charles at 7 o'clock on the morning of the 26th, intending 

 to keep nearly an equal pace with the steam boat, in order 

 to rejoin it as occasion might require. Dr. Baldwin, still 

 confined by debility and lameness, was compelled to forego 

 the pleasure of accompanying them. 



The Western Engineer proceeded. on her voyage, soon af- 

 ter the departure of Mr. Say and his detatchment. Having 

 grounded several times in the course of the day, and con- 

 tending all the way against a heavy current, she proceeded 

 but a few miles. We passed some rocky cliffs ; but in gene- 

 ral, the immediate banks of the river presented the same 

 appearance as below, consisting of a recent alluvium. Alter 

 we had anchored at evening, Dr Baldwin >was able to walk 



