Rocky Mountains. 97 



and arrived at the margin of a wide grassy plain, which 

 spread before them as unvaried, and apparently as bound- 

 less as the ocean, and which is said to extend uninterrupted, 

 near three hundred miles to the Arkansa. 



At evening a soldier came on board the boat, who had 

 been sent express from colonel Chambers' command. He 

 brought intelligence that the detachment had arrived within 

 fifteen miles of Fort Osage, and that their provisions were 

 nearly exhausted. 



Charaton, where we arrived on the 22d, is a small village, 

 its settlement having been commenced in the year 1817. It 

 is, however, in a flourishing condition, and from the advan- 

 tages of its situation, promises to become one of the most 

 important towns on the Missouri. It does not stand imme- 

 diately on the bank of the Missouri, but of the Charaton 

 river, about seven hundred yards above its mouth. Chara- 

 ton will be the depot of merchandise, for a large extent of 

 fertile country, which lies towards the north and east. At this 

 time, the settlement contained about fifty houses, and near 

 five hundred inhabitants, on a spot where two years previous, 

 no permanent habitation had been established. Such is the 

 rapidity, with which the forests of the Missouri are becoming 

 filled with an enterprising and industrious population. 



Charaton river is seventy-five yards wide at its mouth, 

 and navigable, at high water, one hundred and fifty miles. 

 Half a mile from its confluence with the Missouri, it re- 

 ceives the Little Charaton, also a considerable stream, and 

 navigable for many miles. The Charaton originates near 

 the De Moyen river of the Mississippi, and traverses a 

 country which is of great importance, both on account of the 

 fertility of its soil, and its inexhaustible mines of coal. The 

 Western Engineer, being the first steam boat that had ever 

 ascended the Missouri, above Charaton, great numbers of 

 the settlers were attracted to the banks of the river, on both 

 sides to witness our progress. So numerous were the obstacles 



vol. r. 13 



