102 Expedition to the 



lowing a quantity of ginger, the only medicine with which 

 they were provided. On the following day they entered the 

 forests of the Missouri bottom, and soon after crossed the 

 Tabeau, where a town of the same name, at that time con- 

 taining two houses, had been established. Tabeau is the 

 name of a Canadian hunter, who formerly frequented this 

 region. The creek is navigable to the site of the projected 

 town, about one mile from the Missouri, having for this 

 distance about six feet of water. Four miles from this place 

 they crossed the Little Tabeau, and at evening pitched their 

 tent on a stream called the Little Chneij au Barre, about a 

 mile and an half from the Missouri. Here is a good mill 

 seat. The Great and Little Chneij au Barre are two creeks 

 entering the Missouri about a mile and a half from each 

 other. Before the mouths of these two creeks is a large 

 island, the slough or Chneij dividing this island from the 

 shore, received the additional name of Au Barre from a hun- 

 ter known, by that appellation, who was lost here for some 

 time, successively ascending the two creeks, which he mis- 

 took for the Missouri ; hence the name of Chneij au 

 Barre island, Great and Little Chneij au Barre creek, &c. 



In the afternoon they halted to rest at the. cabin of a hun- 

 ter on Fire Prairie creek, so called from the circumstance 

 of three or four Indians having been burned to death by the 

 sudden conflagration of the dry grass in the meadows at its 

 source. Here Mr. Say had an opportunity to examine a 

 young black wolf, which was confined by a chain at the door 

 of the hut. These animals are common in this part of the 

 country. This individual was one of five that had been ta- 

 ken from the same den. It had become familiar with the 

 hunter and his family, but was shy towards strangers. When 

 fed on meat the ferocity of his disposition manifested itself 

 in attempts to bite the children. It was ordinarily fed on 

 bread and milk. 



This man had been settled here two years, but had not 

 " made a crop," having subsisted himself and his family by 



