1 16 Expedition to the 



interpreter, and one of the soldiers were at a little distance 

 in the rear, having accompanied him across the country, 

 from Cow Island, where they had arrived five days after our 

 departure. Mr. Say, and Mr. Jessup had been left sick 

 at Cow Island. We encamped immediately, to give those, 

 who were near, an opportunity of joining us. It will 

 now be necessary to return to the time of Mr. Say's depar- 

 ture from Fort Osage, and briefly to trace the progress of 

 his detachment to the place where a rencontre with a war 

 party of Pawnees, frustrated their design, and made it neces- 

 sary for them to rejoin the steam boat. 



Mr. Say's detachment consisting of twelve men and a boy, 

 furnished with three pack horses for the transportation of 

 baggage, departed from Fort Osage on the evening of Au- 

 gust 6th. Their route lay westward across the woodless 

 plains, about the sources of the Hay Cabin, Blue Water, and 

 Warreruza Creek. The cliffs along the Blue Water are na- 

 ked perpendicular rocks. In the vallies numerous Indian 

 encampments occurred, which appeared not long since to 

 have been occupied. These were most frequently seen at 

 the points, where the streams making almost a complete cir- 

 cuit, and nearly enclosing a small tract of ground, afforded 

 an important protection against the approach of an enemy. 

 The prairies about the head waters of the Warreruza abound 

 in game. Here ravens were first seen by the party, and 

 numbers of large banded rattle-snakes were killed. The 

 blowing flies swarmed in inconceivable numbers, attacking 

 not only the provision of the party, but depositing their eggs 

 upon the blankets, clothing, and even on the furniture of the 

 horses. On the 11th of August they arrived at some ele- 

 vated ridges, from which they overlooked an extensive coun- 

 try, and could trace the whole course of the Wahrengeho, 

 or Full Creek, diverging slightly from the Konzas, and 

 could readily perceive timber upon several of its head 

 branches. The lands between the head waters of Full Creek, 

 and the Konzas are not so good as those about the sources 



