Rocky Mountains. 153 



far as the eye can reach. The river is here and there 

 seen meandering in serpentine folds, along its broad valley, 

 chequered with woodlands and prairies, while at a nearer 

 view you look down on an extensive plain interspersed with 

 a few scattered copses or bushes, and terminated at a dis- 

 tance by the Council Bluff. 



This position is about five miles above that selected for 

 the wintering post of the exploring party. At the last men- 

 tioned place, a very narrow plain or beach, closely covered 

 with trees, intervenes between the immediate bank of the 

 river, and the bluffs, which rise near two hundred feet, but 

 are so gradually sloped as to be ascended without great dif- 

 ficulty, and are also covered with trees. This spot presented 

 numerous advantages for the cantonment of a small party 

 like ours. Here were abundant supplies of wood and stone, 

 immediately on the spot where we wished to erect our ca- 

 bins, and the situation was sheltered by the high bluffs from 

 the northwest winds. The place was called Engineer Can- 

 tonment. On the 26th of September, Mr. Say and Mr. 

 Jessup, arrived in the flotilla from Cow Island, in company 

 with Col. Morgan, Dr. Gale, and captain Magee, They 

 had both nearly recovered their health, and entertained the 

 liveliest sense of the eminent politeness and hospitality, 

 which had been conferred on them by the above named gen- 

 tlemen, as well as the other officers of the military expedi- 

 tion. 



About one hundred Ottoes, together with. a deputation of 

 the Ioway nation, who had been summoned to a council by 

 Major OFallon, presented themselves at our camp on the 

 3d of October. The principal chiefs advanced before their 

 people, and upon invitation seated themselves. After a short 

 interval of silence Shoiiga-tonga, the Big- horse, a large, port- 

 ly Indian of a commanding presence, arose, and said, " My 

 father, your children have come to dance before your tent 



vol. r. 20 



