224 Expedition to the 



occurred in the year 1800, of the small pox, which then al- 

 most desolated his nation. Agreeably to his orders, he was 

 interred in a sitting posture, on his fovourite horse, upon the 

 summit of a high bluff of the bank of the Missouri, " that he 



How long, how long, Saukees, will you continue to disturb the repose of 

 other nations. How long will you, (like the serpent creeping through the 

 grass,) continue to disturb the unsuspecting stranger passing through 

 your country — Be cautious how you disturb the red skins of Missouri, or 

 your women and children shall mourn the loss of husbands and fathers — 

 Husbands aud fathers shall mourn the loss of wives and children. 



Yes, Saukees, the Otoes, Missouries. and Omawhaws, are unwilling to 

 be disturbed any longer. They will no longer suffer you to make slaves 

 of their children, and dance their scalps in your villages. 



Saukees, be cautious, you live in the woods, and the game of your coun- 

 try is nearly exhausted. You will soon have to desert those woods, in 

 which the red skins of Missouri can't find you, and follow the buffaloe in 

 the plains, where the red skins are not less brave than you, and as numer- 

 ous as the buffaloe. — As long as you have the wood to conceal your war- 

 riors, you may continue to disturb the women and children of Missouri; 

 but when hunger drives you from those woods, your bodies will be expos- 

 ed to balls, to arrows, and to spears. You will only have time to discharge 

 your guns, before on horseback, their spears will spill your blood. I know 

 that your guns are better than those of Missouri, and you shoot them well 

 — But when you reach the prairies, thej' will avail you nothing against the 

 Otoes, Missouries, Omawhaws, and Pawnees — As you have seen the 

 whirlwind break and scatter the trees of your woods, so will jour war- 

 riors bend before them on horseback — (Here B. O'Fallon paused, to give 

 the Saukees an oportunity to reply, when one of their most distinguished 

 partizans, rose and spoke with energy and animation, recounting many 

 of his feats in war. He mentioned how often he had struck upon the 

 tribes of Missouri, and that the Otoes had killed his brother, whom he 

 loved^ as a father, and whose spirit could not be appeased as long as an 

 Oto walked erect upon the earth. He also spoke of the difficulty of 

 restraining his young warriors, who were unwilling to die in obscurity.— 

 To which B. O'Fallon spoke to the following effect. 



Saukees! One of your partizans, forgetting to whom he was speaking, 

 has had the presumption to recount his feats in war, how often he had 

 struck the red skins of Missouri, and to insinuate that he was unwilling to 

 restrain his young men — I believe him to be a man of sense, but he has 

 spoken without reflection, he has spoken like a fool. 



Saukees! It has always been, and still is my business to prevent, (if 

 possible,) the effusion of human blood — to give peace and happiness to the 

 land — but when 1 can't stop the running of blood, I will probe the wound, 

 and make it run more fast. 



I wish you to understand that the Otoes and Missouries, though few in 

 number, and much exposed, do not beg for peace, and I do not ask it for 

 them. They have cot as yet revenged the death of some of their murder- 

 ed countrymen, the spirits of these dead are not satisfied — No Saukees! 

 These red skins whom you persecute, have opened their ears to my words, 

 and are constantly looking towards me. They do not wish a dishonoura- 

 ble peace. I would sooner see you drink their blood, than suffer them to 



