340 Expedition to the 



Missouri, and established a village on its bank, about lour 

 teen miles below Council Bluff. In this position they re- 

 mained several years; during which time a band of the Ioways 

 took up their residence about one year, on the bank of the 

 river nearly opposite to them, and within about thirty miles 

 of the present site of the Omawhaw village. The Otoes sub- 

 sequently removed to the river Platte, about twenty miles 

 above their present village, but finding the latter situation to 

 be a more eligible one, they permanently established them- 

 selves there, and have already occupied it nearly a half a 

 century. 



The Ioways, after having resided in a village on the lower 

 part of the Missouri a considerable space of time, were re- 

 joined by the band above mentioned, when they abandoned 

 their position, and returned to the waters of the Mississippi 

 and erected a village on the Moyene, where it still remains. 



The Missouries in process of time abandoned their vil- 

 lage near the mouth of the river Missouri, and gradually 

 moving up the river, at length constructed a town on the 

 left bank, near the entrance of Grand river. In this position 

 they were found by the French, who built a fort on an island 

 of the Missouri, in their immediate vicinity, about the be- 

 ginning of the last century. The garrison of this fort was 

 entirely destroyed, according to Du Pratz, soon after its 

 commander, the enterprizing Bourgmont, left it. 



The author whom we have just mentioned further informs 

 us respecting this nation, that " the Spaniards, as well as our 

 other neighbours, being continually jealous of our superiori- 

 ty over them, formed a design of establishing themselves 

 among the Missouries, about forty leagues from the Illinois 

 in order to limit our boundaries westward- They judged it 

 necessary for the security of their colony, entirely to cut off 

 the Missouries, and for that purpose they courted the friend- 

 ship of the Osages, whose assistance they thought would be 

 of service to them in the enterprise, and who were generally 



