CHAPTER XVII. 



Journey by land from St. Louis to Council Bluff—- Grand Riv- 

 er — Plains at the sources of the Little Platte^ the Nishne- 

 bottona, &?<:. — Departure of the Expedition from Engineer 

 Cantonment. 



While the transactions above detailed were passing, Ma- 

 jor Long had returned from the seat of Government. 



On the 24th of April 1820, he arrived at St. Louis, on his 

 Way from Philadelphia to Council Bluff, to rejoin the party. 

 He was accompanied by Captain John R. Bell, attached to 

 the exploring Expedition by order from the War Depart- 

 ment, and by Dr. E. James, who had been appointed to 

 serve as botanist and geologist, in consequence of recommen- 

 dations from the Honourable Secretary of the Navy, from 

 Dr. Torrey and Captain Le Conte. 



Having procured horses, and equipped ourselves for a 

 journey in the wilderness, we left St. Louis on the 4th of 

 May, intending to proceed by the most direct route across 

 the country to Council Bluff. 



The lands immediately in the rear of St. Louis, between 

 the Mississippi and the Missouri, below their junction, have 

 an undulated surface, and a deep alluvial soil. Since their 

 occupation by permanent inhabitants, the yearly ravages of 

 fire have been prevented, and a dense growth of oaks and 

 elms has sprung up. 



In this fact we have a satisfactory explanation of the cause 

 of the present want of forest trees in extensive tracts on 

 the Missouri, which appear, in every respect, adapted to the 

 growth of timber. If these lands, called prairies, were at any 

 former period covered with forests, it may easily be sup- 



