Rocky Mountains. 435 



The Frenchmen, had, on their way, caught a horse, be- 

 longing to Mr. J. Dougherty, and intended tor the use of 

 his brother, who was of our party. He had escaped several 

 weeks previous, from Engineer Cantonment, and since 

 that time had been wandering in the prairies. This form- 

 ed a valuable addition to our stock of horses, as a number 

 of them were already unfit for service, on account of sore 

 backs. 



The Frenchmen and Indians were supplied with provisions 

 from our packs, and proceeded immediately on their way, 

 intending to reach the Pawnee villages the same evening. 



At a late hour in the afternoon we resumed our journey, 

 and at the distance of four miles from Beaver creek, crossed 

 the creek of Souls, a small and muddy stream, in which two 

 of the pack-horses fell, again wetting our baggage. 



At sunset we arrived at a small creek, eleven miles dis- 

 tant from the village of the Grand Pawnees, where we en- 

 camped. 



On the following morning, having arranged the party ac- 

 cording to rank, and given the necessary instructions for the 

 preservation of order, we proceeded forward and in a short 

 time came in sight of the first of the Pawnee villages. The 

 trace on which we had travelled since we left the Missouri, 

 had the appearance of being more and more frequented as 

 we approached the Pawnee towns; and here, instead of a 

 single footway, it consisted of more than twenty parallel 

 paths, of similar size and appearance. At a few miles dis- 

 tance from the village, we met a party of eight or ten squaws 

 with hoes and other instruments of agriculture, on their way 

 to the corn plantations. They were accompanied by one 

 young Indian, but in what capacity, whether as assistant, pro- 

 tector, or task master, we were not informed. After a ride of 

 about three hours, we arrived before the village, and des- 

 patched a messenger to inform the chief of our approach. 



Answer was returned that he was engaged with his chiefs 



