448 Expedition to the 



Pomme blanche, so called by the Canadian traders and boat- 

 men, which is the root of the Psoralea esculenta. It is eaten 

 either boiled or roasted, and somewhat resembles the sweet 

 potatoe. 



At ten o'clock, on the morning of the 13th, we commenc- 

 ed crossing the river, opposite the village. This we found 

 an undertaking of some difficulty, as the current was rapid, 

 and the bottom partook something of the nature of quick- 

 sands. Major Long, Mr. Say, and one or two others, who 

 were riding at the head of our line, had nearly crossed, and 

 were wading their horses about mid-sides deep in the water, 

 when they were suddenly thrown from their saddles by the 

 sinking of their horses feet in the sand; the horses, however, 

 extricated themselves by their own exertion; and those of 

 the party who had experienced this unexpected immersion, 

 were greeted, upon their standing up in the water, by the 

 shouts and acclamations of the Pawnees who lined the shore 

 we had left. Major Long's gun and jacob-staff, as well as 

 Mr. Say's gun, blanket, and other articles, were dropped 

 into the river; all of these were, however, recovered except 

 the blanket; and Mr. Say, having lost the greater part of his 

 furniture at the river of Souls, by the ill-timed activity of his 

 horse, was now, in a great measure, unencumbered with 

 baggage. At length, by leading our horses, we arrived in 

 safety on the opposite shore, where we encamped, intending 

 to make some further barters with the Pawnees, and to dry 

 some of our baggage, guns, &c. which had been wet in 

 crossing. 



The sand of this river, which in the aggregate has a very 

 white appearance, consists principally of minute grains of 

 transparent quartz, mixed with some which are red, yellow, 

 and variously coloured. The shore, opposite the Loup village, 

 is covered with shrubs and other plants, growing among 

 •the loose sands. One of the most common is a large flowering 

 rose, rising to about three feet high, and diffusing a most 



