473 Expedition to the 



suiting from an apple orchard, for which from a little distance 

 they might readily be mistaken, if seen in a cultivated re- 

 gion. At a few rods distant on our right hand, was a fortifi- 

 ed Indian camp, which appeared to have been recentlv oc- 

 cupied. It was constructed of such broken half-decayed logs 

 of wood as the place afforded, intermixed with some skele- 

 tons of bisons recently killed. It is of a circular form, enclo- 

 sing space enough for about thirty men to lie down upon. 

 The wall is about five feet high, with an opening towards 

 the east, and the top uncovered. 



At a little distance in front of the entrance of this breast- 

 work, was a semicircular row of sixteen bison skulls, with their 

 noses pointing down the river. Near the centre of the circle 

 Avhich this row would describe, if continued, was another skull 

 marked with a number of red lines. 



Our interpreter informed us that this arrangement of skulls 

 and other marks here discovered, were designed to commu- 

 nicate the following information, namely, that the camp had 

 been occupied by a war party of the Skeeree or Pawnee 

 Loup Indians, who had lately come from an excursion against 

 the Cumancias, Ietans, or some of the western tribes. The 

 number of red lines traced on the painted skull indicated the 

 number of the party to have been thirty-six; the position in 

 which the skulls were placed, that they were on their return 

 to their own country. Two small rods stuck in the ground, 

 with a few hairs tied in two parcels to the end of each, sig- 

 nified that four scalps had been taken. 



A record of facts which may be important and interesting 

 to others, is thus left for the benefit of all who may follow. 

 For our part we were glad to be informed, that one lawless 

 and predatory band of savages had lately left the country we 

 were about to traverse. We were never without some anxiety 

 on the subject of Indian war parties, who are known frequent- 

 ly to remunerate themselves for any discomfiture or loss they 

 may have sustained, by making free booty of the property 



