Rocky Mountains, 63 



plants comprises two sunflowers (H. gigantus and H. peti- 

 olaris.) the great Bartonia, the white argemone, the Cactus 

 ferox^ the Andropogon furcatum and A. ciliaturh^ Cyperus 

 imcinatiis^ Elymus striatus, and a few others. 



Soon after arriving at this encampment, we commenced 

 the separation of our baggage, horses, &c., preparatory 

 to the division of the party. It was now proposed, pursuant 

 to the plan already detailed, that one division, consist- 

 ing of Mr. Say, Mr. Seymour, Lieutenant Swift, the three 

 Frenchmen, Bijeau, Le Doux, and Julien, with five rifle- 

 men, the greater part of the pack-horses, and heavy bag- 

 gage under the direction of Capt. Bell, should proceed down 

 the Arkansa, by the most direct route, to Fort Smith, there 

 to wail the arrival of the other division, while Major Long, 

 accompanied by Dr. James, Mr. Peale, and seven men, 

 should cross the Arkansa, and travel southward in search of 

 the sources of Red river. 



While several of the party were engaged in making these 

 preparations, hunters were sent out, who were so far suc- 

 cessful that they soon returned, bringing two deer, one ante- 

 lope, and seven turkeys. The opportunity of an unoccupied 

 moment was taken to collect from Bijeau an account of some 

 parts of the Rocky mountains which we had not seen. 



Joseph Bijeau (or Bessonet, which is his hereditary name, 

 the former having been derived from a second marriage of 

 his mother,) had performed in a very adequate and faith- 

 ful manner the services of guide and interpreter, from the 

 Pawnee villages to this place. He had formerly been resi- 

 dent in these regions, in capacity of hunter and trapper, dur- 

 ing the greater part of six years. 



He had traversed the country lying between the north fork 

 of the Platte and the Arkansa, in almost every direction. 

 His pursuits often led him within the Rocky Mountains, 

 where the beaver are particularly abundant. He appears 

 possessed not only of considerable acuteness of observation, 



