66 Expedition to the 



guage was filled up with words obtained from the Calf, who 

 still remained with us.* 



This encampment was about eighteen miles above the 

 confluence of that tributary of the Arkansa, called in Pike's 

 maps " The First fork," and, by our computation, near one 

 hundred miles from the base of the mountain. James' Peak 

 was still visible, bearing north, 68° west, and the Spanish 

 peaks, the westernmost of which bore south, 40'> west. The 

 observations made here received the most minute and care- 

 ful attention. The moon was at this time too near the sun 

 to admit of taking her distance from that luminary, and too 

 near Antares for an observation. The distance of Spica Vir- 

 ginis was too great, and the star was too near the horizon, 

 yet we trust accurate deductions may be made from the 

 distances, which are given at the end of the volume. 



On the evening of both days, which our Kaskaia guest 

 spent with us, we observed him to commence soon after sun- 

 set, a monotonous and somewhat melancholy chant, which 

 he continued for near an hour. He gave us some account of 

 a battle, which had lately been fought between the Tabba- 

 boos, (Anglo-Americans,) and the Spaniards, in which great 

 guns were used, and when the Spaniards, though superior in 

 number, had been beaten. He appeared well acquainted with 

 the use of fire arms, and challenged one of the party to a 

 trial of skill, in shooting at a mark with the rifle. He had a 

 fusee, kept very carefully in a case of leather, and carried 

 when travelling by his squaw. He was also armed with a bow 

 and some light arrows for hunting, which he carried con- 

 stantly in his hand. He took leave of us, on the morning 

 of the 23d, having received several presents, with which he 

 appeared highly pleased. 



The Arkansa, between this point and the mountains, has 



* The results of several sets of observations gave as the position of this 

 encampment 38«» 12' 22" north latitude, and 103° 46/ 15", westlongitude 

 from Greenwich, or 26° 46.' 1511 from VVashington. 



