170 Expedition to the 



kansa is a ridge of considerable elevation, nearly parallel in 

 direction to the general course of the river. 



In the path we were travelling, we observed tracks indi- 

 cating that men on horseback had recently passed, and in the 

 course of the morning we met a party of six or eight Indians 

 who informed us they were of the Cherokee nation, and that 

 we should be able to arrive at the military post at Belle Point 

 on the following morning. They were on horseback, carry- 

 ing guns, kettles, and other articles suited to a: hunting ex- 

 cursion, which it v/as their purpose to make in the territory 

 of the Osages. Two or three of them had round hats; all 

 had calico shirts, or some other article of foreign fabric, as 

 part of their dress, and, in all, a mean and squalid appear- 

 ance, indicated that they had been in habits of frequent in- 

 tercourse with the whites. They were unable to speak or 

 understand our language, but communicated with considera- 

 ble ease by means of signs. 



At eleven o'clock we halted, and as our provisions were 

 nearly exhausted, most of the party went out to hunt, but 

 were not fortunate in meeting game. We found,rfiowever, 

 some papaw trees, with ripe fruit of an uncommon size and 

 delicious flavor, with which we were able to allay our hunger. 

 The papaw tree attains a much larger size, and the fruit ar- 

 rives at greater perfection in the low grounds of the Arkan- 

 sa than on the Missouri, Ohio, and upper Mississippi, where 

 it is also common. The papaws fall to the ground as soon 

 as fully ripe, and are eagerly sought after b}- the bears, 

 racoons, opossums, &c. 



In the afternopn one of our mules failed so far, that the 

 undivided attention, and the most active exertions of two 

 men were required to keep him moving at the rate of a slow 

 walk. This made it necessary we should encamp, and we 

 accordingly selected a spot in a fine open grove, where we 

 pitched our tent. Among other interesting plants, we col- 



