244 Bxpedition to the 



The second party then continues the chase with fresh horses, 

 and pursues the fugitives to the third party, which generally 

 succeeds in so far running them down as to noose and cap- 

 ture a considerable number. 



The name of this nation, agreeably to their own pronun- 

 ciation, is Waw-sash-e; but our border inhabitants speak of 

 them under the names of Huz-zaws and 0-saw-ses^ as well 

 as Osages. The word Wawsashe of three syllables has been 

 corrupted by the French traders into Osage^ and though the 

 spelling of the latter has been retained by the Americans, 

 we have still further swerved from the original, by pronounc- 

 ing the word agreeably to the genius of our language. 



The lodges or huts of their villages are yet covered with 

 the bark of trees, but it is probable that they will adopt the 

 more permanent and preferable architecture of dirt lodges, 

 used by most of the Missouri nations. 



As we proceeded to load our horses, at ten o'clock, in 

 order to continue our journey, we perceived that several 

 small articles, of no great value, had been pilfered from us, 

 by our visitors. T hese are the only losses we have sustained 

 from Indian theft during this protracted journey. During 

 the stay of our party at Fort Osage, last season, Mr. Sibley, 

 Indian factor at that place, politely furnished us with the 

 following information respecting the Osages, being the copy 

 of a report made by him to government in the late war with 

 Great Britain. We present it to the reader in Mr. Sibley's 

 own words: 



'' 1. The Chaneers, or band of the Arkansa — six hundred 

 men — town situated near the mouth of the Verdigris, or 

 branch of the Arkansa — Clermont principal chief. 



" 2. The Great Osages, or White Hair's band — four hun- 

 dred men — town situated near the head of the Osage River — 

 Che-sho-hun-ga principal chief. 



" 3. The Little Osages — two hundred and fifty men—town 

 situated on the Ne-ozho, a branch of the Arkansa — Ne-zu- 

 rus-nee principal chief. 



