CHAPTER XV. 



Verdigris river — Mr. Gleri's trading house — New species 

 of lizard — Neosho^ or Grand river — Salt works — Large 

 spider — Illinois creek — Ticks — Arrival at Belle Point. 



September 4th. The face of the country exhibited thesame 

 appearance as that of yesterday's journey, until we arrived at 

 a dense forest, which we supposed to margin the Verdigris 

 river, or Was-su-ja of the Osages. There being no trace to 

 direct us, we were obliged to penetrate the intricate under- 

 growth as we might, and after a tedious and laborious pas- 

 sage of something more than three miles, we attained, proba- 

 bly by a somewhat circuitous route, the river which we had 

 so long vainly sought. At our crossing place the stream was 

 probably eighty yards wide, and one foot in depth, running 

 with a brisk stream over a rocky bed, though above and 

 below, as far as we examined, the depth of water is much 

 more considerable. This river is more rapid and pellucid 

 than any tributary we have passed on this side of the moun- 

 tain streams, and during the season of floods its volume is 

 augmented by the tribute of those ravines over which we pass- 

 ed on the 29th and SOth ult. Late in the afternoon we struck 

 the Osage trace leading from their village to the trading 

 establishment, at the confluence of the Verdigris, whither 

 we now directed our course. Our evening encampment was 

 at a small ravine, in which were some plum bushes, bearing 

 fruit yet unripe, of a fine red colour, and without the slight- 

 est exaggeration, as closely situate on many of the branches, 

 as onions when tied on ropes of straw for exportation. 



Distance 17 3-4 miles. Extreme heat 90 degrees. 



