268 Expedition to the 



The band of Cherokees now residing on the Arkansahave 

 recently removed from the east side of the Mississippi. 

 They are almost exclusively agriculturists, raising large 

 crops of corn, and cotton enough for clothing their families, 

 which they manufacture in their own houses. 



After dinner we proceeded a few miles, taking with us 

 one of Graves' sons, as a guide, who lead us to a place af- 

 fording good pasture for our horses. Here we encamped. 



24th. From the settlement of the Cherokees at Rocky Bay- 

 ou, our route lay towards the east across a succession of 

 rocky hills sparingly wooded with oak, intermixed with the 

 cornus florida, attaining an unusual magnitude. 



As we descended towards the Arkansa, we perceived be- 

 fore us the cabins and plantations of another settlement of 

 Cherokees. Passing near a wretched and neglected tenement, 

 we observed a white man who appeared to be the occupant, 

 and called upon him to direct us to the place, where, as we had 

 been told, the river could be forded. It was not until we 

 had repeated our request several times, that he seemed dis- 

 posed to give any attention. He then approached at a snail's 

 pace, and sitting down upon the ground, drawled out 

 his direction, terminating each word with a long and hearty 

 yawn. The depression and misery, which seemed written 

 on his features, and the sallowness of his complexion, con- 

 vinced us that disease, as well as native indolence had some 

 share in occasioning the apparent insolence he had shown, 

 and cured us of any wish we might have felt to reproach 

 him. 



Following a winding pathway, which led through deep 

 tangled thickets, and heavy cane brakes, we arrived at the 

 ford, and crossing without difficulty, halted at the settlement 

 of Walter Webber a young chief of the Cherokees. Here we 

 found the gentlemen of our party who had left the garrison 

 before us. 



The chiefs of the Cherokee nation had called a grand 



