THE MISSOURIUM. 15 
name of the Big Bone river, as well as the Osage, of which the 
Pomme de Terre is a branch. From this time the Indians 
brought their yearly sacrifice to this place, and offered it up to 
the Great Spirit as a thank offering for their timely deliverance; 
and more latterly, they have offered their sacrifice on the table 
rock previously mentioned, which was held in great veneration, 
and considered holy ground. 
This ceremony was kept up with the utmost rigidity until 
one of the white emigrants settled in the valley at the foot of 
the rock, with the intention of making himself and family a 
permanent residence on this fertile spot; but he did not long 
enjoy this beautiful situation, for on the return of the Indians 
to offer their wonted sacrifice, they beheld with indignation and 
astonishment the intrusion of this venturesome settler on their 
sacred ground. Soon the council fire was kindled, when the 
Indians gave their accustomed murmur of dissatisfaction, and 
immediately the white man was obliged to leave, without the 
least preliminary ceremony. Some time after this, on becom- 
ing better acquainted with his red neighbours, and having 
through much perseverance gained their good opinion, after 
much reluctance on their part, and explanations and assurances 
that he would not infringe on their sacred privileges, and would 
only raise corn and potatoes for his family, he was once more 
permitted to settle on this sacred spot, of which he retained 
peaceable possession until the return of some old chiefs, who 
had been for a long time absent. They in turn were exasperated 
to madness on seeing the violation of the sacred ground of their 
forefathers by the encroachment of the white man, and again 
the poor farmer was obliged toleave. From that time this spot 
remained in the hands of the Indians, and no entreaty or allure- 
ment could be held out to induce them to resign it, until they 
were removed by the government; it then for the third time 
fell into the hands of the original settler, who joyfully took 
possession of the place he had so long desired to make his 
home. 
After a while other settlers arrived, and as the want of a mill 
for grinding their different kinds of grain began to be felt— 
each family haying hitherto been obliged, in order to obtain a 
