VISITED BY NATIVES. 
75 
cation with them, two were induced to get into the 
boat and come on board ; as I expected, my boy 
Wylie fully understood the language spoken in this 
part of the country, and could converse with them 
fluently. Through him I learnt that they had never 
seen white people before the Mississippi anchored 
here, which was somewhat singular, considering the 
frankness with which they visited us, and the degree 
of confidence they appeared to repose in us. Of the 
interior I could gain no satisfactory account, they 
said that as far inland as they were acquainted with 
the country, it was similar to what we saw, that 
there was an abundance of water in the valleys in 
small wells, that there was a lake and fresh water 
river, but that there was little or no wood anywhere. 
In turn they were curious to know where we had 
come from, or where we were going ; but Wylie, 
who in this respect, at least, was prudent and cau- 
tious, told them that we had come from the eastward 
to join the ship, and were now going to remain. 
Finding I could gain no further useful information, 
presents of fish and biscuits were made to them, and 
they were put on shore, highly pleased with their 
visit. During the remainder of my stay, I had no 
further opportunity of entering into conversation 
with these people, as the weather was generally 
wild, and they could not procure much shelter or 
fire-wood on the coast, had they come down to 
see us. 
A few days before I contemplated commencing 
