ANCIENT INHABITANTS, 8tc.—BOOK II. 
HI 
Jijelcl, but this will probably soon be taken from them by the 
greater industry of the American cultivators, who are continu¬ 
ally purchasing, and who can give double the sum for rent; they 
are sometimes employed in hauling lead from the mines, but it 
will not be sufficient for their support. A number have remov¬ 
ed to the country, and, in imitation of the Americans, have set¬ 
tled down on public lands, but here they cannot expect to remain 
long. Those who live in the more remote villages, are less af¬ 
fected by the change, but there is little prospect of their be¬ 
ing better situated. But few of them have obtained permission; 
from the commandant, to settle on lands; in fact, there was no 
safety from the depredations of the Indians, in forming establish¬ 
ments beyond the villages. Land was only valued for what it 
could produce, and any one could obtain as much as he chose 
to cultivate. 
Until possession was taken of the country by us, there was 
no safety from the robberies of the Osage Indians. That impo¬ 
litic lenity, which the Spanish and even the French government 
have manifested towards them, instead of a firm though just 
course, gave rise to the most insolent deportment on their part. 
I have been informed by the people of St. Genevieve, who suf¬ 
fered infinitely the most, that they were on one occasion left 
without a horse to turn a mill. The Osages were never followed 
to any great distance or overtaken ; this impunity necessarily en¬ 
couraged them. They generally entered the neighbourhood of 
the villages, divided into small parties, and during the night, 
stole in and carried away every thing they could find, frequent¬ 
ly breaking open stables, and taking out the horses. After unit¬ 
ing at a small distance, their place of rendezvous, they marched 
leisurely home, driving the stolen horses before them, and with¬ 
out the least dread of being pursued. They have not dared to 
act in this manner under the present government; there have 
been a few solitary instances of robberies by them, within these 
three or four years, but they are sufficiently acquainted with the 
Americans to know, that they will be instantly pursued, even 
into their villages and compelled to surrender. The following 
well attested fact, will serve to show the insolence of the Osages 
under the former government. A young couple on their way 
