JOURNAL. 
#oi 
already made a voyage to the upper Missouri, of which they 
are exceedingly proud, and on that account claim a kind of pre¬ 
cedence over the rest of the crew. We are in all, twenty-five 
men, well armed, and completely prepared for defence. There 
is, besides, a swivel On the bow of the boat, which, in case of at» 
✓tack, would make a formidable appearance: we have also two 
brass blunderbusses in the cabin, one over my birth, and the 
other over that of Mr. Lisa. These precautions were absolutely 
necessary from the hostility of the Sioux bands, Who, of late had 
Committed several murders and robberies on the Whites, and 
manifested such a disposition that it was believed impossible for 
us to pass through their country. The greater part of the mer¬ 
chandise, which consisted of strbuding, blankets, lead, tobacco, 
knives, guns, beads, &c. was concealed in a false cabin, ingeni¬ 
ously contrived for the purpose; in this way presenting as little 
as possible to tempt the savages. But we hoped, that as this 
Was not the season for the coming on the river of the wandering 
tribes, the fall being the usual time, We might pass by unnoticed. 
Mr. Wilson P. Hunt had set off with a large party, about twen¬ 
ty-three days before us, on his way to the Columbia; we anx¬ 
iously hoped to overtake him before he entered the territory of 
the Sioux nation; for this purpose it was resolved to strain eve¬ 
ry nerve, as upon it, in a great measure depended the safety of 
Our voyage. 
Having proceeded a few miles above St. Charles, we put to 
shore, some of our men still remaining at the village. It is ex¬ 
ceedingly difficult to make a start on these voyages, from the re¬ 
luctance of the men to terminate the frolic witn their friends, 
Which Usually precedes their departure. They set in to drink* 
ihg and carousing, and it is impossible to collect them on board* 
Sometimes they make their carousals at the expense of the 
Bourgeois; they are credited by the tavern keeper, who knows 
that their employer will be compelled to pay, to prevent the de¬ 
lay of the vbyage. Many vexatious abuses are practised in these 
Cases. It Was found impossible to proceed any further this evern 
ing; the men in high glee from the liquor they had drank before 
Starting; they were therefore permitted to take their swing, 
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