2 22 
JOURNAL 
At two o’clock we hoisted sail at the beginning of a long 
reach, to the great joy of the whole company. High prairies S, 
W. side—continued under sail through another long reach, and 
had a view of the old Kansas village, at the upper end of it. It 
is a high prairie ; smooth waving hills, perfectly green, with a 
few clumps of trees in the hollows. But for the scarcity of tim¬ 
ber this would be a delightful situation for a town At this 
place, the bend of the river rendered the wind unfavorable— 
Continued under oars about 3 miles further, having in the course 
of this day made thirty three miles. 
Wednesday , Is? May. Very high wind all last night. Em¬ 
barked this morning about daylight, and continued under sail 
until six o’clock. Upland N. E. side, thinly timbered. It may 
be remarked, that the hills of the Missouri are not so high as 
those of the Ohio, seldom rocky, and rise more pleasantly from 
the water’s edge. Continued under sail until eleven, when we 
were brought off by a considerable bend in the river. Passed St. 
Michael’s prairie, a handsome plain in front, with variegated hills 
in the back ground, and but little wood. At two o’clock we 
came to a very great bend in the river, but did not gel through 
until evening. The river from being narrow, changes to an un¬ 
usual width, and very shallow. We were detained about an 
hour, having been so unlucky as to run aground. 
Saw but one or two deer to day, as we approach the open 
country their numbers will be found to diminish, there being no 
thickets to shelter them. They are said to lessen perceptibly 
from Nodawa river upwards. 
In the evening, the weather, which has been for some days 
cloudy, cleared up, and the wind abated entirely : the Missouri 
and its scenery appeared in their natural state. The wind also 
became calm, and seemed to harmonize with nature. The river 
is falling fast, approaching to a low stage of water—came to day 
twentyiseven miles. 
Thursday 2d Embarked at daylight, the river unruffled by 
a breeze; the birds, as if rejoicing that the strife of the elements 
had ceased, tuned their sweetest notes. 
At seven o’clock, breakfasted opposite some bluffs N. E. 
side. A very large mass appeared at no distant period) to have 
