230 JOURNAL. 
from a celebrated chief of the Mahas, who caused himself to be 
interred on the top: a mound has been erected on the pinnacle, 
with a branch stuck in it, a flag was formerly attached to it— 
He was buried, sitting erect on horse back; the reason why he 
chose this spot, was to enable him to see the traders as they as¬ 
cended. This chief was as famous in his lifetime amongst all 
the nations in this part of the world, as Tamerlane or Bajazet 
were in the plains of Asia; a superstitious awe is still paid to his 
grave. Yet, the secret of his greatness was nothing more nor 
less than a quantity of arsenic, which he procured from some 
trader. He denounced death against any one who displeased 
him, or opposed his wishes: it is therefore not surprising, that 
he, who held at his disposal the lives of others, should possess 
unlimited power, and excite universal terror. The proud sa¬ 
vage. whenever this terrible being appeared, rendered the ho¬ 
mage of a slave. The gods and heroes of antiquity, were, per¬ 
haps, little better. We may learn this lesson, that ignorant and 
savage man, can only be ruled through the means of fear. 
At four o’clock, got through the last bend, and hoisted sail, 
wi h a fine wind—sailed along some hills, S. W. side, and en¬ 
camped amongst some cotton wood, in a low bottom. 
Sunday 19 th. Continued our voyage this morning at day¬ 
light, with sanguine expectations of overtaking the party of Hunt, 
at the Maha village. Passed the bluff’s; some of them very cu¬ 
rious, faced with a sand rock, of variegated and fantastic hues; at 
the first glance, it resembles the decorations of a theatre. Con¬ 
tinued with little interruption, under sail, and arrived about 
twelve at some trading houses, near which, the Maha village k 
situated, about two miles from the river. We saw a few Indi¬ 
ans on the bank, and several traders with them, men who were 
on the point of setting off with their peltries. Hunt set out from 
this on the 15th, under sail. 
Remaining here as short a time as possible, we continued our 
voyage, having sent our interpreter and an Indian, by land, to 
the Poncas, to request Hunt to wait for us. The wind continu¬ 
ed until towards evening, when it gradually died aw’ay. En¬ 
camped near Floyd’s bluff, and river, fourteen miles above the 
