Narrative of a Journey across the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River, and a visit to the Sandwich Islands, Chili, etc. With a scientific appendix

Appendix

. BY JOHN K. TOWNSEND, Member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia . PHILADELPHIA: HENRY PERKINS, 134 CHESTNUT STREET. BOSTON: PERKINS 6- MARVIN. 1839. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1839, by John K. Townsend, in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. MERRIHEW AND THOMPSON, PRINTER^,*' No. 7 Carter's Alley.

ADVERTISEMENT.

. The Columbia River Fishing and Trading Company was formed in 1834, by several individuals in New York and Boston. Capt. Wyeth, having an interest in the enterprise, collected a party of men to cross the continent to the Pacific, with the purpose chiefly of establishing trading posts beyond the Rocky Mountains and on the coast. The idea of making one of Capt. Wyeth's party was suggested to the author by the eminent botanist, Mr. Nuttall, who had himself determined to join the expedition across the North American wilderness. Being fond of Natural History, particularly the science of Ornithology, the temptation to visit a country hitherto unexplored by naturalists was irresistible ; and the following pages, originally penned for the family-circle, and without the slightest thought of publication, will furnish some account of his travels.

I >, ERRATA. Page 9, sixth line ofthe Contents, for "sharon," read charon. Page 79, ninth line from the bottom, for " for which we have exchanged, read which we have exchanged for. Page 84, for " methiglen," read metheglin. Page 120, third line of the chapter, for " winnowing," read winnying. Page 248, third line from the bottom, for " hallowed," read hallooed. Page 286, third line from the bottom, in note, for " dulcits," read dulcis. CONTENTS. Chapter I. Arrival at St. Louis— Preparations for the journey— Saque Indians — Their appearance, dress, and manners — Squaws — Commencement of a pedestrian tour — Sandhill cranes — Prairie settlers — Their hospitality — Wild pigeons, golden plovers and prairie hens — Mr. P. and his daughters — An abundant repast — Simplicity of the prairie maidens — A deer and turkey hunt — Loutre Lick hotel — A colored charon — Comfortable quarters — Young men of the west-— Reflections on leaving home — Loquacity of the inhabitants — Gray squirrels — Boonville — Parroquets — Embarkation in a steamboat — Large catfish — Accident on board the boat — Arrival at Independence — Description of the town — Encampment of the Rocky Mountain company — Character of the men — Preparation for departure— Requisites of a leader — Backwoods familiarity — Milton Sublette and his band — Rev. Jason Lee, the missionary — A letter from home — Mormonites — Military discipline and its consequences, 9 Chapter.

II. Departure of the caravan — A storm on the prairie — Arrangement of the camp — Kanzas Indians — Kanzas river — Indian lodges — Passage of the river — Buffalo canoes — Kanzas chief — Upper Kaw village — their wigwams — Catfish and ravens — Return of Mr. Sublette — Pawnee trace — Desertion of three men — Difficulties occasioned by losing the trail — Intelligence of Mr. Sublette's party — Escape ofthe band of horses — Visit of three Otto Indians — Anecdote of Richardson, the chief hunter — his appearance and character — White wolves and antelopes — Buffalo bones — Sublette's deserted camps — Lurking wolves, 27 Chapter III. Arrival at the Platte river — Wolves and antelopes — Anxiety of the men to see buffalo — Visit of two spies from the Grand Pawnees — Forced march — A herd of buffalo — Elk — Singular conduct ofthe horses — Killing a buffalo — Indian mode of procuring buffalo — Great herd — Adventure with an Indian in the tent — Indian feat with bow and arrow — Notice of the Pawnee tribes — Disappearance of the buffalo from the plains of the Platte — A hunting adventure — Killing a buffalo — Butchering of a bull — Shameful destruction of the game — Hunters' mode of quenching thirst, .... 42 Chapter IV.

Change in the face of the country — Unpleasant visitation — N. fork of the Platte — A day's journey over the hills — Poor pasture — Marmots — Rattlesnake and gopher — Naturalist's success and sacrifices — A sand storm — Wild horses — Killing of a doe antelope — Bluffs — The Chimney — " Zip Koon," the young antelope — Birds — Feelings and cogitations of a naturalist — Laramie's fork — Departure of two " free trappers" on a summer " hunt" — Black hills— Red butes — Sweet-water river, and Rock Independence — Avocets — Wind river mountains — Rocky Mountain sheep — Adventure with a grizzly bear — Rattlesnakes — Toilsome march, and arrival at Sandy river — Suffering of the horses — Anticipated delights of the rendezvous, . . 57 Chapter V. Arrival at the Colorado — The author in difficulty — Loss of a journal, and advice to travelling tyros — The rendezvous — Motley groups infesting it — Rum drinking, swearing, and other accomplishments in vogue — Description of the camp — Trout — Abundance of game — Cock ofthe plains — VI CONTENTS.

Leave the rendezvous — An accession to the band — A renegade Blackfoot chief — Captain Stewart and Mr. Ashworth — Muddy creek — More carousing — Abundance of trout — Bear river — A hard day's march — Volcanic c«untry — White-clay pits and " Beer spring" — Rare birds and common birds — Mr. Thomas McKay — Captain Bonneville's party — Captains Stewart and Wyeth's visit to the lodge of the "bald chief" — Blackfoot river — Adventure with a grizzly bear — Death of " Zip Koon" — Young grizzly bears and buffalo calves — A Blackfoot Indian — Dangerous experiment of McKay — the three " Tetons" — Large trout — Shoshone river — Site of " Fort Hall" — Preparations for a buffalo hunt 72 Chapter VI. Departure of the hunting camp — A false alarm— Blackfeet Indians — Requisites of a mountain-man — Good fare, and good appetites — An experiment — Grizzly bears — Nez Perce Indian — Adventure with a grizzly bear — Hunters' anecdotes — Homeward bound — Arrival at " Fort Hall" — A salute — Emaciation from low diet — Mr. McKay's company — Buffalo lodges- - Effects of judicious training — Indian worship — A " Camp Meeting" — Mr. Jason Lee, a favorite — A fatal accident and a burial 92 Chapter VII.

Departure of McKay's party, Captain Stewart, and the missionaries — Debauch at the fort — Departure ofthe company — Poor provision — Blackfeet hunting ground — Sufferings from thirst — Goddin's creek — Antoine Goddin, the trapper — Scarcity of game — A buffalo — Rugged mountains — More game — Unusual economy — Habits of the white wolf — " Thornburg's pass" — Difficult travelling — The captain in jeopardy among the snow — A countermarch — Deserted Banneck camp — Toilsome and dangerous passage of the mountain — Mallade river — Beaver dams, and beaver — A party of Snake Indians — Another Banneck camp — " Kamas prairie" — Indian mode of preparing the kamas — Racine blanc, or biscuit root — Loss of horses by fatigue — Boisee or Big-wood river — Salmon — Choke-cherries, &c. 110 Chapter VIII. A substitute for game, and a luxurious breakfast — Expectations of a repast, and a disappointment — Visit of a Snake chief — his abhorrence of horse meat — A band of Snake Indians — their chief — Trade with Indians for salmon — Mr. Ashworth's adventure — An Indian horse-thief — Visit to the Snake camp — A Banneck camp — Supercilious conduct of the Indians — Snake river — Equipment of a trapping party — Indian mode of catching salmon — Loss of a favorite horse — Powder river — Cut rocks — Grand Ronde — Captain Bonneville — Kayouse and Nez Perce Indians— An Indian beauty — Blue mountains— A feline visit, 129 Chapter IX.

Passage of the Blue mountains — Sufferings from thirst — Utalla river — A transformation — A novel meal — Columbia river and Fort Walla-walla — A dinner with the missionaries — Anecdote of Mr. Lee — Brief notice of the Fort — Departure of the missionaries — Notice ofthe Walla-walla Indians — Departure for Fort Vancouver — Wild ducks — Indian graves — Visits from Indians — Ophthalmia, a prevalent disease — A company of Chinook Indians — The Dalles — The party joined by Captain Wyeth— Embarkation in canoes — A heavy gale — Dangerous navigation — Pusillanimous conduct of an Indian helmsman — A zealous botanist — Departure of Captain Wyeth with five men — Cascades — A portage — Meeting with the missionaries — Loss of a canoe— A toilsome duty — Arrival at Fort Vancouver — Dr. John MoLoughlin, the chief factor — Domiciliation of the travellers at Fort Vancouver, 150 Chapter X. Fort Vancouver— Agricultural and other improvements — Vancouver "camp" — Expedition to the Wallammet — The falls — A village of CONTENTS.

VII Klikatat Indians — Manner of flattening the head — A Flathead infant — Brig " May Dacre" — Preparations for a settlement — Success of the naturalists — Chinook Indians — their appearance and costume — Ague and fever — Desertion of the Sandwich Islanders — Embarkation for a trip to the Islands — George, the Indian pilot — Mount Coffin — A visit to the tombs— Superstition — Visit to an Indian house — Fort George — Site of Astoria — A blind Indian boy — Cruel and unfeeling conduct of the savages — their moral character — Baker's Bay — Cape Disappointment— Dangerous bar at the entrance of the river — The sea beach — Visit of Mr. Ogden — Passage across the bar — Sea birds — Landsmen at sea — A sperm, whale — Albatrosses, &c. — Tropic birds — A "school" of whales — Dolphins — Make, the Sandwich Islands — Oahu— A rhapsody, 170 Chapter XI.

Honoruru — Canoes — Amphibious habits —Capt. Charlton, H. B. M. consul — Mr. Jones, the American consul — reception by him — Description ofthe town, and ofthe natives — Party-colored hair ofthe women — The pagoda — A visit from Rev. Hiram Bingham, the missionary — Opinions regarding the missionary fraternity — First view of the king, Kauikeaouli — his train — Seamen's chapel — A visit to the native church — Kinau and Kekuanoa — Orderly conduct of the natives during worship — Introduction to the king — His fondness for the chase, and athletic exercises — Native food — Manner of eating — The rumi-rumi — its efficacy — A Lu-au party — The valley of Nuano — A visit to the Pari — The last battle of Tamehameha — A feast — Manner of cooking — A party of native ladies — An adventure, . . 191 Chapter XII.

Visit to the island of Kauai — A royal call — Rev. P. J. Gulick, — Description of the island — A present from Kauikeaouli — Royal mode of obtaining supplies — Birds — Native method of catching them — The travellers wind-bound — Shell hunting — Habits of the natives— Beach food, and mode of eating it — Visit of the king, and governor Kekeoeva — Characteristics of the latter — Anxiety of the king to return home — Arrival of his followers — A metamorphosis — A royal supper — Evening service— Royal guard — A sail in sight — Joy ofthe king — His letter — Return ofthe Avon — Departure from Kauai, and arrival at Oahu — A pic-nic party at Pearl river — Calabash dance by the natives — Departure for Columbia river — A primitive passage to the shore — A storm at sea — A flight of shore birds — Land ahead — Arrival at the Columbia, 205 Chapter XIII.

Passage up the Columbia — Birds — A trip to the Wallammet — Methodist missionaries — their prospects — Fort William — Band-tail pigeons — Wretched condition ofthe Indians at the falls — A Kallapooyah village — Indian cemetery — Superstitions — Treatment of diseases — Method of steaming — " Making medicine" — Indian sorcerers — Death of Thornburg — An inquest — Verdict of the jury — Inordinate appetite for ardent spirits — Eight men drowned — Murder of two trappers by the Banneck Indians — Arrival of Captain Thing — His meeting and skirmish with the Blackfeet Indians — Massacre — A narrow escape, 218 Chapter XIV. Indians ofthe Columbia — Departure of Mr. Nuttall and Dr. Gairdner — Arrival ofthe Rev. Samuel Parker — his object — Departure of the American brig — Swans — Indian mode of taking them — A large wolf — ._ night adventure — A discovery, and restoration of stolen property — Fraternal tenderness of an Indian — Indian vengeance — Death of Waskema, the Indian girl — "Busy-body," the little chief — A village of Kowalitsk Indians — Ceremony of" making medicine" — Exposure of __n impostor — Success of legitimate medicine. — Departure from Fort Vancouver for a visit to the interior — Arrival of a stranger — "Cape Horn" — Tilki, the Indian chief — Indian vil- CONTENTS.

VIII lages — Arrival at Fort Walla-walla — Sharp-tailed grouse — Commencement of a journey to the Blue mountains, 231 Chapter XV. A village of Kayouse Indians — Appearance and dresses of the women — family worship — Visit to the Blue mountains— Dusky grouse — Return to Walla-walla — Arrival of Mr. McLeod, and the missionaries — Letters from home — Death of Antoine Goddin — A renegado white man — Assault by the Walla-walla Indians — Passage down the Columbia — Rapids — A dog for supper— Prairies on sire — Fishing Indians — Their romantic appearance — Salmon huts — The shoots — Dangerous navigation — Death of Tilki — Seals — Indian stoicism and contempt of pain — Skookoom, the strong chief — his death — Maiming, an evidence of grief — Arrival at Fort Vancouver — A visit to Fort George — Indian cemeteries — Lewis and Clarke's house — A medal — Visit to Chinook — Hospitality of the Indians — Chinamus' home — The idol — Canine inmates, * 245 Chapter XVI.

Northern excursion — Salmon — Indian mode of catching them — Flathead children — A storm on the bay — Pintail ducks — Simple mode of killing salmon — Return to Chinook — Indian garrulity — Return to Fort George — Preparations for a second trip to the Sandwich Islands — Detention within the cape — The tropics, and tropic birds — Make the island of Maui — Arrival at Oahu — Accession to the society— A visit to the king — Illness of the princess, Harieta Nahienaena — Abrupt exit of tbe king — A ride to Waititi — Cocoanut grove — Native mode of climbing — Death of the princess — grief of her people — barbarous ceremonies — Residence in the valley of Nuano — A visit to the palace— Kahiles — Coffin of the princess, and inscription — Appurtenances — Ceremony of carrying the body to the church — Description of the pageant — Dress'of the king — Conclusion of the ceremony, 259 Chapter XVII.

Embarkation for a tour of the islands — Lahaina — Forts — Lahainaluna — Missionaries of Maui — High school — Karakakua bay — Kairua — Cook's rock — Reverence of the natives for his memory — Cook's monument — Kawaihae — Colossal mountains — Mrs. Young — Heiau, or native temple — Human sacrifices— Morai — Heathenish rites — A cargo of cattle — Unsavory practice ofthe native women — Departure from Oahu — A sail by moonlight — Dean's island — A " complaisant" — Arrival at Tahiti— Native pilot — Papeete bay — Appearance of the shore — Orange groves, &c. — A young native songster — Visit to the queen — Native service — The chapel — A bedridden Tahaitian — Jungle fowls— Leave the harbor — Dangerous navigation — A narrow escape— A shipwreck, 275 Chapter XVIII. Island of Eimeo — Juan Fernandez — Make the coast of Chili — Town of Valparaiso — suburbs — Indisposition — Kindness of the foreign residents, &c— Preparation by the government for an expedition against Peru — Foreign adventurers— Disaffection of Vidaurre and other officers in the Chilian army— Murder of Signor Portales by the rebels — Preparation for invading the town of Valparaiso — A battle— defeat of the insurgents—Capture and imprisonment of Vidaurre and seven officers— Florine, the murderer— Sentence of the court martial — A military execution— Appearance of the bodies after death— Sail for the United States— Cape Horn— Pernambuco— Cape Henlopen— A gale — Arrival at Philadelphia, . 295 Appendix, ■ 3jl ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, &c.

Chapter I

Arrival at St. Louis— Preparations for the journey— Saque Indians— Their appearance, dress, and manners— Squaws— Commencement of a pedestrian tour— Sandhill cranes— Prairie settlers— Their hospitality— Wild pigeons, golden plovers and prairie hens — Mr. P. and his daughters— An abundant repast — Simplicity of the prairie maidens — A deer and turkey hunt—Loutre Lick hotel — Unwelcome bed-fellows — A colored sharon — Comfortable quarters — Young men of the west — Reflections on leaving home Loquacity of the inhabitants — Gray squirrels — Boonville — Parroquets Embarkation in a steamboat — Large catfish — Accident on board the boat — Arrival at Independence — Description of the town — Procure a supply of horses — Encampment of the Rocky Mountain company — Character of the men — Preparation for departure — Requisites of a leader — Backwoods familiarity — Milton Sublette andhis band — Rev. Jason Lee, the missionary — A letter from home Mormonites — Military discipline and its consequences.

On the evening ofthe 24th of March, 1834, Mr. Nuttall and myself arrived at St. Louis, in the steamboat Boston, from Pitts burg. On landing, we had the satisfaction to learn that Captain Wyeth was already there, and on the afternoon of the next day we called upon him, and consulted him in reference to the outfit which it would be necessary to purchase for the journey. He accompanied us to a store in the town, and selected a number of articles for us, among which were several pairs of leathern pantaloons, enormous overcoats, made of green blankets, and white wool hats, with round crowns, fitting tightly to the head, brims five inches wide, and almost hard enough to resist a rifle ball. The day following we saw about one hundred Indians of the Saque tribe, who had lest their native forests for the purpose of treating for the sale of some land at the Jefferson barracks.

They were dressed and decorated in the true primitive style; their heads shaved closely, and painted with alternate stripes of fiery red and deep black, leaving only the long scalping tust, in which was interwoven a quantity of elk hair and eagle's feathers. Each man was furnished with a good blanket, and some had an under dress of calico, but the greater number were en tirely naked to the waist. The faces and bodies of the men were, almost without an exception, fantastically painted, the pre dominant color being deep red, with occasionally a few stripes of dull clay white around the eyes and mouth. I observed one whose body was smeared with light colored clay, interspersed with black streaks. They were unarmed, with the exception of tomahawks and knives. The chief of the band, (who is said to be Black Hawk's father-in-law,) was a large dignified looking man, of perhaps fisty-five years of age, distinguished from the rest, by his richer habiliments, a more profuse display of trinkets in his ears, (which were cut and gashed in a frightful manner to receive them,) and above all, by a huge necklace made of the claws of the grizzly bear.

The squaws, of whom there were about twenty, were dressed very much like the men, and at a little distance could scarcely be distinguished from them. Among them was an old, superannuated crone, who, soon aster her arrival, had been presented with a broken umbrella. The only use that she made of it was to wrench the plated ends from the whale bones, string them on a piece of wire, take her knife from her belt, with which she deliberately cut a slit of an inch in length along the upper rim of her ear, and insert them in it. I saw her soon aster this operation had been performed ; her cheeks were covered with blood, and she was standing with a vast deal of assumed dignity among her tawny sisters, who evidently envied her the possession ofthe worthless baubles. 28th. — Mr. N. and myself propose starting to-morrow on foot towards the upper settlements, a distance of about three hundred miles.

We intend to pursue our journey leisurely, as we have plenty of time before us, and if we become tired, we can enter the stage which will probably overtake us. 29th. — This morning our Indians returned from the barracks, where I understand they transacted their business satisfactorily. I went on board the boat again to see them. I feel very much interested in them, as they are the first Indians I have ever seen who appear to be in a state of uncultivated nature, and who retain the savage garb and manners of their people. They had en gaged the entire covered deck for their especial use, and were lolling about in groups, wrapped in their blankets. Some were occupied in conversation, others seemed more contemplative, and appeared to be thinking deeply, probably of the business which brought them amongst us.

Here and there two might be seen playing a Spanish game with cards, and some were busily em ployed in rendering themselves more hideous with paint. To perform this operation, the dry paint is folded in a thin muslin or gauze cloth, tied tightly and beaten against the face, and a small looking-glass is held in the other hand to direct them where to apply it. Two middle-aged squaws were frying beef, which they distributed around to the company in wooden bowls, and several half loaves of bread were circulating rapidly amongst them, by being tossed from one to another, each taking a huge bite of it. There were among the company, several younger females, but they were all so hard favored that I could not feel much sympathy with them, and was therefore not anxious to cultivate their acquaintance.

There was another circumstance, too, that was not a very attractive one ; I allude to the custom so universal amongst Indians, of seeking for vermin in each others' heads, and then eating them. The fair damsels were engaged in this way during most of the time that I remained on board, only suspending their delectable occupation to take their bites of bread as it passed them in rotation. The effect upon my person was what an Irishman would call the attraction of repulsion, as I found myself almost unconsciously edging away until I halted at a most respectable distance from the scene of slaughter. At noon, Mr. N. and myself started on our pedestrian tour, Captain Wyeth offering to accompany us a few miles on the way. I was glad to act clear of St. Louis, as I felt uncomfortable in many respects while there, and the bustle and restraint of a town was any thing but agreeable to me.

We proceeded over a road generally good, a low dry prairie, mostly heavily timbered, the soil underlaid with horizontal strata of limestone, abounding in organic remains, shells, coralines, &c, and arrived in the evening at Florisant, where we spent the night. The next day Captain Wyeth lest us for St. Louis, and my companion and myself pro ceeded on our route. We observed great numbers of the brown, or sandhill crane, (Grus canadensis,) flying over us ; some flocks were so high as to be entirely beyond the reach of vision, while their harsh, grating voices were very distinctly heard. We saw several flocks of the same cranes while ascending the Mississippi, several days since. At about noon, we crossed the river on a boat worked by horses, and stopped at a little town called St. Charles. We find it necessary, both for our comfort and convenience, to travel very slowly, as our feet are already becoming tender, and that we may have an opportunity of observing the country, and collecting interesting specimens.

Unfortunately for the pursuits of my companion, the plants (of which he finds a number that are rare and curious) are not yet in flower, and therefore of little use to him. The birds are in considerable numbers, among the principal of which is the large pileated woodpecker, (Picus pileatus.) Mr. N. and myself are both in high spirits. We travel slowly, and without much fatigue, and when we arrive at a house, stop and rest, take a drink of milk, and chat with those we see. We have been uniformly well treated ; the living is good, and very cheap, and at any house at which we stop the inhabitants are sure to welcome us to their hospitality and good cheer. The)' live comfortably, and without much labor ; possess a fruitful and easily tilled soil, for which they pay the trifling sum of one dollar and a quarter per acre ; they raise an abundance of good In dian corn, potatoes, and other vegetables ; have excellent beef and pork, and, in short, every thing necessary for good, whole some living. 31st. — The road to-day was muddy and slippery, rendered so by a heavy rain which fell last night.

This morning, we observed large flocks of wild pigeons passing over, and on the bare prairies were thousands of golden plovers ; the ground was osten literally covered with them for acres. I killed a considerable number. They were very fat, and we made an excellent meal of them in the evening. The prairie hen, or pinnated grouse, is also very numerous, but in these situations is shy, and difficult to be procured. Towards evening we were overtaken by a bluff", jolly looking man, on horseback, who, as is usual, stopped, and entered into conversation with us. I saw immediately that he was superior to those we had been accustomed to meet. He did not ply us with questions so eagerly as most, and when he heard that we were naturalists, and were travelling in that capacity, he seemed to take considerable interest in us.

He invited us to stop at his house, which was only a mile beyond, and as night was almost upon us, we accepted the invitation with cheerfulness. Upon arriving at his mansion, our good host threw wide his hospitable doors, and then with a formal, and rather ultra-dignified polite ness, making us a low bow, said, " Gentlemen, my name is P., and I am very happy of your company." We seated ourselves in a large, and well-furnished, parlor. Mr. P. excused himself for a few minutes, and soon returned, bringing in three fine looking girls, whom he introduced as his daughters. I took a particular fancy to one of them, from a strong resemblance which she bore to one of my female friends at home. These girls were certainly very superior to most that I had seen in Missouri, although somewhat touched with the awkward bash fulness and prudery which generally characterizes the prairie maidens.

They had lost their mother when young, and having no companions out of the domestic circle, and consequently no opportunity of aping the manners of the world, were perfect children of nature. Their father, however, had given them a good, plain education, and they had made some proficiency in needle work, as was evinced by numerous neatly worked samplers hanging in wooden frames around the room. Anon, supper was brought in. It consisted of pork chops, ham, eggs, Indian bread and butter, tea, coffee, milk, potatoes, preserved ginger, and though last, certainly not least in value, an enormous tin dish of plovers, (the contents of my game-bag,) fricaseed. Here was certainly a most abundant repast, and we did ample justice to it. I endeavored to do the agreeable to the fair ones in the eve ning, and Mr. N. was monopolized by the father, who took a great interest in plants, and was evidently much gratified by the information my companion gave him on the subject.

The next morning when we rose, it was raining, and much had evidently fallen during the night, making the roads wet and muddy, and therefore unpleasant for pedestrians. I confess I was not sorry for this, for I felt myself very comfortably situated, and had no wish to take to the road. Mr. P. urged the propriety of our stopping at least another day, and the motion being seconded by his fair daughter, (my favorite,) it was irresistible. On the following morning the sun was shining brightly, the air was fresh and elastic, and the roads tolerably dry, so that there was no longer any excuse for tarrying, and we prepared for our departure. Our good host, grasping our hands, said that he had been much pleased with our visit, and hoped to see us again, and when I bid good bye to the pretty Miss P., I told her that if I ever visited Missouri again, I would go many miles out of my way to see her and her sisters.