Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/168

 THE

JOURNAL

OF

Mr. CHARLES LE RAYE.

the year 1801, I left Canada with an adventure of goods, to trade on the Missouri. I arrived at the French settlement on the Illinois, early in September, and concluded to ascend the Osage river, and to trade with the Osage nation. Here I procured two additional hands, which completed my complement of six men besides my self. As soon as my perioque was finised, we embarked. On the 21st of September, I entered the mouth of the Missouri, and as the waters were low, we ascended with ease.

On the 7th of October, entered the Osage river, and ascended seven miles, where we encamped to hunt, and procure meat. Nothing material occured until the 23d, when we had ascended within sixty miles of the Osage village, and had encamped for the night, at a small stream, on the east side of the river. After supper I ordered the men, who were in a tent on the shore,