friends in Bellevue, the good Mr. Papin and others. We passed the Papillon, Mosquito and Platte rivers and encamped near Table creek. Farther down we passed the
Nishnabotna, the two Nodaways and the Tarkio. A range of hills, called the Blacksnakes, appear in sight soon after
passing the mouth of the Tarkio. Several places are still pointed out which bear recent traces of bloody fights be
tween the roving tribes of the region. King Hill, one of the highest of the chain, was the scene of their last grand battle; it is covered with human bones, and a line of mounds may be Percéived in the form of ramparts and fortifications. On that occasion the whole tribe of the Blacksnakes was destroyed, and only the hills have transmitted their name and sorrows to posterity. The Sauks and Iowas succeeded to the Blacksnakes, and they have now ceded this fair and fertile portion of their territory to the United States. Eastward and at the foot of these hills stands the town of St.
Joseph. We reached there on the 23d, and paid a visit to the respectable curate, Reverend Mr. Scanlan. In 1842 St. Joseph did not exist; there was only a s!1gle family
there. To-day there are 35o houses, two clluWhes, a city
hall, and a jail; it is in the most prosperous condition. Its population is composed of Americans, French Creoles, Irish, and Germans.
On the 28th I arrived at Westport. Here ice began to run in the river and a great quantity of snow fell. I therefore had to take the stage to St. Louis, which place I reached on the loth of December,'
B Father De Smet disagrees with himself about the mode of conveyance from Westport to St. Louis, and the date of reaching the latter place. Both the English and French narrative of the journey say that he traveled by stage, the French account placing his arrival on December Loth. Both the manuscript itineraries-the English from the Linton Album and the French from Letter Book No. 4-say that he went by steamboat, the French account stating that he took it at Leavenworth, that it was the last boat of the season, and that it arrived in St. Louis about December ist.