families of Caw [Kaw] Indians, they are a band broken off from the Osage. No sooner had we encamped than they came from their village of bark huts and thronged around us to our annoyance.
They are a miserable looking set of beings—half-naked—the children some of them entirely so. Bro. Shepard[1] remarked that he never before felt half so much like trying to benefit the Indians.
Two females came with two naked children under their blankets and made signs that they were hungry and the children too.
Multitudes of nearly famishing [dogs] belonging to the Indians were prowling about camp all night.
Friday 2. Did not decamp. Some of our com. visited the Indian camp. I had a desire to go but had so much to do writing letters &c., that I could not. They said that the Is. [Indians] had plenty to eat but they had rather beg than eat their own.
Sat. 3. Struck tent came ahead of the Com. and found a number of wigwams on the bank of the Kansas. They are Caws came here to visit the agent General Clark (cousin to Gen. Clark who went to the Columbia with Lewis).
The company soon came up and immediately set about crossing the baggage in a flatboat. I crossed with ours the first load.
The Indians thronged around us and we were obliged to watch diligently to prevent them from pilfering little things.
Sat down to finish some letters to send back by the waggoner who had accompanied us from Independence.
Swam the horses all safe but the horned cattle were very troublesome and when drove in would swim back. Our beef cow swam far down the river and went ashore below the men and ran into the woods a man followed her but lost her in the bushes. Four or five went in pursuit of her but could not find her.
- ↑ Cyrus Shepard.
