The encroachment of the same enemies forced, about thirty years since, both these nations from the banks of the Missouri.  A few retired with the Osage, and the remainder found an asylum on the river Platte, among the Ottoes, who are themselves declining.  Opposite the plain there was an island and a French fort, but there is now no appearance of either, the successive inundations having probably washed them away, as the willow island which is in the situation described by Du Pratz, is small and of recent formation.  Five miles from this place is the mouth of Grand River, where we encamped.  This river follows a course nearly south, or south east, and is between eighty and a hundred yards wide where it enters the Missouri, near a delightful and rich plain.  A racoon, a bear, and some deer were obtained to day.  We proceeded at six o’clock the next morning.  The current was so rapid and the banks on the north falling in so constantly, that we were obliged to approach the sandbars on the south.  These were moving continually, and formed the worst passage we had seen, and which we surmounted with much difficulty.  We met a trading raft from the Pawnee nation on the river Platte, and attempted unsuccessfully to engage one of their party to return with us.  At the distance of eight miles, we came to some high cliffs, called the Snake bluffs, from the number of that animal in the neighbourhood, and immediately above these bluffs, Snake creek, about eighteen yards wide, on which we encamped.  One of our hunters, a half Indian, brought us an account of his having to day passed a small lake, near which a number of deer were feeding, and in the pond he heard a snake making a guttural noise like a turkey.  He fired his gun, but the noise became louder.  He adds, that he has heard the Indians mention this species of snake, and this story is confirmed by a Frenchman of our party.  All the next day, the river being very high, the sandbars were so rolling and numerous, and the current so strong, that we were unable to stem it even with oars added to our sails; this obliged us to go nearer the banks, which were falling in, so that we could not make, though the boat was occasionally towed, more than fourteen miles.  We passed several islands and one creek on the south side, and encamped on the north opposite a beautiful plain, which extends as far back as the Osage river, and some miles up the Missouri.  In front of our encampment are the remains of an old village of the Little Osage, situated at some distance from the river, and at the foot of a small hill.  About three miles above them, in view of our camp is the situation of the old village of the Missouris after they fled from the Sauks.  The inroads of the same tribe compelled the Little Osage to retire from the Missouri a few years ago, and establish themselves near the Great Osages.  The river, which is here about one mile wide, had risen in the morning, but fell towards evening.  Early this morning, June 16th, we joined the camp of our hunters, who had provided