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ntinental rails were laid。 If Jefferson had desired to find the shortest and most feasible route across the continent； he would have pointed to the South Pass and Utah basin trails。 But these would have led the explorers into California； then and long afterwards a Spanish possession。 The entire line finally traced over the Great Divide lay within the territory of the United States。
But it must be remembered that while the expedition was being organized； the vast Territory of Louisiana was as yet a French possession。 Before the party were brought together and their supplies collected； the territory passed under the jurisdiction of the United States。 Nevertheless； that jurisdiction was not immediately acknowledged by the officials who； up to that time； had been the representatives of the French and Spanish governments。 Part of the territory was transferred from Spain to France and then from France to the United States。 It was intended that the exploring party should pass the winter of 1803…4 in St。 Louis； then a mere village which had been commonly known as Pain Court。 But the Spanish governor of the province had not been officially told that the country had been transferred to the United States； and； after the Spanish manner； he forbade the passage of the Americans through his jurisdiction。 In those days communication between frontier posts and points lying far to the eastward of the Mississippi was very difficult； it required six weeks to carry the mails between New York； Philadelphia； and Washington to St。 Louis； and this was the reason why a treaty； ratified in July； was not officially heard of in St。 Louis as late as December of that year。 The explorers； shut out of Spanish territory； recrossed the Mississippi and wintered at the mouth of Wood River； just above St。 Louis； on the eastern side of the great river； in United States territory。 As a matter of record； it may be said here that the actual transfer of the lower part of the territorycommonly known as Orleanstook place at New Orleans； December 20； 1803； and the transfer of the upper part was effected at St。 Louis； March 10； 1804； before the Lewis and Clark expedition had started on its long journey to the northwestward。
All over the small area of the United States then existed a deep interest in the proposed explorations of the course and sources of the Missouri River。 The explorers were about to plunge into vast solitudes of which white people knew less than we know now about the North Polar country。 Wild and extravagant stories of what was to be seen in those trackless regions were circulated in the States。 For example； it was said that Lewis and Clark expected to find the mammoth of prehistoric times still living and wandering in the Upper Missouri region； and it was commonly reported that somewhere； a thousand miles or so up the river； was a solid mountain of rock salt； eighty miles long and forty…five miles wide； destitute of vegetation and glittering in the sun！ These； and other tales like these； were said to be believed and doted upon by the great Jefferson himself。 The Federalists； or 〃Feds；〃 as they were called； who hated Jefferson； pretended to believe that he had invented some of these foolish yarns； hoping thereby to make his Louisiana purchase more popular in the Republic。
In his last letter to Captain Lewis； which was to reach the explorers before they started； Jefferson said： 〃The acquisition of the country through which you are to pass has inspired the country generally with a great deal of interest in your enterprise。 The inquiries are perpetual as to your progress。 The Feds alone still treat it as a philosophism； and would rejoice at its failure。 Their bitterness increases with the diminution of their numbers and despair of a resurrection。 I hope you will take care of yourself； and be a living witness of their malice and folly。〃 Indeed； after the explorers were lost sight of in the wilderness which they were to traverse； many people in the States declaimed bitterly against the folly that had sent these unfortunate men to perish miserably in the fathomless depths of the continent。 They no longer treated it 〃as a philosophism；〃 or wild prank； but as a wicked scheme to risk life and property in a search for the mysteries of the unknown and unknowable。
As a striking illustration of this uncertainty of the outcome of the expedition； which exercised even the mind of Jefferson； it may be said that in his instructions to Captain Lewis he said： 〃Our Consuls； Thomas Hewes； at Batavia in Java； William Buchanan in the isles of France and Bourbon； and John Elmslie at the Cape of Good Hope； will be able to supply your necessities by drafts on us。〃 All this seems strange enough to the young reader of the present day； but this was said and done one hundred years ago。
Chapter III
From the Lower to the Upper River
The party finally set sail up the Missouri River on Monday； May 21； 1804； but made only a few miles； owing to head winds。 Four days later they camped near the last white settlement on the Missouri；La Charrette； a little village of seven poor houses。 Here lived Daniel Boone； the famous Kentucky backwoodsman； then nearly seventy years old； but still vigorous； erect； and strong of limb。 Here and above this place the explorers began to meet with unfamiliar Indian tribes and names。 For example； they met two canoes loaded with furs 〃from the Mahar nation。〃 The writer of the Lewis and Clark journal； upon whose notes we rely for our story； made many slips of this sort。 By 〃Mahars〃 we must understand that the Omahas were meant。 We shall come across other such instances in which the strangers mistook the pronunciation of Indian names。 For example； Kansas was by them misspelled as 〃Canseze〃 and 〃Canzan；〃 and there appear some thirteen or fourteen different spellings of Sioux； of which one of the most far…fetched is 〃Scouex。〃
The explorers were now in a country unknown to them and almost unknown to any white man。 On the thirty…first of May； a messenger came down the Grand Osage River bringing a letter from a person who wrote that the Indians； having been notified that the country had been ceded to the Americans； burned the letter containing the tidings； refusing to believe the report。 The Osage Indians； through whose territory they were now passing； were among the largest and finest…formed red men of the West。 Their name came from the river along which they warred and hunted； but their proper title； as they called themselves； was 〃the Wabashas；〃 and from them； in later years； we derive the familiar name of Wabash。 A curious tradition of this people； according to the journal of Lewis and Clark； is that the founder of the nation was a snail； passing a quiet existence along the banks of the Osage； till a high flood swept him down to the Missouri； and left him exposed on the shore。 The heat of the sun at length ripened him into a man； but with the change of his nature he had not forgotten his native seats on the Osage； towards which he immediately bent his way。 He was； however； soon overtaken by hunger and fatigue； when happily； the Great Spirit appeared； and； giving him a bow and arrow； showed him how to kill and cook deer； and cover himself with the skin。 He then proceeded to his original residence； but as he approached the river he was met by a beaver； who inquired haughtily who he was； and by what authority he came to disturb his possession。 The Osage answered that the river was his own； for he had once lived on its borders。 As they stood disputing； the daughter of the beaver came； and having； by her entreaties； reconciled her father to this young stranger； it was proposed that the Osage should marry the young beaver； and share with her family the enjoyment of the river。 The Osage readily consented； and from this happy union there soon came the village and the nation of the Wabasha； or Osages； who have ever since preserved a pious reverence for their ancestors； abstaining from the chase of the beaver； because in killing that animal they killed a brother of the Osage。 Of late years； however； since the trade with the whites has rendered beaver…skins more valuable； the sanctity of these maternal relatives has been visibly reduced； and