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at they would never again be heard from； but； according to the journal of one of the party； 〃The President of the U。 States yet had hopes of us。〃 The last news received in 〃the U。 States〃 from the explorers was that sent from Fort Mandan； by Gravelines； in 1805。
Scarcity of provisions once more disturbed the party； so that； on the eighteenth of September； the journal sets forth the fact that game was very scarce and nothing was seen by the hunters but a bear and three turkeys； which they were unable to reach。 The men； however； were perfectly satisfied； although they were allowed only one biscuit per day。 An abundance of pawpaws growing along the banks sufficed as nutritious food。 The pawpaw is native to many of the Western States of the Republic。 It is a fruit three or four inches long； growing on a small tree； or bush。 The fruit is sweet and juicy and has several bean…shaped seeds embedded in the pulp。 The voyagers now began to see signs of civilization on the banks of the river。 Near the mouth of the Gasconade； above St。 Louis； they beheld cows grazing in the meadows。 The journal says： 〃The whole party almost involuntarily raised a shout of joy at seeing this image of civilization and domestic life。〃 Men who have been wandering in pathless wildernesses； remote from man； for more than two years； might well be moved by the sights of a homelike farm and a settled life。 Soon after this the party reached the little French village of La Charette which they saluted with four guns and three hearty cheers。 Then； according to the journal； they landed and were warmly received by the people； who had long since abandoned all hope of ever seeing these far…voyaging adventurers return。 Here are the last entries in the journal that has been our guide so long across the continent and back again to the haunts of men：
〃Sunday； September 21st； we proceeded； and as several settlements have been made during our absence； we were refreshed with the sight of men and cattle along the banks。 We also passed twelve canoes of Kickapoo Indians； going on a hunting…excursion。 At length； after coming forty…eight miles； we saluted； with heartfelt satisfaction； the village of St。 Charles； and on landing were treated with the greatest hospitality and kindness by all the inhabitants of that place。 Their civility detained us till ten o'clock the next morning；
〃September 22d； when the rain having ceased； we set out for Coldwater Creek； about three miles from the mouth of the Missouri； where we found a cantonment of troops of the United States； with whom we passed the day； and then；
〃September 23d； descended to the Mississippi； and round to St。 Louis； where we arrived at twelve o'clock； and having fired a salute； went on shore and received the heartiest and most hospitable welcome from the whole village。〃
The two captains were very busily employed； as soon as they arrived in St。 Louis； with writing letters to their friends and to the officers of the government who were concerned to know of their safe return to civilization。 Captain Lewis' letter to the President of the United States； announcing his arrival； was dated Sept。 23； 1806。 President Jefferson's reply was dated October 20 of that year。 In his letter the President expressed his 〃unspeakable joy〃 at the safe return of the expedition。 He said that the unknown scenes in which they had been engaged and the length of time during which no tidings had been received from them 〃had begun to be felt awfully。〃 It may seem strange to modern readers familiar with the means for rapid travel and communication that no news from the explorers； later than that which they sent from the Mandan country； was received in the United States until their return； two years and four months later。 But mail facilities were very scanty in those far…off days； even in the settled portions of the Mississippi Valley； and few traders had then penetrated to those portions of the Lower Missouri that had just been travelled by Lewis and Clark。 As we have seen； white men were regarded with awe and curiosity by the natives of the regions which the explorers traversed in their long absence。 The first post…office in what is now the great city of St。 Louis was not established until 1808； mails between the Atlantic seaboard and that 〃village〃 required six weeks to pass either way。
The two captains went to Washington early in the year following their arrival in St。 Louis。 There is extant a letter from Captain Lewis； dated at Washington； Feb。 11； 1807。 Congress was then in session； and； agreeably to the promises that had been held out to the explorers； the Secretary of War （General Henry Dearborn）； secured from that body the passage of an act granting to each member of the expedition a considerable tract of land from the public domain。 To each private and non…commissioned officer was given three hundred acres； to Captain Clark； one thousand acres； and to Captain Lewis fifteen hundred acres。 In addition to this； the two officers were given double pay for their services during the time of their absence。 Captain Lewis magnanimously objected to receiving more land for his services than that given to Captain Clark。
Captain Lewis resigned from the army； March 2； 1807； having been nominated to be Governor of Louisiana Territory a few days before。 His commission as Governor was dated March 3 of that year。 He was thus made the Governor of all the territory of the United States west of the Mississippi River。 About the same time； Captain Clark was appointed a general of the territorial militia and Indian agent for that department。
Originally； the territory acquired from France was divided into the District of New Orleans and the District of Louisiana； the first…named being the lower portion of the territory and bounded on the north by a line which now represents the northern boundary of the State of Louisiana； and all above that line was known as the District of Louisiana。 In 1812； the upper part； or Louisiana； was named the Territory of Missouri； and Captain Clark （otherwise General）； was appointed Governor of the Territory； July 1； 1813； his old friend and comrade having died a few years earlier。
The end of Captain （otherwise Governor） Lewis was tragical and was shadowed by a cloud。 Official business calling him to Washington； he left St。 Louis early in September； 1809； and prosecuted his journey eastward through Tennessee； by the way of Chickasaw Bluffs； now Memphis； of that State。 There is a mystery around his last days。 On the eleventh of October； he stopped at a wayside log…inn； and that night he died a violent death； whether by his own hand or by that of a murderer； no living man knows。 There were many contradictory stories about the sad affair； some persons holding to the one theory and some to the other。 He was buried where he died； in the centre of what is now Lewis County； Tennessee。 In 1848； the State of Tennessee erected over the last resting…place of Lewis a handsome monument； the inscriptions on which duly set forth his many virtues and his distinguished services to his country。
The story of the expedition of Lewis and Clark is the foundation of the history of the great Northwest and the Missouri Valley。 These men and their devoted band of followers were the first to break into the world…old solitudes of the heart of the continent and to explore the mountain fastnesses in which the mighty Columbia has its birth。 Following in their footsteps； the hardy American emigrant； trader； adventurer； and home…seeker penetrated the wilderness； and； building better than they knew； laid the foundations of populous and thriving States。 Peaceful farms and noble cities； towns and villages； thrilling with the hum of modern industry and activity； are spread over the vast spaces through which the explorers threaded their toilsome trail； amid incredible privations and hardships； showing the way westward across the boundless continent which is ours。 Let the names of those two men long be held in grateful honor by the American people！
Index ｛RAW OCR OUTPUT BELOW：｝
A
Alkali； natural deposits of； 60。 Antelope； first seen； 29； how hunted； 69。 Assiniboins； at war with Sioux； 49；
B
Beaver； hunted as game； 70； Beaver