danger from a Panther, and was preserved under the kindness of Providence by the aid of his gun.

Friday, Jan. 19.-Brother Spaulding set off with Brother Woodruff for the station. Brother Chapman has gone with them as far as the garrison, in hopes that the Governor and the Chiefs have come down and are ready to hold the council.

Lord's Day, Jan. 21.-Brother Vaill preached to the Family.

Monday, Jan. 22.-Brother Chapman returned. Saw Gov. Miller who stated he had seen the Chiefs, and that they would not attend a council at the garrison. Thus we have been disappointed of this opportunity of laying before them the views of the society and of Government, in regard to our coming among them.

Friday, Jan. 26.-Sister Johnson has been more unwell for a week past. The other sisters are still gaining strength. Our delay is lengthened out to this time. Adversity still attends us. May God soon appear and remove the cloud that now rests upon us.

Lord's Day, Jan. 28.-Brother Vaill preached at the settlement, and Brother Chapman to the Family.

Journey Resumed.

Monday, Jan. 29.-The water is rising, and the river is cleared of ice. This afternoon, after a delay of four weeks, again set forward.

Tuesday, Jan. 30.-This day the wind has favoured us, and by the use of sails,* we have advanced about 20 miles. Since we entered this river we have not proceeded so far in one day. Seldom have we been able to take the advantage of the wind for more than 3 or 4 miles at once, the river being so crooked.

Arrival at the Garrison. Wednesday, Jan. 31.-The water still

* Our tents which are large have occasionally been used as sails.

rising-the weather mild but rainy. Reached the Garrison about noon. Paid our respects to Major Bradford, and had another interview with Gov. Miller, who has this day set out for the Post of Arkansas. He expects to hold a council with the Cherokees, and designs, if possible, to induce them to comply with the terms of peace which the' Osages propose, which are, "that the Osages do not deliver up the murderers, and that the Cherokees retain their captives." These terms will appear reasonable, when we consider the fact, that most, if not all, the Cherokees, who have been killed, were killed in consequence of their encroaching on' the Osage hunting ground, contrary to a former treaty. The Governor thinks the lives of the Mission Family will not be in jeopardy, seeing they appear to entertain favourable views of our coming among them. He intends to give the Cherokees a solemn charge, in case they go to war, not to meddle with our establishment. He has also given the Osages a similar charge with respect to a similar establishment among the Cherokees. As the quarrel is among themselves, and as the Indians do not seem disposed to make war against the white people, we proceed trusting in the protection of Divine Providence. In the event of war, it is probable the Osages will withhold their children through fear of the enemy; and what is more, we may not be safe in taking them; at the same time we may do much in preparing the way for useful labour among them at some future period.

Saturday, Feb. 3.-The weather has been cloudy and wet since Wednesday. The river is now filled with water from bank to bank, and the current very rapid. This makes our progress slow.

Lord's Day, Feb. 4.-It has rained this day, and we have not moved forward. Held worship as usual.

Wednesday, Feb. 7.-The weather still mild, but cloudy and damp. This day

passed the mouth of the Canadian, a long river which is said to rise in the rocky mountains, and which runs in a south easterly direction till it reaches the Arkansas, fifty-five miles above the garrison. Also passed the Illinois, a considerable stream which comes in from the north.

Saturday, Feb. 10.-Reached the mouth of Grand River. About one mile above, in full view, comes in the Vermilion, or Verdigris, as it is called in this country. The water in Grand River appears to be rising, and the current is strong.

Lord's Day, Feb. 11.-We consider it our duty to press forward. The boats have become very damp in consequence of the late rains. Not only the goods, but the health of the family is exposed; and the situation of the brethren at the station calls for relief. The wind has favoured us most of the day. This morning, however, experienced a severe gale, which carried away the sail and mast of one of the boats, in an instant. The boat was driven across the current; the water rough; and the scene, for a few moments, terrific. Except the tempest the weather has been pleasant through the day.

Monday, Feb. 12.-Forwarded our Journal from the 12th of June to the 9th December, 1820. The current is very rapid. Our experienced Boatmen, who have been on the Missouri and other western rivers, consider this, in its present stage of water, as rapid as any stream they have met with. Advanced about six miles.

Tuesday, Feb. 13.-Not more than seven miles to-day. The water is too deep to use the pole, and we rely chiefly on the bushes, by which we pull the boats along. The river still rising. Great care is necessary to keep the boats from swinging. One of the boats has been taken into the current, notwithstanding every precaution, and carried down the stream nearly two miles before it could be checked. Our fears were not a little excited for its safety; but God has been Sept. 1821. 15

mindful of us, and kept us in the hollow of his hand. In consequence of the disaster we lost our skiff.

Thursday, Feb. 15-It is indeed a laborious task to pull the boats up this stream by the bushes. It is impossible to advance but a few miles a day by this kind of navigation. In crossing from one side to the other, to avoid the rapid bends under the bluff banks, we usually fall back, and sometimes the boats are not a little exposed by the trees and rocks. This evening obliged to stop before night, on account of head wind.

Saturday, Feb. 17-We have been anxiously expecting to reach the station for these two or three days. But our progress is so slow, that the distance deceives us. Sister Johnson is evidently better.

Arrival at Union.

Union, Lord's Day, Feb. 18.-About 10 o'clock this morning, we reached the long looked for station; after a journey of nearly 10 months, attended with many delays and disappointments. It has been a day of joy and gladness to us all. The Mission Family have great cause of gratitude to God, for his long kindness in preserving the lives of so many, and conducting them in safety to this land of pagan darkness. In view of the Lord's dealings, brother Vaill preached from 1 Sam. vii. 12. "Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpeh and Shem, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." We find most of the brethren in comfortable health. Brother Redfield who has been sick, is still feeble.

Monday, Feb. 19.-Entered on the business of finishing the cabins which the brethren began last December. Have discharged all our hands except two, whom we have kept to assist us in our labour. We intended to have retained two more, but could not prevail with them to stay.

Tuesday, Feb. 20.-Have sold one of our boats, and removed the Family

to a small, inconvenient cabin on the bank of the river, where the brethren have lodged since they came.

Visit from the second Osage Chief.

Have received a friendly visit from Tally, the second Osage Chief, with several of the nation. He expressed the warmest satisfaction in seeing us. In a short talk which we held with him, he observed, among other things, "When Mr. Chapman came before, he said, he would come again, and bring some good white people to teach us. Now we see your faces, and feel glad. We know you are true men."

Effort to procure an Interpreter.

Friday, Feb. 23.-Brother Chapman and brother Wm. C. Requa went to the Osage village to procure an interpreter for the Mission. They returned this evening, and think they have been successful in obtaining one who is sufficiently qualified to serve. It would be greatly for the interest of the Mission, could we obtain a person of learning and religion. But the most that we can expect from the man we have in view, is merely a verbal knowledge of the two languages. He has a wife, an Osage woman, and two children who must come with him. His price is fifteen dollars a month.

Lord's Day, Feb. 25.-The usual devotion of the Sabbath, being a matter of course, will not, in future, be noticed in this journal, unless some special occasion render it suitable.

Saturday, March 3.-During the past week, the brethren have been assiduously engaged in finishing the new cabins. The weather has been cold, and part of the time rainy, and the family have been subject to many inconveniences. But inconveniences with missionaries are not worthy to be mentioned as trials. Brother Redfield has regained his health, and sister Johnson is much better than for several months past.

Visit to the Osage Village, and Talk with the Chiefs.

Wednesday, March 7.-When the brethren visited the village, the week before last, they made arrangements to hold a talk with the Chiefs this week, to explain to them our designs in coming to settle among them. The Family thought it best that as many as could be spared from our work, and could be accommodated with horses, should attend. Accordingly Brethren Vaill, Chapman, Palmer, and Geo. Requa proceeded to the village on Monday. On Tuesday morning, we laid before them our papers from the society and from Government. The only interpreter we could obtain at this time being inadequate, we laboured under many disadvantages in making them understand the full import of the papers. Besides this, their language is very barren of terms suited to explain the nature of a Missionary Society, and the meaning of many things connected with the Mission. They understood, however, that our design in coming among them was to do them good. The principal Chief, whose name is Clamore, expressed, in behalf of his people, the warmest satisfaction, and spoke with the utmost animation in recommending the thing to their attention. He gave us to understand, that in case they do not go to war, he should send some of his own children as soon as we could get ready to receive them.

Brief account of the Village and its Inhabitants.

The village is situated about 28 miles west of Union, near the Verdigris, on an extensive plain skirted with trees and natural mounds. These mounds lie chiefly to the north of the village, from one to four miles distant. They rise in regular forms, to the height of about 200 feet, with a table top. The plain below continues on a level, till you arrive at the foot. The tops of these several mounds are level with one another, and lead the imagination at

marries into a family, he removes to the lodge to assist in supporting the wife's parents, and upon performing certain exploits in hunting, stealing horses, and the like, he is entitled to all the remaining sisters. In councils, they appear with dignity, and in speeches they are eloquent. A council held among them excites great attention. If any thing new is communicated, they listen eagerly. In their government, having no natural confederacy, they have little energy. The influence of their chiefs is limited to their respec

tive parties. They are constant in their devotions. They black their faces with mud, and cry to the Great Spirit. At the dawning of the day, in different directions round about their lodges, you may hear hundreds crying aloud. In this they are indeed a reproof to thousands who profess to worship God in spirit and in truth, who at the same time are too indolent, or too negligent, to leave their couches of repose to pay their morning homage to Him whom they profess to love.

[Remainder in our next.]

From the Rev. Mr. Dodge. Osage River, Aug. 6, 1821.

DRAR SIR,

In the midst of surrounding cares and pressing calls, I break away for a few moments to announce to you the safe arrival of the Great Osage Mission, in the land of their destination. We arrived here on the 2d of August instant, after a long and perilous journey by land and by water. Excepting in the instances of sister Newton and her babe, our lives have been spared; and, as it respects health, it has been far better enjoyed, than might reasonably have been anticipated, when we consider that about sixty persons have been packed into two keel-boats, for the space of nearly five months. A number of the family have had a kind of seasoning to the climate; and some of them, as well as a number of our hired men, have been violently attacked with a bilious affection; but the Lord has helped our young Physician, insomuch that he has been remarkably successful in baffling the disease. Our family now appear to enjoy a comfortable state of health. May the Lord confirm and preserve our health, and give us grace to improve it.

The family appear to be greatly animated with the prospect before them. As respects temporal concerns, no district of country I ever saw, ever promised more to its first inhabitants. Land, as much as any one could wish, and that of the first quality, is completely open for cultivation. In regard to spiritual concerns, it is, as we expected to find it, a land of dark Gross darkness hath covered the people: There is, therefore, business enough to be done. Whatever our hands find to do, may God enable us to do it with our might.

ness.

The family are in very good spirits; and harmony has very generally prevailed in all our deliberations and decisions. We have not decided upon a site for our establishment, not having opportunity yet to see the Chiefs of the Nation. They are now absent on their summer hunt; but we have sent for them, and are hourly expecting their return. We have had several places recommended to us, some of which we have viewed; but where we shall finally fix is yet uncertain. May the Lord direct us to the right spot.

I would have sent the journal up to this time, had I had leisure to copy it. Let this suffice for the present. Give