"Major O'Fallon has given permission to Mr. Dougherty to aid the gentlemen of the party, in acquiring information[pg249] concerning the Indians, &c.; this gentleman will, therefore, be consulted in relation to visits, and all kinds of intercourse with the Indians, that may be necessary in the prosecution of the duties of the expedition.
"In regard to these duties, the gentlemen of the expedition will consult my orders of March last. The documents transmitted from the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, by the Secretary of War; and the instructions of Mr. Jefferson to Capt. Lewis, to be found in vol. 1st of Lewis and Clarke's expedition,[188] and regulate their observations and inquiries accordingly.
"Lt. Graham will embrace every opportunity for celestial and barometric observations, and calculate the latitude, longitude, magnetic dip and variation, with the utmost attainable precision; also the heights of the neighbouring hills, and the adjacent high table lands. He will also continue the meteorologic observations as usual, noticing the changes of weather, and all celestial and atmospheric phenomena. To aid him in these duties, he will call on Lieut. Swift, or any other gentleman of the expedition, who may not be particularly engaged at the time in other important duties.
"It is believed, that the field for observation and inquiry is here so extensive, that all the gentlemen of the expedition will find ample range for the exercise of their talents in their respective pursuits; and it is {152} hoped, that through their unremitted exertions and perseverance, a rich harvest of useful intelligence will be acquired."
On the 11th of October, Major Long and Mr. Jessup took leave of their friends at Engineer Cantonment, and [pg250] accompanied by several other persons, began to descend the Missouri in a canoe, on their way towards Washington and Philadelphia.
{153} CHAPTER IX
Animals—Sioux and Omawhaw Indians—Winter Residence at Engineer Cantonment
The subsequent account of the transactions at and near Council Bluff, and of the observations made there, we copy from the journal of Mr. Say.
Descriptions of some of the animals which occurred, are given in the notes below.[189]