[216] For the Oto, see Bradbury's Travels, our volume v, p. 74, note 42.—Ed.
[217] Morgan's Island is just below Nemaha City, in the Nebraska county of the same name. Probably it took its title from Colonel Willoughby Morgan, for whom see our volume xiv, p. 178, note 146. The trading post has not been identified, unless it were that of Crooks and McClellan, who once (1810-11) wintered in this region. See Brackenridge's Journal, volume vi of our series, p. 71.—Ed.
[218] Lewis and Clark found the passage across the narrows at this point but 300 yards. Changes have since occurred in the beds of both rivers. See our volume xiv, p. 217, note 166. The range of hills was aptly designated by the explorers as Bald Pated Prairie.—Ed.
[219] Weeping Water Creek is a small stream paralleling the Platte in Cass County, Nebraska. The French form was "l'eau qui pleure."
Five Barrel Islands are laid down on early maps; with changes in the river's bed, they are now swept away.—Ed.
[220] For a brief sketch of Fontenelle, see our volume xiv, p. 275, note 196.—Ed.
[221] See Brackenridge's Journal, in our volume vi, p. 76, for the origin of this name. The Indian name of the chief—an Oto—is given by Lewis and Clark as "Sarnanona."—Ed.
[222] In the Appendix there is an account of this purchase.—Maximilian. Comment by Ed. See our volume xxiv.
[223] The first trading post in this locality (with possible exceptions for the Spanish régime) was that of Crooks and McClellan, who in 1810 built a "wintering establishment" here, which was abandoned the following spring—see Bradbury and Brackenridge (1811). Shortly after, Manuel Lisa built his well-known Fort Lisa, some sixteen miles above Bellevue, which continued to be the prominent post of the vicinity (see James's Long's Expedition, our volume xiv, p. 221), near which the Yellowstone Expedition built Engineer Cantonment for the winter of 1819-20. The Missouri Fur Company, under Joshua Pilcher, who succeeded Lisa as president, removed from Fort Lisa to the site of Bellevue about 1823. It was this post that Fontenelle bought out, and turned over to the American Fur Company when he became their agent. The post was for many years in command of Peter Sarpy. The Indian agency was officially entitled "Council Bluffs at Bellevue." In 1849 a postoffice was established here, and the village incorporated in 1854; some of the post buildings remained until 1870. Bellevue is now a village in Sarpy County, of which it was the capital until 1875.—Ed.
[224] Mackinaw boats are strong, open vessels, made of a light wood, in which goods are conveyed on the rivers of the Northern and Western States.—Maximilian.