Missouri River near Gasconade River — Patrick Gass: June 1, 1804

proceeded on our voyage; passed Big Muddy creek on the
north side; and on the opposite side saw high banks. Two
and an half miles higher up, we passed Bear creek; and at 4
o’clock P.M. arrived at the Osage river; where we remained
during the evening and the next day. The Osage river is 197
yards wide at its confluence with the Missouri, which, at this
place, is 875 yards broad. The country on the south side is
broken, but rich: and the land on the other of a most excellent
quality. The two men who went by land with the horses came
tous here: they represented the land they had passed through
as the best they had ever seen, and the timber good, consist-
ing chiefly of oak, ash, hickory and black walnut. They had
killed in their way five deer. The periogue left at the mouth
of Gaskenade river came up with the man, who had been lost.
Here our hunters went out and killed three deer. The Osage
nation of Indians live about two hundred miles up this river.
They are of a large size and well proportioned, and a very
6 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
warlike people. Our arms and ammunition were all inspected
here and found in good order.