按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
will receive authority to engage among our troops； by voluntary
agreement； the number of attendants above mentioned； over whom you；
as their commanding officer are invested with all the powers the laws
give in such a case。
As your movements while within the limits of the U。S。 will be
better directed by occasional communications； adapted to
circumstances as they arise； they will not be noticed here。 What
follows will respect your proceedings after your departure from the
U。S。
Your mission has been communicated to the Ministers here from
France； Spain； & Great Britain； and through them to their
governments： and such assurances given them as to it's objects as we
trust will satisfy them。 The country of Louisiana having been ceded
by Spain to France； the passport you have from the Minister of
France； the representative of the present sovereign of the country；
will be a protection with all it's subjects： And that from the
Minister of England will entitle you to the friendly aid of any
traders of that allegiance with whom you may happen to meet。
The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river； &
such principal stream of it； as； by it's course & communication with
the water of the Pacific Ocean may offer the most direct &
practicable water communication across this continent； for the
purposes of commerce。
Beginning at the mouth of the Missouri； you will take
observations of latitude and longitude at all remarkable points on
the river； & especially at the mouths of rivers； at rapids； at
islands & other places & objects distinguished by such natural marks
& characters of a durable kind； as that they may with certainty be
recognized hereafter。 The courses of the river between these points
of observation may be supplied by the compass； the log…line & by
time； corrected by the observations themselves。 The variations of
the compass too； in different places should be noticed。
The interesting points of the portage between the heads of the
Missouri & the water offering the best communication with the Pacific
Ocean should be fixed by observation & the course of that water to
the ocean； in the same manner as that of the Missouri。
Your observations are to be taken with great pains & accuracy；
to be entered distinctly； & intelligibly for others as well as
yourself； to comprehend all the elements necessary； with the aid of
the usual tables to fix the latitude & longitude of the places at
which they were taken； & are to be rendered to the war office； for
the purpose of having the calculations made concurrently by proper
persons within the U。S。 Several copies of these as well as of your
other notes； should be made at leisure times & put into the care of
the most trustworthy of your attendants； to guard by multiplying them
against the accidental losses to which they will be exposed。 A
further guard would be that one of these copies be written on the
paper of the birch； as less liable to injury from damp than common
paper。
The commerce which may be carried on with the people inhabiting
the line you will pursue； renders a knolege of these people
important。 You will therefore endeavor to make yourself acquainted；
as far as a diligent pursuit of your journey shall admit。
with the names of the nations & their numbers；
the extent & limits of their possessions；
their relations with other tribes or nations；
their language； traditions； monuments；
their ordinary occupations in agriculture； fishing； hunting；
war； arts； & the implements for these；
their food； clothing； & domestic accommodations；
the diseases prevalent among them； & the remedies they
use；
moral and physical circumstance which distinguish them
from the tribes they know；
peculiarities in their laws； customs & dispositions；
and articles of commerce they may need or furnish & to
what extent。
And considering the interest which every nation has in
extending & strengthening the authority of reason & justice among the
people around them； it will be useful to acquire what knolege you can
of the state of morality； religion & information among them； as it
may better enable those who endeavor to civilize & instruct them； to
adapt their measures to the existing notions & practises of those on
whom they are to operate。
Other objects worthy of notice will be
the soil & face of the country； its growth & vegetable
productions； especially those not of the U。S。
the animals of the country generally； & especially those not
known in the U。S。
The remains & accounts of any which may be deemed rare or
extinct；
the mineral productions of every kind； but more particularly
metals； limestone； pit coal & saltpetre； salines & mineral waters；
noting the temperature of the last & such circumstances as may
indicate their character； volcanic appearances；
climate as characterized by the thermometer； by the proportion
of rainy； cloudy & clear days； by lightening； hail； snow； ice； by the
access & recess of frost； by the winds； prevailing at different
seasons； the dates at which particular plants put forth or lose their
flowers； or leaf； times of appearance of particular birds； reptiles
or insects。
Altho' your route will be along the channel of the Missouri；
yet you will endeavor to inform yourself by inquiry； of the character
and extent of the country watered by its branches； and especially on
it's southern side。 The north river or Rio Bravo which runs into the
gulph of Mexico； and the north river； or Rio colorado； which runs
into the gulph of California； are understood to be the principal
streams heading opposite to the waters of the Missouri； & running
Southwardly。 Whether the dividing grounds between the Missouri &
them are mountains or flatlands； what are their distance from the
Missouri； the character of the intermediate country； & the people
inhabiting it； are worthy of particular enquiry。 The northern waters
of the Missouri are less to be enquired after； because they have been
ascertained to a considerable degree； and are still in a course of
ascertainment by English traders & travellers。 But if you can learn
anything certain of the most northern source of the Mississippi； & of
it's position relative to the lake of the woods； it will be
interesting to us。 Some account too of the path of the Canadian
traders from the Mississippi； at the mouth of the Ouisconsin river；
to where it strikes the Missouri and of the soil and rivers in it's
course； is desirable。
In all your intercourse with the natives treat them in the most
friendly & conciliatory manner which their own conduct will admit；
allay all jealousies as to the object of your journey；