N^o 1

M^r Ch^s Mackenzie's fourth visit to

Mississouri. June 1806

Previous to M^r Rocheblaves departure for the Head Quarters of the North West Company on Lake Superior He ordered that I and M^r Caldwell should make a trip to the Mississouri for the purpose of Trade[.] Accordingly we took sat out on the 4^th June accompanied by a free man. And wWe had six horses belonging to the Company. & To avoid falling in with Indians we went by a circulous route and arrived upon the banks of the Mississouri without any accident[.]

The face of the country at this season looked beautiful but the inhabitants appeared more gloomy than usual which we soon learned was owing to the recent loss of a fineew Young maen recently lost in war which the men of the villages had gone to revenge[.] Besides this misfortune the Hooping Cough was raging at the time and was carrying off numbers them by the dozens[.] The old and middle aged did not experience much attention under this disorder – if they recovered it was well – if they suffered their bodies remained several days unnoticed; and until the stench obliged the survivors to remove them. But the Care for of the Children was great – their drumming and singing was were insupportable[.]

At length the warriors returned and put an end to the Lamentations in the villages[.] The party consisted of six hundred horse men – they were absent thr two months and brought back in triumph just three scalps[.] The fact is they revenged themselves upon the first strangers they met and I believe it is a maxim with Indians to return for home desist after the first attack or as soon as they have shed blood; and thinking themselves entitled to Laurels by attacking at all[.]

This party in posession with the three scalps at the end of long poles, singing and dancing, paraded through the villages for several days[.]

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