In this state of things, the commissioners, appointed by government to superintend the settlement of the migratory tribes, were instructed to proceed to the region in question, purchase the contested lands of the Pawnees, and induce them to remove to the north of the river Platte, and effect a treaty of peace between them and their new neighbours. For this purpose, in the summer of 1833, Mr. Ellsworth, the same commissioner who in the preceding year had explored a tract of the hunting grounds between the Arkansas and the Grand Canadian[A], set out from Washington for Fort Leavenworth, a frontier post on the Missouri river, about forty miles beyond the boundary line of the State of Missouri, where he was to await the arrival of one of his fellow commissioners, before proceeding to visit the hostile tribes. In this expedition he was accompanied by the writer of the following pages, who was glad of the opportunity to visit strange scenes and strange people, of which he had only heard wild and exaggerated rumours. There was another volunteer, a Scotch gentleman, travelling for information and amusement; and a son of the commissioner (Mr. Edward Ellsworth), who acted as secretary to the expedition, made up our party. [A] See a Tour on the Prairies by W. Irving. At St. Louis we hired two servants to accompany us throughout the expedition. One was a half breed, a cross between the Creek Indian and the Negro; he was named Mordecai, and inherited the lazy propensities of both races, but entertained a high opinion of his own merits. The other was a tall awkward boy, with a low forehead, and a dull, sleepy countenance, nearly hidden by elf locks. His name was Joseph. He spoke a mixture of French and English, and would fain have passed for a full blooded white; but his mother was a thorough squaw, wife to a little Creole Frenchman, named Antoine or Tonish, who had accompanied the commissioner on the preceding year, in his expedition to the Arkansas frontier.[B] Joseph inherited from his father a gasconading spirit, and an inveterate habit of lying. Like him, too, he was a first-rate horseman, and a hard rider, who knocked up every horse entrusted to him. To add to his hereditary qualities, he inherited from his mother an inveterate habit of stealing. Though a downright coward, he boasted much of his valour, and even told me, in confidence, “that he could lick his daddy.” Being of an obstinate disposition, he was wisely appointed by the commissioner to drive a dearborn waggon, drawn by two mules; and many a stubborn contest took place between him and his fellow brutes, in which he was sure to carry the day. [B] See Tour on the Prairies. Such was our party when we left St. Louis, on our route to Fort Leavenworth. CHAPTER I. THE INDIAN COUNTRY.