Another band seceded from the migrating nation, and established a village at the mouth of the Missouri river; from which circumstance they received the name of _Ne-o-ta-cha_ or _Ne-o-ge-he_, signifying _those who build a town at the entrance of a river_; they have been known to us only by the name of Missouries. The Otoes also separated from the nation on the Mississippi; and pursuing their journey across the country from that river, struck the Missouri near the confluence of the Great Nemawhaw. Here the Otoes remained a considerable time for the purpose of hunting; and it seems probable, from the name of the creek, that they also reared maize, and cultivated the soil after their rude manner, as the word Nemawhaw, in their language, signifies _water of cultivation_; _ne_, water, and _maha_, planting or cultivating. From this locality the Otoes proceeded up the river to the Platte; and after hunting for some time near its confluence, they moved still further up the Missouri, and established a village on its bank, about fourteen miles below Council Bluff. In this position they remained several years, during which time a band of the Ioways took up their residence about one year, on the bank of the river nearly opposite to them, and within about thirty miles of the present site of the Omawhaw village. The Otoes subsequently removed to the river Platte, about twenty miles above their present village; but finding the latter situation to be a more eligible one, they permanently established themselves there, and have already occupied it nearly half a century. The Ioways, after having resided in a village on {63} the lower part of the Missouri a considerable space of time, were rejoined by the band above mentioned; when they abandoned their position, and returned to the waters of the Mississippi and erected a village on the _Moyene_,[33] where it still remains. [33] The Moyene River is the present Des Moines. See preceding volume, note 123.—ED. The Missouries in process of time abandoned their village near the mouth of the river Missouri, and gradually moving up the river, at length constructed a town on the left bank, near the entrance of Grand river. In this position they were found by the French, who built a fort on an island of the Missouri, in their immediate vicinity, about the beginning of the last century. The garrison of this fort was entirely destroyed, according to Du Pratz, soon after its commander, the enterprizing Bourgmont, left it.[34] [34] This was Fort Orleans, referred to _ante_, note 29. For further details, see Bradbury's _Travels_, in our volume v, note 26. Notice of Du Pratz will be found in Nuttall's _Journal_, volume xiii of our series, note 89.—ED.