city of New York. It was a day of joy and thanksgiving, although the cabins were still in an unfinished state, and the weather extremely cold for that country. The cabins were made comfortable in the course of a fortnight, and the family divided themselves into four parts, and occupied the four cabins, reserving the fifth for a store-house.

Union is delightfully situated upon a large prairie containing from eight hundred to a thousand acres, of rich soil, skirted by timber land, rather more than twenty miles from the mouth of the Neosho or Grand river, a rapid stream, navigable a part of the year. This river flows by the prairie on which the mission was built.

A few of the Indians called at the mission house soon after the family arrived, as they said, to "shake hands with them." During this interview, they agreed to hold a council at their town, within ten days, at which time they would attend to all the proposals the missionaries might wish to make. The second chief, whose name was Tally, made a very friendly visit, and expressed the warmest pleasure in seeing them. He had expected them for a long time, and said, "Now we see your faces, and feel glad."

The council was to be held at the Osage

village, distant from Union about twentyfive miles; and Mr. Vaill, Mr. Chapman, Dr. Palmer, and Mr. George Requa, were appointed to attend. They labored under many disadvantages, for the want of a good interpreter; however, they made them understand that their sole object in coming, was to do the Osage people good. The first chief, named Clamore, expressed his satisfaction in strong terms, and warmly recommended the mission to the regards of his people. After his remarks closed, he gave the missionaries to understand that he should send his children to their school, as soon as they were prepared to receive them, in case he did not engage in war with the Cherokees.

As the missionaries approached the Osage town, they were struck with the beauty and grandeur of the prospect. The land was level to a great distance, and the river Verdigris rolled on one side of it, while on the other, at the distance of a mile or two, several of those natural mounds, of which you have often read, and as often longed to know their origin, rose from a level plain to the height of two hundred feet, the one nearest the town, which some of the gentlemen ascended, was accessible only on one side. They found the top of

it as level and smooth as the plain below, in a circular form of about three acres. All these mounds were of equal height, and all level on the top. As the missionaries approached the town, Clamore came out to welcome and conduct them in. They were immediately surrounded by hundreds of Indians, all apparently happy to see them.

The Osages are a noble looking race of men, their usual height exceeds six feet, very straight, and their faces handsome. How would you feel, my dear cousins, to find yourselves surrounded by two hundred such tall men, dressed in buckskin leggins that reached to their hips, a short buffaloe robe or blanket suspended from their shoulders, and moccasins upon their feet? They shave their hair close to their heads, except a rim about half an inch wide around the crown of the head, which they wear about an inch long.

Ornaments for the head are fastened within this line of hair; other ornaments are attached to their ears, which are slit in several places, and many wear these slits filled with strings of beads. Besides these, their arms and legs are covered with other ornaments, suited to the Indian taste and fancy. Clamore invited them to his lodge, and there they were feasted with a preparation of corn, served up in a large

wooden bowl; and before their first Indian repast was finished, they were requested to eat at another lodge, and then another, till they found it impossible to comply with all the invitations of this hospitable people.

Perhaps you will like to know the style of building adopted by the Osages. Their houses are usually built in a very slight manner, of long poles, arched over the top like a grape frame, and neatly lined with a matting made of flags. The size of the lodge corresponds with the number of wives and children; but they would generally measure from 50 to 100 feet in length. About two -hundred and fifty of these lodges stand upon half a mile square, and contain about three thousand inhabitants. You know the Indians love to wander from place to place, and seldom live long in compact settlements; they therefore find the advantage of building such frail houses, as we should call them; for whenever they wish to take down a house or rebuild one, the labor principally falls upon the women, who will take down or put one up in a few hours. They do not have floors or seats, but sit on mats or skins. Instead of fire-places, they dig a hole about two feet across, not very deep, in which the fire is kindled, and an aperture left in the roof for the smoke to pass off. It is com

mon to find three or four such fires in one lodge, around which the family sit in circles.

After attending to all the objects which they had to bring before the council, the missionaries returned to their comfortable home; for to them it appeared uncommonly so, with all their inconveniences, when compared with that of the best native habitations.

I must now leave you with my best wishes for your temporal and eternal happiness. CORNELIA.

LETTER IV.

My dear Cousins,-In less than a fortnight after the meeting of the council, nine Osage warriors, on their way to the garrison, called at the mission house. They wished to ascertain whether the Cherokees had determined upon war; but a little circumstance occurred which excited new fears that they should meet the enemy; they therefore tarried all night, and the next day returned to their village. It was not long after this visit, that Major Bradford, at Fort Smith, sent the missionaries word that war had been declared between the two nations, and