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Tour of the Prairies

original by John Plumbe]]

Washington Irving was an author and historian and was preparing to explore the Far West in hopes to of containing scenes and sketches of the plains and bringing his experiences together in a form of a book. He was set to met up with a group from the U.S. Army who was also on an expedition of exploring the Far West. Two rangers were sent ahead to find the group stop them until Irving could continue in accompany of them

Preparation for the exploration of the Prairies

Washington Irving arrived at Fort Gibson in 1832 to with his orginal party to meet up with the other travellers that would accompany him on his exploration. The commissioner, a native from Connecticut, was appointed by the United Stated gouvernment the head the exploration and superintent the settlement of the Indian Tribes. Another traveller by the name of Mr. L who was an Englishman. The third person was a young Swiss Count that had travelled with Irving from Europe. Another was a French creole of inferior rank named Tonish, who was familiarly called Tonish, who was responsible for many duties like cooking, squire, and groom among the camp. The last to join his exploration group were two half-breed French-Osage men by the names of Antoine and Peirre Beatte.

Encounters With The Natives

While Washington Irving was exploring the Far West he often encountered the many Native tribes that have inhabited the area, like the Creek. Early on in his journey Irving ran into a group of Creek who were returning from their grand ball. He describes them to be a "well made racem muscular and closely knit, with well-turned thighs and legs". He also describes the clothing and accessories they were wearing from the ball, from the gayly dressed females that followed them to the different colored handkerchief that held black and red flowers, and and handful of sumach.

Irving had never personally had interactions with the Delaware but while at the encampment many of the Osage had much to say about them. He noted that the Delaware used to be deadly enemies of the Osage, and how they were wide and fearless . The reason for their dangerous ways is the belief in a guardian spirit in the form a an eagle. The eagle would fly in the sky and watch over them and protect them from any harm. The Delaware also makes sacrifices in hopes a feather will fail from his in wing from being satified and make the wearer of that feather invisible from any dangers.

One of most encounters Irving and his party had with the Natives was with the Osage. He came along many villages and encampments of the Osage and also had a few accompanyd him on his expedition of the Far West and spend most of his time with them. He observed the Osage to be the opposite of what he read of them in poems and books, but saw in the company of other Osage they were the biggest talker. In fact, most of their time at encampment was spent talking about war and hunting stoires. The Osage were also very observant people, they are curious observers, boting every thing in silence but with a keen and watchful eye and occasionally exchangeing a glance or a grunt with each other when any thing particularly strikes them . Irving enjoyed the persona of the Osage, it was new to him and was fascinated as how noisy and excited they were and noted the roars of laughter and tears that came from around the fire when a group of Osage was present.

Young Osage boy

One day after Irving and his party left Fort Gibson they came upon a log house, the last on the frontier, in search of direction after losing track of the trail previous set by their escort. They met raw-boned hard-winking white-settler who was visual upset about losing his horse and bluntly blamed a group of Osage hunters that was camped near by. He was adjusted his concentration on getting revenge on those Osage hunters and followed Irving and his party for a few miles along their trail. Not too far along the trail they came across a young Osage boy who was walking the describes stolen horse towards them. Immediatly, the white man identitfied his horse and blamed the boy of stealing his horse. Although, they boy had not stolen his horse but instead found the horse wandering amongst the bush and was returning it to his owner. However, the white-settler just thought he was a scam and wanted the rewards for finding his horse. He then tied the boy to a tree and gave him an intense lashing and beating. This was a shocking experience that Irving witnessed and he felt anger and annoyance and what was the unfair treatment of the Osage boy. What he witnessed was what was commonly known as Lynch's law, which is where the plaintiff has the right to be judge, witness, jury, and executer, and the defendent to be convicted and punished on mere presumption. Irving had much sympathy for the young boy and decided to take boy along with him on his exploration of the wilderness as a companion and squire. The young boy was so thrilled to be able to explore the buffalo lands and be able to hunt and roam the lands that often times throughout the expidition he ran off in excitement in chase of a buffalo heard. Irving also ecounters many incidences where he would leave the group in search of these buffalos only to show how he wanted to be more like an Indian man and partake in buffalo hunting.

Geographical Descriptions

Irving wanted to explore, in his mind, the uninhabited lands of the Far West. He sees this landscape to consist of trees, grassy plains with trees and groves all surrounded by the Arkansas, the grand Canadian, and Red River . Irving began his journey from Fort Gibson and then continued on parallel off the bank of the Arkansas River, making stop and taking shelter amongst the forest, trees and plains along the way. While traveling that trail they were forced to travel through ther alluvial soil, and numerous amounts of trees, vegetation were in sight. When walking through the foresty they were overshadowed by lofty trees and the abundant portions of pea-vines. Irving is in awe of these lands and he confirms that these prairie regions were beautiful regions and aswer litereally to the description of the land of promise . Their journey continued along the bank just until they reached the town of Red Fork where the crossed the Arkansas River, and there he saw the most beatuful scenery of willow and cotton-trees, rich bottoms with lofty tress and yellow foliage which game the whole landscape a sunny golden glow . Once they crossed the Cross Timbers their expedition continue westward and then they headed back to the Agency on the banks of the Verdigris River and finally resting at Fort Gibson.

A diversity of animals also was discovered throughout there travel of the praires as well. The abundant amount of bears, racoons, possums, pigs, and especially buffalo which all the native tribes thrived on. He got a chance to experience a buffalo huntint expedition but did not experience the feelings he would imagine. Irving was thoroughly excited in participating in hunting a buffalo although after killing it he finds himself feeling remorsed and scarred of what had happened. Irving also writes a chapter about the his ecounter with the honey trees and the bees of a small forst. With the plains being so diverse and pentiful of game and animals is surely attracted the interest of Irving and his fellow travelers.

Encampment

The camps that were made were lad back and each member of the expedition knew his role and in keeping the integrity of the camp together. Some men went to hunt and fish while others stayed back at camp and did the cooking and cleaning. The camps were at most times joyful with songs, dances, jokes, and story telling, especially those of the Osage. It was also very common to hear the teases of Beatte and Tonish from the other natives because of their 'lacking' native ability. However, they did come across some problems during camp, some of the rangers ended up getting the measles they forced them to stay encamped. While other times the weather would play too big of a role and force Irving and his party to make alternative plans.