account of a remarkable prehistoric earthwork, which they visited before they reached the Niobrara, will not be out of place in this connection. They came to an island fifteen miles above the spot where they held the council with the Sioux, called Bonhomme, or Goodman's Island. It was here the earthworks just mentioned were found. We give particulars as noted in the daily journal of the expedition:
     "This interesting object is on the south side of the Missouri [therefore, in what is now Nebraska], opposite the upper extremity of Bonhomme Island. and in low level plain, the hills being three miles from the river. It begins by a wall composed of earth, rising immediately from the bank of the river and running in a direct course south 76 degrees west, ninety-six yards; the base of this wall or mound is seventy-five feet, and its height about eight. It then diverges in a course south 84 degrees west, and continues at the same height and depth, to the distance of fifty-three yards, the angle being formed by a sloping descent; at the junction of these two is an appearance of a horn work of the same height as the first angle; the same wall then pursues a course north 69 degrees west for 300 yards. Near its western extremity, is an opening, or gateway, at right angles to the wall, and projecting inward; this gateway is defended by two nearly semi-circular walls placed before it, lower than the large walls; and from the gateway there seems to have been a covered way communicating with the interval between these two walls. Westward of the gate, the wall becomes much larger, being about 105 feet at its base and twelve feet high. At the end of this high ground, the wall extends. for fifty-six yards on a course north thirty-two degrees west. It then turns north twenty-three degrees west for seventy-three yards. These two walls seem to have had a double or covered way. They are from ten to fifteen feet eight inches in height and from seventy-five to one hundred and five feet in width at the base; the descent inward being steep, while outward it forms a sort of glacis. At the distance of seventy-three yards, the wall ends abruptly at a large hollow place much lower than the general level of the plain, and from which is some indication of a covered way to the water. The space between them is occupied by several mounds scattered promiscuously through the gorge, in the center of which is a deep round hole. From the extremity of the last wall, in a course north thirty-two degrees west, is a distance of ninety-six yards over the low ground, where the wall re-commences and crosses the plain in a course north eighteen degrees west for 1830 yards, to the bank of the Missouri. In this course, its height is about eight feet till it enters, at the distance of 538 yards, a deep circular pond of seventy-three yards in diameter, after which it is gradually lower toward the river. It touches the river at a muddy bar, which bears every mark of being an encroachment of the water for a considerable distance, and a little above the junction is a small circular redoubt.
     "Along the bank of the river and at 1,100 yards distance in a straight line from this wall, is a second wall about six feet high and of considerable width. It rises abruptly from the bank of the Missouri at a point where the river bends and goes straightforward. forming an acute angle with the last wall, till it enters the river again, not far from the mounds just described, toward which it is obviously tending. At the bend, the Missouri is 500 yards wide; the ground on the opposite side, highlands, or low hills on the bank; and, where the river passes between this fort and Bonhomme Island, all the distance from the bend. it is constantly washing the banks into the stream, a large sand-bank being already taken from the shore near the wall. During the whole course of this wall, or glacis, it is covered with trees, among which are many large cotton trees, two or three feet in diameter. Immediately opposite the citadel, or the part most strongly fortified on Bonhomme Island, is a small work in a circular form, with a wall surrounding it about six feet high. The young willows along the water joined to the general appearance of the two shores, induce a belief that the bank of the island is encroaching, and the Missouri indemnifies itself by washing away the base of the fortification. The citadel contains about twenty acres, but the parts between the long walls must embrace nearly 500 acres.'*

THE TERRITORY OF LOUISIANA.

     An act of congress, passed March 3, 1805, changed the 'District of Louisiana" into the "Territory of Louisiana." The act made provisions for a governor, secretary and two judges. It was detached from the Territory of Indiana, and erected into a separate territory of the second class, so that then what is now Nebraska. became a portion of the "Territory of Louisiana." President Jefferson appointed James Wilkinson. governor, and Frederick Bates, secretary. St. Louis was made the capital. The judges were Return J. Meigs and John B. C. Lucas. These, with the governor, constituted the legislature.
      In 1808 the Missouri Fur Company was established. The capital of the company was $40,000. The first expedition under its auspices was dispatched under the command of Maj. A. Henry. and his success was gratifying. He established trading-posts on the Upper Missouri, on Lewis River, beyond the Rocky Mountains and on the southern branch of the Columbia.

THE TERRITORY OF MISSOURI.