Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/164

CAMPED ON THE KANSAS RIVER. 153 erend Father spells Kansas, "Kansa"; Osage, "Ou- chage," Pawnee "Panissa", but without doubt, the points designated must have been the most promi- nent location of the tribe named; so from that map, as -well as from the one compiled in 1757 by Du Pratz, in- cluding the researches of the Quivira and Kansas State Historical Societies, the location of our Indian cities >.s presumed. Mind you, they are now known, and as written of 200 years ago by . numerous writers; so without, doubt one of the largest Kansas towns was located at an ideal camping ground about two miles east of Manhattan on the north side of the Kansas river and near the mouth of the Blue, so they could get to the Missouri river in their canoes down the Kansas; also up the Blue for many miles. Then if they wished they could go up the Kansas for tweny- f ive miles and at Junction City ascend the Republican, or by going another twenty-five mUes they reach the Solomon. VerUy it was a magnificent location nat- urally for men who had nothing else to do but hunt game and watch those who they thought were their enemies. Before leaving the map referred to, it may be information to learn that the reverend priest desig- nates as the "Padoucas" the tribe occupying the country west for fiity mUes (estimated) from Manhat- tan; and, more particularly, that Du Pratz has the name "Paduca" quite prominent in the same locality. , If the Kansas river is taken for the south base of the territory allotted to the tribe of that name, com- mencing at Junction City as the southwest corner of the territory claimed by the Kansas Indians, and run- ning east to Kansas City where the river empties