Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/317

300 THE FIBST "KANSAS aTY. While meandering along independence creek in Atchison county, Kansas, let us review authoritative and reliable history. On July 4th, 1803, the Lewis and Clark expedition moored their three boats at the mouth of Independence creek and celebrated. Hence its name, and here is what the party records: "They (Kansas) once lived twenty-four leagues higher up from the mouth, of the Kansas river, and were then more numerous, but they have been reduced and ban- ished by the Sacs, Fox and lowas, who being better supplied with arms had an advantage over the Kansas, though the latter are not less fierce or unlike them- selves." The daily records of the Lewis and Clark expedi- tion written 105 years ago say that twenty-four leagues up the Missouri from the mouth of the Kan- sas river, or where Kansas City is now located, there was formerly a large Kansas Indian village. This would bring it near Atchison; and in fact, it is located on Independence creek, which is about three miles north of Atchison. As early as 1724, the French- man, M. De Bourgmont, visited the "Canaas" Indians near Atchison, and not only that, but history has it that he went from there to the Padouca Indians, who lived in the western part of Kansas. When this French- man traveled at that time he had a little army of 300 warriors, composed of many chiefs of the Missouri, Kansas and Osage tribes; also 300 dogs hauling baggage, eis well as numerous women and chil- dren. Again, the map drawn by Du Pratez in 1757 has the spot marked "Canzes Great Village," so there is