Historic Diaries: Floyd 1804
June 14, 1804
Editor's Note:
Fifteen years after Floyd mentions this African-American trader among the Poncas, explorer Edwin James described a black fur trader at Fort Lisa, near modern Omaha, and his reception by that nation (see American Journeys document AJ-144). It's easy to imagine the early West inhabited only by Indians and whites but Africans and black Americans had been traversing it since 1539, when the African explorer Estevanico led Spanish officials to Zuni Pueblo (see American Journeys document AJ-071).
Thursday June 14th 1804
we Set out at the usuel ouer and proseded on our Jorney, day Clear, water Strong. Came 3 miles. met 2 Conoes with 3 French men and one Negro from the Poncye [Ponca] Nations. they have ben up 3 years with the Indianes 2 of them is half preades [breeds] of the poncas. past a Creek on the N. Side Called the Snake Creek. it is about 25 yads wide. a noted place whare Indianes of Differnt nations Cross to Go to ware they Say that thar is hundreds of Snakes. at this place ouer hunters killed one Deer. encamped on the N Side of the River. the Land is good about hear. the Chief of the timber is Cotten wood.
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