Bois' d Arc - Osage Orange

Soon after the Louisiana Purchase, President Jefferson set about to explore the newly acquired

territory. The famous Lewis and Clark Expedition was part of this exploration. There were

however two additional expeditions. The Hunter-Dunbar expedition ascended the Ouachita

River and the Freeman-Custis traveled up the Red.

 

The Freeman Custis Expedition was very well staffed and equipped. It identified more new

species of plant and animal life than either of the others. One newly identified species was a

tree that the French had called Bois d'Arc, or "wood of the arc". The limbs of this tree had been

traded by the western tribes to native people all over the continent. The tree was not native

east of the Mississippi. The arc refered to was not Noah's Ark, or the Ark of the Covenant, as

has been erroneously reported, but the arching shape of the long bow, the major weapon of

most North American tribes.

 

The wood of the tree is the densest of all native woods and it makes a powerful and durable

bow. A crate of the inedible but interesting fruit was sent east to be planted. Jefferson was so
pleased with the discovery of this major trade item that he ornamented the White House dinner
tables with the fruit, before they were planted in the East.

 

Not much later, the Freeman Custis expedition encountered an armed Spanish force determined

to stop their advance along what is now the Texas - Oklahoma border. The Spanish believed that

the Red was the river that flowed through Santa Fe and were prepared to go to war. The interna-
tional incident embarrassed Jefferson. The expedition was quietly ended, and to a great extent,
hidden. The journals were published in small editions later, but all attention was focused on the
more politically appealing Lewis and Clark Expedition.

 

After 200 years - we thought it time for another horse apple centerpiece. 9/9/06

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