dred and the other of two hundred, roving on the Saskaskawan. Those Assiniboins are recognized by a similarity of language and by tradition as descendants or seceders from the Sioux; though often at war, are still acknowledged as relations. The Sioux themselves, though scattered, meet annually on the Jacques, those on the Missouri trading with those on the Mississippi.

CHAPTER VI.

The party increase in the favour of the Mandans - Description of a buffaloe dance — Medicine dance - The fortitude with which the Indians bear the severity of the season - Distress of the party for want of provisions - The great importance of the blacksmith in procuring it - Depredations of the Sioux - The homage paid to the medicine stone - Summary act of justice among the Minnetarees The process by which the Mandans and Ricaras make beads — Character of the Missouri, of the surrounding country, and of the rivers, creeks, islands, etc.

FRIDAY, 28th. The wind continued high last night, the

frost severe, and the snow drifting in great quantities through the plains.

Saturday, 29th. There was a frost fell last night nearly one-quarter of an inch in depth, which continued to fall till the sun had gained some height; the mercury at sunrise stood at 9° below zero; there were a number of Indians at the fort in the course of the day.

Sunday, 30th. The weather was cold, and the thermometer 20° below zero. We killed one deer, and yesterday one of the men shot a wolf. The Indians brought corn, beans, and squashes, which they very readily gave for getting their axes and kettles mended. In their general conduct during these visits they are honest, but will occasionally pilfer any small article.

Monday, 31st. During the night there was a high wind which covered the ice with hillocks of mixed sand and snow; the day was, however, fine, and the Indians came in great numbers for the purpose of having their utensils repaired.

Tuesday, January 1, 1805. The new year was welcomed by two shot from the swivel and a round of small arms. The weather was cloudy but moderate; the mercury, which at

sunrise was at 18°, in the course of the day rose to 34° above zero; towards evening it began to rain, and at night we had snow, the temperature for which is about zero. In the morning we permitted sixteen men with their music to go up to the first village, where they delighted the whole tribe with their dances, particularly with the movements of one of the Frenchmen who danced on his head. In return they presented the dancers with several buffaloe robes and quantities of corn. We were desirous of showing this attention to the village, because they had received an impression that we had been wanting in regard for them, and because they had in consequence circulated invidious comparisons between us and the northern traders; all these, however, they declared to Captain Clark, who visited them in the course of the morning, were made in jest. As Captain Clark was about leaving the village, two of their chiefs returned from a mission. to the Grosventres or wandering Minnetarees. These people were encamped about ten miles above, and while there one of the Ahnahaways had stolen a Minnetaree girl; the whole nation immediately espoused the quarrel, and one hundred and fifty of their warriors were marching down to revenge the insult on the Ahnahaways. The chief of that nation took the girl from the ravisher, and, giving her to the Mandans, requested their intercession. The messengers went out to meet the warriors, and delivered the young damsel into the hands of her countrymen, smoked the pipe of peace with them, and were fortunate enough to avert their indignation and induce them to return. In the evening some of the men came to the fort and the rest slept in the village. Pocapsahe also visited us and brought some meat on his wife's back.

Wednesday, January 2. It snowed last night, and during this day the same scene of gayety was renewed at the second village, and all the men returned in the evening.

Thursday, 3d. Last night it became very cold, and this morning we had some snow; our hunters were sent out for buffaloe, but the game had been frightened from the river by the Indians, so that they obtained only one; they, however, killed a hare and a wolf. Among the Indians who visited us was a Minnetaree who came to seek his wife; she had been much abused and came here for protection, but returned with him, as we had no authority to separate those whom even the Mandan rites had united.

Friday, 4th. The morning was cloudy and warm, the mercury being 28° above zero, but towards evening the wind changed to northwest and the weather became cold. We sent some hunters down the river, but they killed only one buffaloe and a wolf. We received the visit of Kagohami, who is very friendly, and to whom we gave a handkerchief and two files.

Saturday, 5th. We had high and boisterous winds last night and this morning; the Indians continue to purchase repairs with grain of different kinds. In the first village there has been a buffaloe dance for the last three nights, which has put them all into commotion, and the description which we received from those of the party who visited the village and from other sources is not a little ludicrous; the buffaloe dance is an institution originally intended for the benefit of the old men, and practised at their suggestion. When buffaloe becomes scarce they send a man to harangue the village, declaring that the game is far off and that a feast is necessary to bring it back, and if the village be disposed a day and place is named for the celebration of it. At the appointed hour the old men arrive, and seat themselves crosslegged on skins round a fire in the middle of the lodge, with a sort of doll or small image, dressed like a female, placed before them. The young men bring with them a platter of provisions, a pipe

of tobacco, and their wives, whose dress on the occasion is only a robe or mantle loosely thrown round the body. On their arrival each youth selects the old man whom he means to distinguish by his favour, and spreads before him the provisions, after which he presents the pipe and smokes with him. Mox senex vir simulacrum parvæ puellæ ostensit. Tunc egrediens cætu, jecit effigium solo et superincumbens, senili ardore veneris complexit. Hoc est signum. Denique uxor e turba recessit, et jactu corporis, fovet amplexus viri solo recubante. Maritus appropinquans senex vir dejecto vultu, et honorem et dignitatem ejus conservare amplexu uxoris illum oravit. Forsitan imprimis ille refellit; dehinc, maritus multis precibus, multis lachrymis, et multis donis vehementer intercessit. Tunc senex amator perculsus miserecordia, tot precibus, tot lachrymis, et tot donis, conjugali amplexu submisit. Multum ille jactatus est, sed debilis et effœtus senectute, frustra jactatus est. Maritus interdum stans juxta guadit multum honore, et ejus dignitati sic conservata. Unus nostrum sodalium multum alacrior et potentior juventute, hac nocte honorem quartuor maritorum custodivit.

Sunday, 6th. A clear cold morning, with high wind; we caught in a trap a large gray wolf, and last night obtained. in the same way a fox who had for some time infested the neighbourhood of the fort. Only a few Indians visited us to-day.

Monday, 7th. The weather was again clear and cold, with a high northwest wind, and the thermometer at sunrise 22° below zero; the river fell an inch. Shahaka, the Big White chief, dined with us, and gave a connected sketch of the country as far as the mountains.

Tuesday, 8th. The wind was still from the northwest, the day cold, and we received few Indians at the fort. Besides the buffaloe dance we have just described there is another