and a little snow fell, the wind then shifted from southeast to northwest, and the day became fair. It snowed again in the evening, but the next day,

Tuesday, 12th, was fair, with the wind from the north

west.

Wednesday, 13th. We had a fine day and a southwest wind. Mr. M'Kenzie came to see us, as did also many Indians, who are so anxious for battle-axes that our smiths have not a moment's leisure, and procure us an abundance of corn. The river rose a little to-day, and so continued.

Thursday, 14th. The wind being from the west, and the day fine, the whole party were employed in building boats and in shelling corn.

Friday, 15th. The day is clear, pleasant, and warm. We take advantage of the fine weather to hang all our Indian presents and other articles out to dry before our departure.

Saturday, 16th. The weather is cloudy, the wind from the southeast. A Mr. Garrow, a Frenchmen who has resided a long time among the Ricaras and Mandans, explained to us the mode in which they make their large beads, an art which they are said to have derived from some prisoners of the Snake Indian nation, and the knowledge of which is a secret even now confined to a few among the Mandans and Ricaras. The process is as follows: glass of different colours is first pounded fine and washed, till each kind, which is kept separate, ceases to stain the water thrown over it; some wellseasoned clay, mixed with a sufficient quantity of sand to prevent its becoming very hard when exposed to heat, and reduced by water to the consistency of dough, is then rolled on the palm of the hand till it becomes of the thickness wanted for the hole in the bead; these sticks of clay are placed upright, each on a little pedestal or ball of the same material about an ounce in weight, and distributed over a

small earthen platter, which is laid on the fire for a few minutes, when they are taken off to cool; with a little paddle or shovel, three or four inches long and sharpened at the end of the handle, the wet pounded glass is placed in the palm of the hand; the beads are made of an oblong form wrapped in a cylindrical form round the stick of clay, which is laid crosswise over it, and gently rolled backwards and forwards till it becomes perfectly smooth. If it be desired to introduce any other colour, the surface of the bead is perforated with the pointed end of the paddle and the cavity filled with pounded glass of that colour; the sticks with the string of beads are then replaced on their pedestals, and the platter deposited on burning coals or hot embers; over the platter an earthern pot containing about three gallons, with a mouth large enough to cover the platter, is reversed, being completely closed except a small aperture at the top, through which are watched the beads; a quantity of old dried wood formed into a sort of dough or paste is placed round the pot so as almost to cover it, and afterwards set on fire; the manufacturer then looks through the small hole in the pot, till he sees the beads assume a deep red colour, to which succeeds a paler or whitish red, or they become pointed at the upper extremity, on which the fire is removed and the pot suffered to cool gradually; at length it is removed, the beads taken out, the clay in the hollow of them picked out with an awl or needle, and it is then fit for use. The beads thus formed are in great demand among the Indians, and used as pendants to their ears and hair, and are sometimes worn round the neck.

Sunday, 17th. A windy but clear and pleasant day, the river rising a little and open in several places. Our Minnetaree interpreter, Chaboneau, whom we intended taking with us to the Pacific, had some days ago been worked upon by

Vol. 1-16

the British traders and appeared unwilling to accompany us except on certain terms, such as his not being subject to our orders, and do duty, or to return, whenever he chose. As we saw clearly the source of his hesitation, and knew that it was intended as an obstacle to our views, we told him that the terms were inadmissable, and that we could dispense with his services; he had accordingly left us with some displeasure. Since then he had made an advance towards joining us, which we showed no anxiety to meet; but this morning he sent an apology for his improper conduct, and agreed to go with us and perform the same duties as the rest of the corps; we therefore took him again into our service.

Monday, 18th. The weather was cold and cloudy, the wind from the north. We were engaged in packing up the goods into eight divisions, so as to preserve a portion of each in case of accident. We hear that the Sioux have lately attacked a party of Assiniboins and Knistenaux, near the Assiniboin river, and killed fifty of them.

Tuesday, 19th. Some snow fell last night, and this morning was cold, windy, and cloudy. Shahaka and Kagohami came down to see us, as did another Indian with a sick child, to whom we gave some medicine. There appears to be an approaching war, as two parties have already gone from the Minnetarees, and a third is preparing.

Wednesday, 20th. The morning was cold and cloudy, the wind high from the north, but the afternoon was pleasant. The canoes being finished, four of them were carried down to the river, at the distance of a mile and a half from where they were constructed.

Thursday, 21st. The remaining periogues were hauled to the same place, and all the men except three, who were left to watch them, returned to the fort. On his way down, which was about six miles, Captain Clark passed along the points

of the high hills, where he saw large quantities of pumicestone on the foot, sides, and tops of the hills, which had every appearance of having been at some period on fire. He collected specimens of the stone itself, the pumicestone, and the hard earth, and on being put into the furnace the hard earth melted and glazed, the pumicestone melted, and the hardstone became a pumicestone glazed.

CHAPTER VII.

Indian method of attacking the buffaloe on the ice — An enumeration of the presents sent to the President of the United States - The party are visited by a Ricara chief — They leave their encampment, and proceed on their journey – Description of the Little Missouri - Some account of the Assiniboins -Their mode of burying the dead - Whiteearth river described Great quantity of salt discovered on its banks - Yellowstone river described — A particular account of the country at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Description of the Missouri, the surrounding country, and of the rivers, creeks, islands, etc.

FRIDAY, 22d. This was a clear, pleasant day, with the

wind from the S. S. W. We were visited by the second chief of the Minnetarees, to whom we gave a medal and some presents, accompanied by a speech. Mr. M'Kenzie and Mr. Laroche also came to see us. They all took their leave next day.

Saturday, 23d. Soon after their departure a brother of the Borgne, with other Indians, came to the fort. The weather was fine, but in the evening we had the first rain that has fallen during the winter.

Sunday, 24th. The morning cloudy, but the afternoon fair, the wind from the N. E. We are employed in preparing for our journey. This evening swans and wild geese flew towards the N. E.

Monday, 25th. A fine day, the wind S. W. The river rose nine inches, and the ice began breaking away in several places, so as to endanger our canoes which we are hauling down to the fort.

Tuesday, 26th. The river rose only half an inch, and being choked up with ice near the fort, did not begin to run till towards evening. This day is clear and pleasant.