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Show Lewis and Clarke•s Expedition oause: among them we observed the brown martin employed in looking for insects, and so gentle that they did not ily until we got within a few feet of them. We have also di&tin· guished among the numerous birds of the plain, the blackbird, the wren ot~ lll'airie bird, and a. species of lat·k about the size of a partridge, with a short tail. The excessive heat and thirst forced us ft·om the hill, about one o'clock, to 1he nearest water, which we found in the creek, at three miles distance, and remained an hour and a half. 'Ve 1 hen went down the creek, through a lowland about one mile in width, and crossed it three times, to the spot where we first reached it in the morning. Here we gathered some delicious plums, grapes and blue currants, and aftcl'wards arrived at t}1e mouth of the river about sunset. To this place the course fa·om the mound isS. twenty miles, E. nine miles; we there resumed our periogue, and on reaching our encampment of last night set the prairies on fire, to warn the Sioux of our approael1. In the mean time, the boat under serj<.'ant Pryor had proceeded in the afternoon one mile, to a bluff of blue clay on the south, and after 11assing a sandbar and two sand islands fixed their camp at the distance of six miles on the south. In the evening some rain fell. \Ve had killetl a duck and several birds: in the boat, they had caught some large catfish. Sunday, August 26. We rejoined the boat at nine o'clock before she set out, and then }lassing by an island, anc\ nuder a cliff on the south, nearly two miles in extent and coan}wsed of white aml blue earth, encamped at nine miles distrmee, on a sandbar towards the north. Opposite to this, on the south, is a small creek called Petit Arc or Little Bow, and a sl1ort distance above it, an old village of the same name. This village, of which nothing remains but the mound ot' earth about four feet bigh surrounding it, was built by aMabacbief named Little Bow, who being displeased with Blackbir(l, the late king, seceded with t}vo hundred followers and settled at this spot, which is now abandoned, as the two Up the .7Uissouri. 55 ,,jJlages have reunited since the death of Blackbird. We have great quantities of grapes, and plums of three kinds; two of a yellow colour, and distinguished by one of the species being longer than the other; and a tl1ir·d round and red: all have an excellent flavour, particularly those of the yellow kind. August 27. The morning star appeared mu{!h larger than usual. A gentle breeze from the southeast carried us by some laT'ge sandbars, on both sides and in the middle of the river, to a bluff, on the south side, at seven and a half miles distant: this bluff is of white clay ot· chalk, under which is much stone, like lime, incrusted with a clear substance, supposed to be cobalt, ami some dark ore. Above this bluff we set the prairie on fire, to invite the Sioux. After twelve and a half miles, we had passed several other sandbars, and now t·eached the mouth of a river called by the F'reneh Jacques (James river) or Yankton, from the tribe which inhabits its banks. It is about ninety yards wide at the confluence; the country which it waters is rich prairie, with little timber: it becomes deeper and wider above its mouth, and may be navigated a great distance; as its sources rise near those of St. Peter's, or the MississiJ)pi, and the red river of' lake Winnipeg. As we came to the mouth of the river, an Indian swam to the boat; and, on our landing, we were met by two others, who informed us that a large body of Sioux were encamped near us: they accompanied three of our men, with an invitation to meet us at a spot above the river: the third Indian remained with us; he is a Maha boy, and says that his nation have gone to the Pawnees to make peace "·ith them. At fourteen miles, we en(~amped on a sandbar to the nol'th. 'rhe ail· was cool, the evening pleasant, the wind from the southeast, and light. The river has i'allcn gradually, and is now low. 'l'uesday, 28th. \\repassed, with a stiff bt~ceze from the soutl1, several sandbars. On the south is a Jnairie which rises gt·adually from the water to the height of a bluff, which is, at four miles distance, of a whitish colout·, and |