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Show 'l'he party incre~&se tu the favour of the Mandans-Description of a buffaloe dance-Medicine dance-The fortitude with which the Indians bear the st· verity of the season-Distress of the party for want of provisions-The great impm·tance of the blacksmith in procuring it-Dcpt·edations of the SiouxThe 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 thl' rivers, creeks, islands, ke. Friday, 28th. THE lvind continued high last nigbt,, the frost severe, and the snow drifting in gr·eat 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 go below 0: 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 o. We killed one deer, and yesterday one of the men shot a wolf. The Indians brought corn, beans, and squa';hes, which they very readily gave for getting their axes and kettle6 mended. In their general conduct during these visits they are honest, but will occasionally pilfer any small article • . Monday, 81. During the night there was a bigh wind wluch covered the icc with hillocks of mixed sand and snow: the day was however fine, and the Indians came in great numbers for ihe purpose of having their u tcnsils repaired. Tuesday, January 1,1805. The new year was welcomed by two shot from the swivel and a round of small arms. The w~ather was cloudy but moderate; the mercury which at sunrise was at 18°, in the course of the day rose to s~· aboye 0: towards evening it began to rain, and at night we Ltwis and Clarke's Expedition, &c. 14-9 ltad snow, the temperature for which is about o. In the morning we pe~mitted sixteen men with their music to go u' 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 inviduous comparisons between us and the northern traders: all these however they declared to captain Clat·ke, who visited them in the course of the morning, were made in jest. As captain Clarke was about leaving th«a village, two of their chiefs returned from a mission to the Grosvcntres or wanderjng 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 hundr·ed and fifty of their warriors were marching down to revenge the insult on the Ahnahaways. The chief of that n~tion took the girl from the ravisher, and giving her to the Mandans requested their intercession. 'rhe messengers went out to meet the warriors, and delivered the young damsel into the hands of her countrymen, smoked tlt·e 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 s. Last night it became very cold, and this morning we had some snow: our hunters were s~nt out for buffaloe, but the game had been frightened from the river lty the ludians, so that thry obtained only one: they however |