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Show CHAPl'ER Vll. Indian method of attAcking the butraloe on the ice-An cnurnel·at.ton ol the presents sent to the president orthe United States-The party are visited by a Ri· eara chief-They leave their encampment, and proceed on their journey-de· scription of the Little Missouri-Some :tcoount of the Assiniboins- Theit· mode of burying the dead-Whiteearth river described-Great quantity of salt dis· MYerad on its banks-Yellowstone river described-A particular account or the country at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri-Description ol the Missouri, the surrounding country, and of the rivers, creeks, islands, &c. Friday 22. THis was a clear pleasant day, with the wind fr·om the S. S. W. We were visited by the second cbief of the Minnctarees, to whom we gave a medal and some presents, accom11anied by a speech. Mr. M'Kenzic and Mr. Laroche also came to sec us. They all took their leave next day. Saturday 23. Soon after their departure, a bt·other of the Borgne witl1 other Indians came to the fort. rrhe weather was fine, but in the evening we had ihe first rain that has fallen during the winter. Sunday 2'•· 'rhe morning cloudy, but the afternoon fail·, the wind from the N. E. We are employed in preparing for our journey. This evening swans and wild-geese flew towards theN. E. Monday 25. 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 bauling down to the fort. 1,uesday 26. The river rose only llalf an inch, and being choaked up with icc near the fort, did not begin to run till t owards evening. This day is clear and pleasant. Wednesday27. 'rhe wind is still high from the S. W.: the ice \Vhlch is ocasiQnally stopped for a few hours is then L ewis (tnd Clarke•s Expeditron, f::!)c~ 175 thrown ove1· shallow sandbars when the river runs. 'Vc had all our canoes brought down, and were obliged to cauk and pitch very attentively the cracks so common in cottonwood. Thursday 28. The day is fair. Some obstacle above has prevented the ice from running. Our canoes are now nearly ready, and we expect to set out as soon as the river is sufficiently clear to permit us to pass. Friday 29. The weather clear, and the wind from N. ,Y. '1.1he obstruction above gave way this morning, and the ice came down in great quantities; tl1e t•iver having fallen eleven inches in the course of the last twenty-four hours. We haye had few Indians at the fort for the last three or four days, as they are now busy in catching the floating buffaloe. Every spring as the river is breaking up the surroun«ling plains are set on fire, and the buffaloe tempte«l to Cl'oss the river in search of the fresh grass which immediately succeeds to the burning: on their way they are often insulated on a large cake or mass of ice, which floats down the river: the Indians now select the most favourable points for attack, am[ as the buftaloe approaches dart with astonishing agility across the trembling ice, 11ometimes p1·cssiug lightly a cake of not more than two feet square: the animal is of course unsteady, and his footsteps insecure on this new element, so that he can make but little resistance, and the hunter, who l1as gi vcn him his death wound, paddles his icy boat to the shore and secures his prey. Saturday so. The day was clear and pleasant, the wind N. ,V. and the ice running in great quantities. All our Indian presents were again exposed to the air, and the barge made ready to descend the ~1issouri. Monday St. Early this morning it rained, and the weather continued cloudy during the day; the river rose nine inches, the icc not running so much as yesterday. Several flocks of geese and ducks Jly up the river. Monday, Aptil i, 1805. Tllis mo1·uing there was a thunder sto1·m, accompanied with large hail, to which succeeded |