Thursday 3.  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 4.  The morning was cloudy and warm, the mercury being 28 degrees above 0:  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 hankerchief and two files.

Saturday 5.  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 parvae puellae ostensit.  Tune egrediens eaetu, 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; dehine, maritus multis precibus, multis lachrymis, et multis donis vehementer intercessit.  Tune senex amator perculsus miserecordia, tot precibus, tot lachrymis, et tot donis, conjugali amplexu submisit.  Multum ille jactatus est, sed debilis et effoetus 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 quartour maritorum custodivit.