Tuesday 19.  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 20.  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 20.  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 Clarke 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, &c.

Friday 22.  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 23.  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 24.  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 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 hauling down to the fort.

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