saw several of the argalia, but they were too shy to be killed, and we therefore made a dinner from a deer shot by one of the hunters.  Then we pursued the course of the stream for three miles, till it emptied itself into a river from the east.  In the wide valley at their junction, we discovered a large encampment of Indians:  when we had reached them and alighted from our horses, we were received with great cordiality.  A council was immediately assembled, white robes were thrown over our soldiers, and the pipe of peace introduced.  After this ceremony, as it was too late to go any further, we encamped, and continued smoking and conversing with the chiefs till a late hour.  The next morning,

Thursday 5, we assembled the chiefs and warriors, and informed them who we were, and the purpose for which we visited their country.  All this was however conveyed to them through so many different languages, that it was not comprehended without difficulty.  We therefore proceeded to the more intelligible language of presents, and made four chiefs by giving a medal and a small quantity of tobacco to each.  We received in turn from the principal chief, a present consisting of the skins of a braro, an otter, and two antelopes, and were treated by the women to some dried roots and berries.  We then began to traffic for horses, and succeeded in exchanging seven, purchasing eleven, for which we gave a few articles of merchandise.

This encampment consists of thirty-three tents, in which were about four hundred souls, among whom eighty were men.  They are called Ootlashoots, and represent themselves as one band of a nation called Tushepaws, a numerous people of four hundred and fifty tents, residing on the heads of the Missouri and Columbia rivers, and some of them lower down the latter river.  In person these Indians are stout, and their complexion lighter than that common among Indians.  The hair of the men is worn in queues of otter skin, falling in front over the shoulders.  A shirt of dressed skin covers the body to the knee, and on this is worn occasionally a robe.  To these were added leggings and moccasins.  The women suffer their hair to fall in disorder over the face and shoulders, and their chief article of covering is a long shirt of skin, reaching down to the ancles, and tied round the waist.  In other respects, as also in the few ornaments which they possess, their appearance is similar to that of the Shoshonees; there is however a difference between the language of these people which is still farther increased by the very extraordinary pronunciation of the Ootlashoots.  Their words have all a remarkably guttural sound, and there is nothing which seems to represent the tone of their speaking more exactly than the clucking of a fowl, or the noise of a parrot.  This peculiarity renders their voices scarcely audible, except at a short distance, and when many of them are talking, forms a strange confusion of sounds.  The common conversation we overheard, consisted of low guttural sounds occasionally broken by a loud word or two, after which it would relapse and scarcely be distinguished.  They seem kind and friendly and willingly shared with us berries and roots, which formed their only stock of provisions.  Their only wealth is their horses, which are very fine, and so numerous that this party had with them at least five hundred.