a cliff of blue earth, under which are several mineral springs, impregnated with salts:  near this we observed a number of goats, from which the creek derives its name.  At three and a half miles from the creek, we came to a large island on the south, along which we passed to the head of it, and encamped about four o’clock.  Here we replaced the mast we had lost, with a new one of cedar:  some bucks and an elk were procured to-day, and a black tailed deer was seen near the Poncara’s village.

Thursday, September 6.  There was a storm this morning from the N.W. and though it moderated, the wind was still high, and the weather very cold; the number of sandbars too, added to the rapidity of the current, obliged us to have recourse to the towline:  with all our exertions we did not make more than eight and a half miles, and encamped on the north, after passing high cliffs of soft, blue, and red coloured stone, on the southern shore.  We saw some goats, and great numbers of buffaloe, in addition to which the hunters furnished us with elk, deer, turkies, geese, and one beaver:  a large catfish too was caught in the evening.  The ground near the camp, was a low prarie, without timber, though just below is a grove of cottonwood.

Friday, September 7.  The morning was very cold and the wind southeast.  At five and a half miles, we reached and encamped at the foot of a round mountain, on the south, having passed two small islands.  This mountain, which is about three hundred feet at the base, forms a cone at the top, resembling a dome at a distance, and seventy feet or more above the surrounding highlands.  As we descended from this dome, we arrived at a spot, on the gradual descent of the hill, nearly four acres in extent, and covered with small holes:  these are the residence of a little animal, called by the French, petit chien (little dog) who sit erect near the mouth, and make a whistling noise, but when alarmed take refuge in their holes.  In order to bring them out, we poured into one of the holes five barrels of water without filling it, but we dislodged and caught the owner.  After digging down another of the holes for six feet, we found, on running a pole into it, that we had not yet dug half way to the bottom:  we discovered, however, two frogs in the hole, and near it we killed a dark rattlesnake, which had swallowed a small prairie dog:  we were also informed, though we never witnessed the fact, that a sort of lizard, and a snake, live habitually with these animals.  The petit chien are justly named, as they resemble a small dog in some particulars, though they have also some points of similarity to the squirrel.  The head resembles the squirrel in every respect, except that the ear is shorter, the tail like that of the ground-squirrel, the toe-nails are long, the fur is fine, and the long hair is gray.