While on shore to-day we witnessed a quarrel between two squaws, which appeared to be growing every moment more boisterous, when a man came forward, at whose approach every one seemed terrified and ran.  He took the squaws, and without any ceremony whipped them severely; on inquiring into the nature of such summary justice, we learnt that this man was an officer well known to this and many other tribes.  His duty is to keep the peace, and the whole interior police of the village is confided to two or three of these officers, who are named by the chief and remain in power some days, at least till the chief appoints a successor; they seem to be a sort of constable or sentinel, since they are always on the watch to keep tranquillity during the day, and guarding the camp in the night.  The short duration of their office is compensated by its authority:  his power is supreme, and in the suppression of any riot or disturbance no resistance to him is suffered:  his person is sacred, and if in the execution of his duty he strikes even a chief of the second class, he cannot be punished for this salutary insolence.  In general they accompany the person of the chief, and when ordered to any duty, however dangerous, it is a point of honour rather to die than to refuse obedience.  Thus, when they attempted to stop us yesterday, the chief ordered one of these men to take possession of the boat:  he immediately put his arms round the mast, and, as we understood, no force except the command of the chief would have induced him to release his hold.  Like the other men their bodies are blackened, but their distinguishing mark is a collection of two or three raven skins fixed to the girdle behind the back in such a way, that the tails stick out horizontally from the body.  On his head too is a raven skin split into two parts, and tied so as to let the beak project from the forehead.

Thursday September 27.  We rose early, and the two chiefs took off, as a matter of course and according to their custom, the blanket on which they had slept.  To this we added a peck of corn as a present to each.  Captain Lewis and the chiefs went on shore to see a part of the nation that was expected, but did not come.  He returned at two o’clock, with four of the chiefs and a warrior of distinction, called Wadrapa, (or on his guard); they examined the boat and admired whatever was strange, during half an hour, when they left it with great reluctance.  Captain Clarke accompanied them to the lodge of the grand chief, who invited them to a dance, where, being joined by captain Lewis, they remained till a late hour.  The dance was very similar to that of yesterday.  About twelve we left them, taking the second chief and one principal warrior on board:  as we came near the boat the man who steered the periogue, by mistake, brought her broadside against the boat’s cable, and broke it.  We called up all hands to their oars; but our noise alarmed the two Indians:  they called out to their companions, and immediately