Thursday, 11th, at eleven o’clock we again met in council at our camp.  The grand chief made a short speech of thanks for the advice we had given, and promised to follow it; adding that the door was now open and no one dare shut it, and that we might depart whenever we pleased, alluding to the treatment we had received from the Sioux:  they also brought us some corn, beans, and dried squashes, and in return we gave them a steel mill with which they were much pleased.  At one o’clock we left our camp with the grand chief and his nephew on board, and at about two miles anchored below a creek on the south, separating the second and third village of the Ricaras, which are about half a mile distant from each other.  We visited both the villages, and sat conversing with the chiefs for some time, during which they presented us with a bread made of corn and beans, also corn and beans boiled, and a large rich bean which they take from the mice of the prairie, who discover and collect it.  These two villages are placed near each other in a high smooth prairie; a fine situation, except that having no wood the inhabitants are obliged to go for it across the river to a timbered lowland opposite to them.  We told them that we would speak to them in the morning at their villages separately.

Thursday, 12th.  Accordingly after breakfast we went on shore to the house of the chief of the second village named Lassel, where we found his chiefs and warriors.  They made us a present of about seven bushels of corn, a pair of leggings, a twist of their tobacco, and the seeds of two different species of tobacco.  The chief then delivered a speech expressive of his gratitude for the presents and the good counsels which we had given him; his intention of visiting his great father but for fear of the Sioux; and requested us to take one of the Ricara chiefs up to the Mandans and negociate a peace between the two nations.  To this we replied in a suitable way, and then repaired to the third village.  Here we were addressed by the chief in nearly the same terms as before, and entertained with a present of ten bushels of corn, some beans, dried pumpkins, and squashes.  After we had answered and explained the magnitude and power of the United States, the three chiefs came with us to the boat.  We gave them some sugar, a little salt, and a sunglass.  Two of them then left us, and the chief of the third, by name Ahketahnasha or Chief of the Town, accompanied us to the Mandans.  At two o’clock we left the Indians, who crowded to the shore to take leave of us, and after making seven and a half miles landed on the north side, and had a clear, cool, pleasant evening.