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APPENDIX — No. IV. 



JOURXJL OF JIjY EXPEDITIOJY TO THE MAUVAISES 

 TERRES JLYD THE UPPER MISSOURI /A" 1850; 



BY THADDEUS A. CULEERTSON. 



[As already mentioned, Mr. Culbertson Avent from St. Louis to St. Josephs in a steamboat. 

 He there, with his brother, Alexander Culbertson, Esq., took a carriage, and accompanied 

 by some attendants proceeded to Fort Pierre, along the eastern bank of the Missouri. 

 His narrative, as herewith presented, commences at a point some miles below Fort Pierre. 

 With reference to the style of the narrative it should be recollected that the tacts Avere 

 noted .down on the spot, Avithout any intention of publication.] 



Saturday, April 27, 11 A. M. — Yesterday was an exceedingly unplea- 

 sant day; we found a violent north wind blowing in the morning, nevertheless, 

 as soon as breakfast was over, we were off on the cheerless prairie. We 

 saw but little wood ; the road was hilly and ponds frequent. About ten 

 o'clock, we crossed a small stream that gave us some trouble on account 

 of the deep mud ; but cold as the day was, the Indians waded through 

 without hesitation. About twelve o'clock we came to a place where the 

 land was cut up into steep hills and deep ravines, the latter containing a 

 little scrubby timber. At one o'clock we reached the spot where the In- 

 dians had confidently expected to meet their chief, Old Eagle, who had 

 teen there hunting buffalo, but he was not to be found. The Indians ap- 

 peared much disappointed and looked very sad. They had left a good 

 place for hunting buffalo, and had come here where there were apparently 

 none. 



There was every appearance of a violent snow-storm, but bad as our 

 situation was, we were thankful that it was no worse ; had these indica- 

 tions overtaken us the night before, when there was not a stick of wood 

 within miles, we might well have been filled with apprehension, but here 

 we had wood, water and grass, and were encamped in a ravine, well shel- 

 tered from the storm. About eight o'clock we retired to our beds in the 

 waggon, anticipating a cheerless day of inactivity on the morrow. We 

 were, however, agreeably disappointed, and at about four o'clock, I was 

 awakened by the bustle of preparation for departure. 



We started at half-past five o'clock, and soon crossed Choutain creek, 

 the small stream on which we had encamped. Our course during the day, 

 after we left the creek, was over level prairie, with no timber in sight or 

 water to be found, though buffalo were abundant. I forgot to mention 

 that just as we were leaving , the river A'Jacques, a very large wolf, of 

 pure white color, a beautiful animal, came walking leisurely towards us. 

 A. shot at it, but missed, when it scampsred off. 



