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is divided by a large rock into two parts, one of which forms the Yellow- 

 stone River, and the other the Lewis Fork of the Columbia. He says the 

 elk are far more numerous on the Yellowstone than we suppose — that in 

 one place the Indians have made quite a substantial fort from their horns 

 piled together, and that in another place quite a large hill has been formed 

 by the number of these horns collected together. 



I have for some time intended giving a description of Fort Pierre Chou- 

 teau and its environs, but have postponed it from day to day for no good 

 reason. A person coming up the country on the other side of the river 

 has his first view of it about half a mile below, and it then presents a most 

 beautiful sight. 



The main object in the picture is the fort itself, having a white appearance, 

 lying four-square, surrounded by a square palisade wall fifteen feet high and 

 three-hundred feet on each side, with bastions at the North, West and South 

 East corners ; then the Indian lodges are seen around the fort ; by their 

 irregularity of position, their conical shape and varied colors, giving life and 

 a picturesque air to the scene ; and for a couple of miles below the fort and 

 between it and the bluffs, the whole plain is dotted with horses grazing 

 and moving leisurely about, while the bold bluffs a mile west of the fort 

 affords a fine back-ground for the picture. The shores immediately oppo- 

 site the fort are high bluffs almost from the water's edge, and with their 

 steep barren sandy sides, look as if determined to wrap themselves up for- 

 ever in the dignity of their own sterility. The main channel runs along this 

 shore, althought at present there is a probability that the boat will be able 

 to land at the fort. 



The fort is situated on a beautiful piece of bottom land which extends for 

 some miles along the bank of the river, and is skirted l)y a range of blutf 

 hills on the West, by which you rise to the rolling prairie beyond. The 

 bottom land affords fine pasture and has a beautiful appearance when the 

 grass and flowers are out on it ; butthe company pasture their horses on the 

 Bad River about eight miles from the fort, as the Indians always have so 

 many horses here. 



On entering the fort two large gates are seen, over each of which there 

 is a large picture intending to represent scenes of interest to the Indian ; we 

 shall enter by the one to the left, as the other leads to the stable-yard, and 

 we shall choose a dry day for our visit, as on any other our shoes wall suffer 

 very much from the mud. A number of Indians, men and women, with 

 their blankets wrapped around them, with their bare legs, painted faces and 

 curiously ornamented heads, will probably be lounging in perfect listless- 

 ness about the gate. The main building stands opposite the gate and oc- 

 cupying nearly the whole length of that side, with a porch along its entire 

 front, windows in the roof and a bell on the top, ant! above it the old weather 

 cock, looking for all the world, like a Dutch tavern. The main building 

 contains the mess hall, kitchen and rooms for the traders; to the right of 

 it you see a neat log house wuth a pleasant little portico in front, and oil 

 painted window blinds — that is the boujier or boss' house, and the long one 

 storied building painted red, and occupying almost the whole of the North 

 side of the fort, is the store and warehouse where the goods and robes are 

 kept. To your immediate right as you enter the gate are the blacksmith's 

 shop and several rooms for the men, and to your left is a small building con- 

 taining the carpenter shop and further accommo(hitions for the men ; iie;irly 

 the whole south side is occupied by a low buikling divided into seven rooms, 



