131 [ 1 ] 



that they are rec^arded as inferior beings. There is a difference in the lan- 

 guage of the male and female even in civilized life, but this arises from a 

 very different reason — from the superior refinement of the latter. 



It was remarked as an instance of politeness of an Indian gentleman, 

 that he never laughs at the awkward attempts of a white to speak his lan- 

 guage, but on the contrary will compliment him on his success, and if a 

 squaw breaks out into a laugh, as they sometimes do at the slightest mistake, 

 he rebukes her and tells her she does not know how to speak her own lan- 

 guage. This reminded me of the conduct of the Chinese to our mission- 

 aries in listening to their first attempts at preaching. 



We spoke a little of the importance of a good half-breed school on this 

 river, and every one present gave it as his opinion, that an effort to esta- 

 blish one would meet with encouragement. It is said that there .are pro- 

 bably one hundred and fifty children whose parents were able to pay sixty 

 or eighty dollars a year for their schooling. 



Evening. — Stopped about thirty miles above Fort Pierre — have there- 

 fore made a poor run to day, and had a great deal of grumbling. The 

 western bank has been almost a continuous bed of slate, thirty to forty feet 

 high. I went ashore, and found the bottom covered with a vine bearing a 

 pretty specimen of bindweed, and have preserved some good specimens ; it 

 differs from the beautiful pure white bindweed of Virginia, in having run- 

 ning vines and a purple tinge on the petal. 



Friday, Jime 28. — About ten miles below Fort Pierre — home seems to be 

 approaching quite rapidly, and we are now only about three thousand miles 

 from it, and no cholera in the states, as we understand. We reached the 

 Fort at about nine o'clock this morning, and left at two P. M. I was glad 

 to see again my acquaintances. 



Mr. Picotte here left us, and we are to make the rest of the trij> without 

 him. He has been very kind to me and asked me to remain with him this 

 summer, but this was out of the question. In leaving the Indian country, 

 I must record my acknowledgment of the very many acts of kindness and 

 hospitality extended towards me. The gentlemen, particularly of the Fur 

 Company, have uniformily treated me with kindness and attention. 



Saturday, June 29. — Last night closed in with clouds indicating a 

 shower, and a fine rain fell during the early part of the night. Called by 

 Mr. Pattick about five o'clock to see the opposition boat, which was in 

 sight. All hands got up, and in about half an hour the two lioats were 

 opposite one another in the stream, but not a word was exchanged — thus 

 we passed, twelve hundred miles from home, and did not extend tlie slight- 

 est salutation ; so mucb for opposition in trade. It was the St. Ange, a fine 

 boat, owned and commanded by Captain Joseph Leltarge. There were 

 several ladies on board, and my eyes were delighted with the sight of a 

 beautiful face and fine figure for the first time in some months. A great 

 Inany high slate hills on the west side this morning. 



Monduji, July 1. — On Saturday night we camped a shorf distance 

 below Wbite river, and had something of a blow again. Yestercbiy we 

 passed the L' E;iu qui Court and encamped below it, and now at about ten 

 o'clock, Monday morning we are pushing down stream quite rapidly below 

 the river A'Jacques. It liad been my intention to have noticed with some 

 particularity the face of the country below Fort Pierre, but as it has been 

 carefully examined by scientific men with instruments, and reports made on 

 it, it appears to me scarcely worth my while to do so, an,d besides this it i^ 



