VOYAGE DOWN THE MISSOURI. 267 



tunately, it was a clear, still, moonlight night, and before morning we were at a long distance 

 from them. 



October 14. Arrived about 12 o clock at a small trading encampment of the American Fur 

 Company. Found a large body of Sioux here, who were tolerably civil, and invited us to stay 

 a day or two, to atlend a dog- feast. We felt no particular desire to cultivate an intimacy with 

 people so inauspiciously commenced, and I declined their hospitality. We gave them a few 

 presents, and bade them good-bye for the present. We took on board an old Indian who is going 

 down to Fort Pierre with us to see the Indian agent. 



October 18. We reached Fort Pierre about 12 o clock m. During the last four days we have 

 had many detentions from high winds and sand-bars. The river is so low, and the channel so 

 crooked, that it is impossible to get along without running high and dry upon the sand-bars. The 

 men have worked with praiseworthy energy, standing in the water at a temperature of 40 until 

 they were completely chilled. Two days before our arrival at this place, the main body of the 

 Yankton Sioux, in number some twenty-five hundred, had left for the buffalo country. They 

 have been here to receive their presents from the government. Two more bands are expected 

 in a few days. 



October 20. We made but little progress on account of the wind. About dark met a boat, 

 loaded with potatoes and other vegetables, belonging to the American Fur Company. They 

 were raised on an island a few miles below. We obtained a sufficient supply for the remainder 

 of the voyage. 



October 21. The high wind continuing, we made but little progress. Passed Fort Pierre 

 island a fine, fertile spot in the Missouri, containing several hundred acres of excellent land. 

 The American Fur Company raise all their corn and vegetables here. When this country is 

 settled this island will be very valuable. 



October 23. For the last two days we have made but little progress, as the wind has been 

 blowing a perfect gale. To-day has been calm, and we have made a fine run down the river. 

 The banks this morning were frozen quite hard, and some ice was formed at the edge of the 

 water, indicating that the navigation would soon be closed for this year. We were continually 

 running upon sand-banks, and all hands were obliged to go into the water to lift the boat off; 

 anything but a luxurious bath, in this frigid temperature. Passed through the Great Bend of the 

 Missouri, and encamped at night near the mouth of the White Earth river. The night is cold and 

 windy, and clouds around the setting sun indicate snow for to-morrow. 



October 25. We have made but one full day s run since leaving Fort Pierre, having been 

 wind-bound most of the time. To-day the wind has abated somewhat, and we made out to 

 reach Cedar island, after working at the oars steadily for twelve hours. The island was formerly 

 occupied by the Mormons, but the Indians proving troublesome, they were obliged to abandon it. 

 The water is uncommonly low, with very little current, and our progress is consequently very 

 slow. Passed several hot sulphur springs twenty-five miles above this place. Their water is 

 clear, and evidently strongly impregnated with the mineral. Saw wild turkeys for the first time. 

 They are seldom seen above this point, and have never, I believe, been found beyond the Rocky 

 mountains. 



October 30. For the last few days we have had fine weather, and made a long distance down 

 the river. We have passed Floyd s bluff, so called in commemoration of Sergeant Floyd, one of 

 the men belonging to Lewis and Clark s expedition, which crossed the mountains in 1804, who 

 was killed here. We fired a salute in honor of the brave sergeant who, forty-nine years before, 

 was of the party that had started to explore the route we had just traversed. 



The region through which we passed appears to be as favorable for agriculture as any in the 

 United States. I saw to-day, at a cabin where we stopped, some of the best specimens of grain 

 and vegetables I have yet seen. 



We are encamped within sight of &quot;Blackbird s Hill,&quot; so called from a famous Indian c ief, 



