THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS $ 2 7 



with fossil remains. I saw the young Elk belonging to 

 our captain, looking exceedingly shabby, but with the 

 most beautiful eyes I ever beheld in any animal of the 

 Deer kind. We have shot nothing to-day. I have heard 

 all the notes of the Meadow Lark found here and they are 

 utterly different from those of our common species. And 

 now that I am pretty well fatigued with writing letters 

 and this journal, I will go to rest, though I have matter 

 enough in my poor head to write a book. We expect to 

 proceed onwards some time to-morrow. 



June 1, Thursday. I was up at half-past three, and by 

 four Sprague and I walked to the Fort, for the purpose of 

 taking sketches of young Buffalo calves. These young 

 beasts grunt precisely like a hog, and I would defy any 

 person not seeing the animals to tell one sound from the 

 other. The calves were not out of the stable, and while 

 waiting I measured the Elk horns given me by Mr. 

 Picotte. They are as follows : length, 4 feet 6| inches ; 

 breadth 27 to 2/|- inches; circumference at the skull 16 

 inches, round the knob 12 inches; between the knobs 3 

 inches. This animal, one of the largest ever seen in this 

 country, was killed in November last. From seventeen 

 to twenty-one poles are necessary to put up a lodge, and 

 the poles when the lodge is up are six or seven feet above 

 the top. The holes at the bottom, all round, suffice to in- 

 dicate the number of these wanted to tighten the lodge. 

 In time Sprague made several outline sketches of calves, 

 and I drew what I wished. We had breakfast very early, 

 and I ate some good bread and fresh butter. Mr. Picotte 

 presented me with two pipe-stems this morning, quite 

 short, but handsome. At eleven we were on our way, 

 and having crossed the river, came alongside of the 

 "Trapper," of which Mr. John Durack takes the command 

 to St. Louis. The name of our own captain is Joseph A. 

 Sire. Mr. Picotte gave me a letter for Fort Union, as Mr. 

 Culbertson will not be there when we arrive. One of 



