536 . Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



We marchefl a distance of 13 mile?, and at night were obliged' 

 to encamp in the open prairie. Our fires of ''bois He vache'^ served 

 :11 enoupfh to boil our coffee, but very little heat was to be ob- 



w 



tained from the burning of this kind of fuel. 



Febrttary 9. — To-day we inarched fifteen milesj a slight rain 

 that fell last night made our progress more difficult than that of 

 yesterday. Just as the sun was setting, and while I was searching 

 out a fit place for our little camp to halt for the night, I looked 

 back and saw a dense group of men suddenly rise up from behind 

 the river bank, where they had been secreted- they now spread out 

 to disply their numerical strength; they had a little flag displayed 

 in token of amity, and they made signs to us that they wished to 

 approach. We now permitted two of them to come forward, and 

 I went out with Laing to meet them- They offered us the hand, 

 telling us that they were Pawnees, 



striking their breasts and crying" 

 ^o stvled himself the " captain'^ 



J^awnye! Throne who styled himself the " capt 

 asked why we were pulling the wagon, and wanted to know if all 

 our oxen had diedj and added, that if we wished he would furnish 

 MS with monies, for he had a great number on the opposite side of 

 the river. He saivl that if I would encamp now, that in the morn- 

 ing he would bring some of his mules across the river. As ami- 

 cable relations were now established, he si^jned for his party to 

 approach, and we went on to the wagon. Finding that the Indians 

 were mingling amongst my men, I told the chief in a loud tone to 

 order them to keep awayj they instantly obeyed him. We ncw^ 

 encamped- all the Indians crossed the river except the chief and 

 five others. I fnvited the chief to stay with me ajl night; he con- 

 sented, but still retained his five attendants, I told him that they 

 must not stir about at night, for my guards were always on the^ 

 watch for thievish Indians, and they might be shot by mistake. 



At night they all crowded into my tent, and slept coiled up ia 

 a little space scarce roomy enough for me alone. 



Ftlruary 10. — The morning was extremely cold and threatening, 

 clouds were flying rapidly across the sky. Our Indian friends, as 

 soon as they looked out, raised their hands high above their head?, 

 and, permitting them to hang loosely from the wrist, shook 

 them as one shakes water from the tips of his fingers, and thea 

 they would touch some white object; by these signs they meant 

 that "white !%ain^' would fall when the sun was at such a positioa 

 in his path, w^iqh position they indicated to us. They asked my 

 permissi^^^ gto to their own lodge until the snow storm should 



nave passe^j^^a^^y^ they^ begged me to accompany them. I deter- 

 mined to goy^though the ice was not strong enough to bear a 

 man's weight; but 1 suspected that these very Indians had stoIeB 

 our mnle^. Accompanied by the six Indians, I started across the 

 Tiver, A strong noith wind was blovring on our backs; this helped 

 -us along, for we were obliged to keep our feet wide apart, in the 

 position of those of a person who is sliding on the ice; but, never- 

 theless, we all broke through constantly, and where the current was 

 4e?p and rapid we were forced to wade. The air was freezing cold, 

 and as soon as we reached the southern bank of the river, we set 



