1 8 AUDUBON 



was in no better case. They are now all ashore except 

 one or more who are going with us to the Yellowstone ; 

 and I will now go to my rest. Though I have said " Good- 

 night," I have arisen almost immediately, and I must write 

 on, for we have other scenes going on both among the 

 trappers below and some of the people above. Many 

 Indians, squaws as well as men, are bartering and trading, 

 and keep up such a babble that Harris and I find sleep 

 impossible ; needless to say, the squaws who are on board 

 are of the lowest grade of morality. 



June 8, Thursday. This morning was fair and cold, as 

 you see by the range of the thermometer, 37° to 56°. We 

 started at a very early hour, and breakfasted before five, 

 on account of the village of Gros Ventres, where our cap- 

 tain had to stop. We passed a few lodges belonging to 

 the tribe of the poor Mandans, about all that remained. 

 I only coiinted eight, but am told there are twelve. The 

 village of the Gros Ventres (Minnetarees)has been cut off 

 from the bank of the river by an enormous sand-bar, now 

 overgrown with willows and brush, and we could only see 

 the American .flag flying in the cool breeze. Two miles 

 above this, however, we saw an increasing body of Indians, 

 for the prairie was sprinkled with small parties, on horse 

 and on foot. The first who arrived fired a salute of small 

 guns, and we responded with our big gun. They had an 

 abundance of dogs harnessed to take wood back to the vil- 

 lage, and their yells and fighting were severe upon our 

 ears. Some forty or more of the distinguished black- 

 guards came on board ; and we had to close our doors as 

 we did yesterday. After a short period they were feasted 

 as last evening; and speeches, coffee, and tobacco, as well 

 as some gunpowder, were given them, which they took 

 away in packs, to be divided afterward. We took one 

 more passenger, and lost our interpreter, who is a trader 

 with the Minnetarees. The latter are by no means as 

 fine-looking a set of men as those we have seen before. 



