1 64 AUDUBON 



fear fruitlessly, as I see no tracks, nor do I find any of 

 their beds. About ten o'clock Harris called me to hear 

 the notes of the new Whip-poor-will ; we heard two at 

 once, and the sound was thus : " Oh-will, oh-will," repeated 

 often and quickly, as in our common species. The night 

 was beautiful, but cold. 



Friday, 8th. Cloudy and remarkably cold ; the river 

 has risen 6]/^ feet since yesterday, and the water is muddy 

 and thick. Started early. The effect of sudden rises in 

 this river is wonderful upon the sand-bars, which are no 

 sooner covered by a foot or so of water than they at once 

 break up, causing very high waves to run, through which 

 no small boat could pass without imminent danger. The 

 swells are felt for many feet as if small waves at sea. 

 Appearances of rain. The current very strong; but we 

 reached Fort Pierre at half-past five, and found all well. 



Saturday, 9th. Rain all night. Breakfasted at the fort. 

 Exchanged our boat for a larger one. Orders found here . 

 obliged Mr. Culbertson to leave us and go to the Platte 

 River establishment, much to my regret. 



Sunday, 10th. Very cloudy. Mr. Culbertson gave me 

 a parfleche'^ which had been presented to him by " L'Ours 

 de Fer," the Sioux chief. It is very curiously painted, and 

 is a record of a victory of the Sioux over their eftemies, 

 the Gros Ventres. Two rows of horses with Indians 

 dressed in full war rig are rushing onwards ; small black 

 marks everywhere represent the horse tracks; round 

 green marks are shields thrown away by the enemy in 

 their flight, and red spots on the horses, like wafers, de- 

 note wounds. 



Monday, 11th. Cloudy ; the men at work fitting up our 

 new boat. Rained nearly all day, and the wind shifted to 

 every point of the compass. Nothing done. 



1 A parfliche is a hide, usually a Buffalo bull's, denuded of hair, dressed 

 and stretched to the desired shape. All articles made from this hide are 

 also called paril^che, such as wallets, pouches, etc. 



