THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 13 



these lodges have a sort of portico that leads to the door, 

 and on the tops of most of them I observed Buffalo skulls. 

 This lodge contained the whole family of our guide — 

 several women and children, and another man, per- 

 haps a son-in-law or a brother. All these, except the 

 man, were on the outer edge of the lodge, crouching 

 on the ground, some suckling children; and at nearly 

 equal distances apart were placed berths, raised about 

 two feet above the ground, made of leather, and with 

 square apertures for the sleepers or occupants to enter. 

 The man of whom I have spoken was lying down in 

 one of these, which was all open in front. I walked up 

 to him, and, after disturbing his happy slumbers, shook 

 hands with him ; he made signs for me to sit down ; and 

 after Harris and I had done so, he rose, squatted himself 

 near us, and, getting out a large spoon made of boiled 

 Buffalo horn, handed it to a young girl, who brought a 

 great rounded wooden bowl filled with pemmican, mixed 

 with corn and some other stuff. I ate a mouthful or so of 

 it, and found it quite palatable ; and Harris and the rest 

 then ate of it also. Bell was absent ; we had seen nothing 

 of him since we left the boat. This lodge, as well as the 

 other, was dirty with water and mud ; but I am told that in 

 dry weather they are kept cleaner, and much cleaning do 

 they need, most truly. A round, shallow hole was dug in 

 the centre for the fire ; and from the roof descended over 

 this a chain, by the aid of which they do their cooking, 

 the utensil being attached to the chain when wanted. As 

 we returned towards the fort, I gave our guide a piece of 

 tobacco, and he appeared well pleased. He followed us 

 on board, and as he peeped in my room, and saw the 

 dried and stuffed specimens we have, he evinced a slight 

 degree of curiosity. Our captain, Mr. Chardon, and our 

 men have been busily engaged in putting ashore that por- 

 tion of the cargo designed for this fort, which in general 

 appearance might be called a poor miniature representa- 



