174 Expedition to the 



storm; and Julien, who had skirted the timber for the pur- 

 pose of hunting, was electrified by a flash of lightning which 

 entered the earth within a few yards of him. 



The wind was violent, and blew the drops of rain with 

 so much force into our faces, that our horses refused to 

 proceed, constantly endeavouring to turn themselves about 

 from the storm; we at length yielded to their obstinacy, and 

 halted upon the plain. The storm did not abate until we 

 were thoroughly drenched to the skin, when, after being de- 

 layed some additional space of time until a straggler had 

 joined us, we continued our journey. 



The striped and spotted ground squirrel, a beautiful little 

 animal, occurred to our notice several times in the course 

 of the day. 



Mr. T. Nuttall long since obtained specimens of this spe- 

 cies, near the Mandan village, on the Missouri, and in the 

 year 1814 he presented skins of it to several of his scientific 

 friends in London. 



He informs me that he has seen tippets worn by the In- 

 dians of the Upper Missouri, which were made of the skins 

 of this elegant species, sewn together. 



They burrow in the earth, and do not voluntarily climb 

 trees. They inhabit an extensive portion of North America, 

 extending at least from the more northern lakes to the Ar- 

 kansa river, and most probably in that direction into Mexico, 

 and westward to the Rocky IMountains. They were not un- 

 common in the vicinity of Engineer Cantonment. 



26th. Late in the afternoon we saw, at a great distance be- 

 fore us, evident indications of the proximity of Indians, con- 

 sisting of conic elevations, or skin lodges, on the edge of the 

 skirting timber, partially concealed by the foliage of the trees. 

 On our nearer approach we observed their horses peacefully 

 grazing ; but becoming suddenly frightened, probably by 

 our scent, they all bounded off towards the camp, which was 

 now full in view. Our attention way called off from the hor- 



