180 



the Sioux, one of whom was his relation, who 

 agreed to go with us. 



We started on the 27th of May, crossed Mis- 

 souri, and arrived the same evening at the upper 

 village. This village is situated on an Island, in 

 the Missouri, and is fortified in the same manner 

 as the lower village, containing about sixty huts. 

 Our party consisted of twenty-seven men, six 

 women, and four children ; none of the Gross- 

 Ventres having their families with them. The 

 next morning we proceeded, and soon left the 

 Missouri, travelling a northwest course, in a well 

 beaten path. The land on each side of us 

 ascended into high ridges. On the northern side 

 of them, was considerable timber, mostly cedar, 

 and the land poor. The path continued up the 

 vally, but often passing over low ridges. On the 

 29th, we struck a branch of the stream called by 

 the traders, Ball river. We followed this branch 

 to its mouth. Here we crossed Ball river. We 

 found some pleasant intervals on this river, but 

 most of the land is poor, dry ridges? with very 

 little timber. Our company soon took a course 

 more north war<£Jy, until we came to the mouth of 

 Chuss-chu river>' Here we came again to the 

 banks of the Missouri, and met a party of Man- 

 dans, hunting buffaloe. The principal game found 

 here is the buffaloe, cabr.ee, or antelope, black 

 tailed deer, and elk. We now frequently passed 

 camps of Mandans, and on the 5th of June, 

 arrived at the lower Mandan village. , This \ih 



