132 



Harmon's journal. 



Here I shall pass the winter, having with me 

 Mr. Goedike, two interpreters, twenty labouring 

 men, fourteen women and sixteen children. 



Saturday, November 24. Some people have 

 just arrived from Montague a la Basse, with a 

 letter from Mr. Chaboillez, who informs me, that 

 two Captains, Clarke and Lewis, with one hund- 

 red and eighty soldiers, have arrived at the Man- 

 dan Village on the Missouri River, which place 

 is situated about three days' march distant from 

 the residence of Mr. Chaboillez. They have in- 

 vited Mr. Chaboillez to visit them. It is said, 

 that on their arrival, they hoisted the American 

 flag, and informed the Natives that their object 

 was not to trade, but merely to explore the coun- 

 try ; and that as soon as the navigation shall open, 

 they design to continue their route across the 

 Rocky Mountain, and thence descend to the Pa- 

 cific Ocean. They made the Natives a few small 

 presents, and repaired their guns, axes, &c, gratis. 

 Mr. Chaboillez writes, that they behave honour- 

 ably toward his people, who are there to trade 

 with the Natives. 



Tuesday, January 21,1805. For nearly a month, 

 we have subsisted on little besides potatoes \ but 

 thanks to a kind Providence, the last night, two of 

 my men returned from the plains, with their sledg- 

 es loaded with the flesh of the buffaloe. They 



