JOURNAL. 33 
T'ould speak a good word for them to the Mandanis ; 
for they wanted to be at peace with them. These arc 
the best looking- Indians I have ever seen. At I 
o'clock P. M. we proceeded on our voyage ; passed 
a creek on the south side 2G yards wide and a hand- 
some bottom covered with timber. Having made 
jibout four miles, we came to the second Village of 
the Rickaree^, situated in a prairie on the south side- 
They had the American flag hoisted which Captain 
Lewis gave them ye^ter^ay. Their lodges are similar 
to those in the iirst village, and the same, or perhapis 
more, in number. They are the most cleanly Indians 
I have ever seen on the voyage ; as well as the most 
friendly and industrious. We anchored about 50 
yards from shore, and sent a periogue over the river 
for wood. We all slept o!^ I oard except the cooks, who 
went on shore to prepare provisions for the I'lext day. 
Friday \2th. We had a pleasant morning, and re- 
mained here the forenoon to hear the chief of this 
village speak. Last night the Indians stole an axe 
from our cook, which of course in some decree di- 
minished our confidence, and lessened the amicable 
character we ha<l conceived of them. At 9 o'clock 
Captain Lev.ds^ Captain Clarke and myself went to 
the 2nd Village, and talked with its chief : then to 
the third Village, alx)ut half a mile beyond a small 
creek, and talked with the chief of that Village j and 
-got some corn and beans from them. The third vil- 
lage is nearly of the same size of the second,* and has 
in it a great number of handsome and smart womeii 
and children : the men are mostly out hiinting. A- 
bout 12 we left the village and proceeded on our voy- 
age. One of the natives agreed to go with us as far 
as the Mandans. We encamped on the north side. 
After dark we heard some person hallooing on the 
opposite shore ; and a periogue vrent over • and' 
brought an Indian and two squaws, who remained 
mth us all night. 
E 2 
