JOURNAL. 
259 
way up, wanted the corn. We then proceeded on 
till we came to our old camp near the Maha village, 
where we halted to dry our bai^gage, which got very 
wet last night, and remained all night. The natives 
are all out in the plains. 
Friday 5th, This was a fine morning, and we 
early embarked, and went on very well, till night, 
when we encamped on a sand bar, where the mus- 
ketoes were very troublesome. 
Saturday 6th, We set out early, in a fine morn- 
ing, saw a number of pelicans, and about 8 o'clock 
a gang of elk, when some hunters went out but re- 
turned without killing any. At 1 1 o'clock we met 
a barge belonging to a Mr. Shotto, of St. Louis, 
loaded with merchandize, for the purpose of tra- 
>rJcVing with the Sioux nation of Indians. We got 
some spirituous liquors from this party the first we 
had tasted since the 4th of July 1805, and remained 
with them about three hours ; sent some hunters 
a head and proceeded on till about 3 o'clock in the 
afternoon, when we halted and Vv?aited for the hun- 
ters at the place agreed on to meet them, but they 
did not come in and we encamped for the night. 
Sunday 7th. We had a pleasant morning. The 
hunters not having come in we left a canoe, with 
directions to wait till 12 o'clock for them ; and pro- 
ceeded on. About 9 o'clock we »iet with our hun- 
ters, but they had not killed any thing ; and at 1 1 
halted to hunt and wait for the canoe. In a short 
time we killed three elk and brought in the meat ; 
and the canoe having come up we proceeded on, 
and at sunset encamped. The musquitoes are not so ' 
troublesome as they were some time ago. 
Monday 8th, We again had a pleasant morning ^ 
and proceeded on early; at 10 o'clock we passed 
council blutls where we held the first council with 
the Ottos on the ist, 2nd, and 3rd of x\ugust 1804^ 
and in the evening encamped on a small island? hal- 
ving gone on very well during the day. 
