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ruly admirable the fatigues of so long a route； encumbered with the charge of an infant； who was then only nineteen months old。 We therefore paid him his wages； amounting to five hundred dollars and thirty…three cents； including the price of a horse and a lodge purchased of him； and soon afterward dropped down to the village of Big White； attended on shore by all the Indian chiefs； who had come to take leave of him。
〃We found him surrounded by his friends； who sat in a circle smoking； while the women were crying。 He immediately sent his wife and son； with their baggage； on board； accompanied by the interpreter and his wife； and two children； and then； after distributing among his friends some powder and ball which we had given him； and smoking a pipe； he went with us to the river side。 The whole village crowded about us； and many of the people wept aloud at the departure of their chief。〃
Once more embarked； the party soon reached Fort Mandan； where they had wintered in 1804。 They found very little of their old stronghold left except a few pickets and one of the houses。 The rest had been destroyed by an accidental fire。 Eighteen miles below； they camped near an old Ricara village； and next day； as they were about to resume their voyage； a brother of Big White； whose camp was farther inland； came running down to the beach to bid Big White farewell。 The parting of the two brothers was very affectionate； and the elder gave the younger a pair of leggings as a farewell present。 The Indian chief was satisfied with his treatment by the whites； and interested himself to tell them traditions of localities which they passed。 August 20 they were below the mouth of Cannon…ball River； and were in the country occupied and claimed by the Sioux。 Here； if anywhere； they must be prepared for attacks from hostile Indians。 At this point； the journal sets forth this interesting observation：
〃Since we passed in 1804； a very obvious change has taken place in the current and appearance of the Missouri。 In places where at that time there were sandbars； the current of the river now passes； and the former channel of the river is in turn a bank of sand。 Sandbars then naked are now covered with willows several feet high； the entrance of some of the creeks and rivers has changed in consequence of the quantity of mud thrown into them； and in some of the bottoms are layers of mud eight inches in depth。〃
The streams that flow into the Missouri and Mississippi from the westward are notoriously fickle and changeable。 Within a very few years； some of them have changed their course so that farms are divided into two parts； or are nearly wiped out by the wandering streams。 In at least one instance； artful men have tried to steal part of a State by changing the boundary line along the bed of the river； making the stream flow many miles across a tract around which it formerly meandered。 On this boundary line between the Sioux and their upper neighbors； the party met a band of Cheyennes and another of Ricaras； or Arikaras。 They held a palaver with these Indians and reproached the Ricara chief； who was called Gray…eyes； with having engaged in hostilities with the Sioux； notwithstanding the promises made when the white men were here before。 To this Gray…eyes made an animated reply：
〃He declared that the Ricaras were willing to follow the counsels we had given them； but a few of their bad young men would not live in peace； but had joined the Sioux and thus embroiled them with the Mandans。 These young men had； however； been driven out of the villages； and as the Ricaras were now separated from the Sioux； who were a bad people and the cause of all their misfortunes； they now desired to be at peace with the Mandans； and would receive them with kindness and friendship。 Several of the chiefs； he said； were desirous of visiting their Great Father； but as the chief who went to the United States last summer had not returned； and they had some fears for his safety； on account of the Sioux； they did not wish to leave home until they heard of him。 With regard to himself； he would continue with his nation； to see that they followed our advice。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃After smoking for some time； Captain Clark gave a small medal to the Chayenne chief； and explained at the same time the meaning of it。 He seemed alarmed at this present； and sent for a robe and a quantity of buffalo…meat； which he gave to Captain Clark； and requested him to take back the medal； for he knew that all white people were ‘medicine；' and was afraid of the medal； or of anything else which the white people gave to the Indians。 Captain Clark then repeated his intention in giving the medal； which was the medicine his great father had directed him to deliver to all chiefs who listened to his word and。 followed his counsels； and that as he ＇the chief＇ had done so； the medal was given as a proof that we believed him sincere。 He now appeared satisfied and received the medal； in return for which he gave double the quantity of buffalo…meat he had offered before。 He seemed now quite reconciled to the whites； and requested that some traders might be sent among the Chayennes； who lived； he said； in a country full of beaver； but did not understand well how to catch them； and were discouraged from it by having no sale for them when caught。 Captain Clark promised that they should be soon supplied with goods and taught the best mode of catching beaver。
〃Big White； the chief of the Mandans； now addressed them at some length； explaining the pacific intentions of his nation； the Chayennes observed that both the Ricaras and Mandans seemed to be in fault； but at the end of the council the Mandan chief was treated with great civility； and the greatest harmony prevailed among them。 The great chief； however； informed us that none of the Ricaras could be prevailed on to go with us till the return of the other chief； and that the Chayennes were a wild people； afraid to go。 He invited Captain Clark to his house； and gave him two carrots of tobacco； two beaver…skins； and a trencher of boiled corn and beans。 It is the custom of all the nations on the Missouri to offer to every white man food and refreshment when he first enters their tents。〃
Resuming their voyage； the party reached Tyler's River； where they camped； on the twenty…seventh of August。 This stream is now known as Medicine River； from Medicine Hill； a conspicuous landmark rising at a little distance from the Missouri。 The voyagers were now near the lower portion of what is now known as South Dakota； and they camped in territory embraced in the county of Presho。 Here they were forced to send out their hunters； their stock of meat was nearly exhausted。 The hunters returned empty…handed。
〃After a hunt of three hours they reported that no game was to be found in the bottoms； the grass having been laid flat by the immense number of buffaloes which recently passed over it； and； that they saw only a few buffalo bulls； which they did not kill； as they were quite unfit for use。 Near this place we observed； however； the first signs of the wild turkey； not long afterward we landed in the Big Bend； and killed a fine fat elk； on which we feasted。 Toward night we heard the bellowing of buffalo bulls on the lower island of the Big Bend。 We pursued this agreeable sound； and after killing some of the cows； camped on the island； forty…five miles from the camp of last night。〃 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃Setting out at ten o'clock the next morning； at a short distance they passed the mouth of White River； the water of which was nearly of the color of milk。 As they were much occupied with hunting； they made but twenty miles。 The buffalo；〃 says the journal； 〃were now so numerous； that from an eminence we discovered more than we had ever seen before at one time； and though it was impossible accurately to calculate their number； they darkened the whole plain； and could not have been； we were convinced； less than twenty thousand。 With regard to game in general； we have observed that wild animals are usually found in the greatest numbers in the country lying between two nations at war。〃
They were now well into the Sioux territory； and on the thirtieth of August they had an encounter with a party of Indians。 About twenty persons were seen on the west side of the river； proceeding along a height opposite the voyagers。 Just as these were observed； another band； numbering eighty or ninety； came out of the woods nearer the shore。 As they had a hostile appearance； the party in the canoes made preparations to receive them； they were suspected to be Teton…Sioux； although they might be Yanktons； Pawnees； or Omahas。 The journal adds：
〃In order； however； to ascertain who they were； without risk to the party； Captain Clark crossed； with three persons who could speak different Indian languages； to a sand…bar near the opposite side； in hopes of conversing with them。 Eight young men soon met him on the sand…bar； but none of them could understand either the Pawnee or Maha interpreter。 They were then addressed in the Sioux language； and answered that they were Tetons； of the band headed by Black Buffaloe； Tahtackasabah。 This was the same who had attempted to stop us in 1804； and being