Wednesday 27.  The wind is still high from the S.W.:  the ice which is ocasionally stopped for a few hours is then thrown over shallow sandbars when the river runs.  We had all our canoes brought down, and were obliged to cauk and pitch very attentively the cracks so common in cottonwood.

Thursday 28.  The day is fair.  Some obstacle above has prevented the ice from running.  Our canoes are now nearly ready, and we expect to set out as soon as the river is sufficiently clear to permit us to pass.

Friday 29.  The weather clear, and the wind from N.W.  The obstruction above gave way this morning, and the ice came down in great quantities; the river having fallen eleven inches in the course of the last twenty-four hours.  We have had few Indians at the fort for the last three or four days, as they are now busy in catching the floating buffaloe.  Every spring as the river is breaking up the surrounding plains are set on fire, and the buffaloe tempted to cross the river in search of the fresh grass which immediately succeeds to the burning:  on their way they are often insulated on a large cake or mass of ice, which floats down the river:  the Indians now select the most favourable points for attack, and as the buffaloe approaches dart with astonishing agility across the trembling ice, sometimes pressing lightly a cake of not more than two feet square:  the animal is of course unsteady, and his footsteps insecure on this new element, so that he can make but little resistance, and the hunter, who has given him his death wound, paddles his icy boat to the shore and secures his prey.

Saturday 30.  The day was clear and pleasant, the wind N.W. and the ice running in great quantities.  All our Indian presents were again exposed to the air, and the barge made ready to descend the Missouri.

Monday 31.  Early this morning it rained, and the weather continued cloudy during the day; the river rose nine inches, the ice not running so much as yesterday.  Several flocks of geese and ducks fly up the river.

Monday, April 1, 1805.  This morning there was a thunder storm, accompanied with large hail, to which succeeded rain for about half an hour.  We availed ourselves of this interval to get all the boats in the water.  At four o’clock P.M. it began to rain a second time, and continued till twelve at night.  With the exception of a few drops at two or three different times, this is the first rain we have had since the 15th of October last.

Tuesday 2.  The wind was high last night and this morning from N.W. and the weather continued cloudy.  The Mandans killed yesterday twenty-one elk, about fifteen miles below, but they were so poor as to be scarcely fit for use.

Wednesday 3.  The weather is pleasant, though there was a white frost and some ice on the edge of the water.  We were all engaged in packing up our baggage and merchandize.