We waited with much anxiety the return of our messenger to the Ottoes.  The men whom we despatched to our last encampment, returned without having seen any appearance of its having been visited.  Our horses too had strayed; but we were so fortunate as to recover them at the distance of twelve miles.  Our apprehensions were at length relieved by the arrival of a party of about fourteen Ottoe and Missouri Indians, who came at sunset, on the second of August, accompanied by a Frenchman, who resided among them, and interpreted for us.  Captains Lewis and Clarke went out to meet them, and told them that we would hold a council in the morning.  In the mean time we sent them some roasted meat, pork, flour, and meal; in return for which they made us a present of watermelons.  We learnt that our man Liberte had set out from their camp a day before them:  we were in hopes that he had fatigued his horse, or lost himself in the woods, and would soon return; but we never saw him again.

August 8.  The next morning the Indians, with their six chiefs, were all assembled under an awning, formed with the mainsail, in presence of all our party, paraded for the occasion.  A speech was then made, announcing to them the change in the government, our promises of protection, and advice as to their future conduct.  All the six chiefs replied to our speech, each in his turn, according to rank:  they expressed their joy at the change in the government; their hopes that we would recommend them to their great father (the president), that they might obtain trade and necessaries; they wanted arms as well for hunting as for defence, and asked our mediation between them and the Mahas, with whom they are now at war.  We promised to do so, and wished some of them to accompany us to that nation, which they declined, for fear of being killed by them.  We then proceeded to distribute our presents.  The grand chief of the nation not being of the party, we sent him a flag, a medal, and some ornaments for clothing.  To the six chiefs who were present, we gave a medal of the second grade to one Ottoe chief, and one Missouri chief; a medal of the third grade to two inferior chiefs of each nation:  the customary mode of recognizing a chief, being to place a medal round his neck, which is considered among his tribe as a proof of his consideration abroad.  Each of these medals was accompanied by a present of paint, garters, and cloth ornaments of dress; and to this we added a cannister of powder, a bottle of whiskey, and a few presents to the whole, which appeared to make them perfectly satisfied.  The airgun too was fired, and astonished them greatly.  The absent grand chief was an Ottoe named Weahrushhah, which, in English, degenerates into Little Thief.  The two principal chieftains present were, Shongotongo, or Big Horse; and Wethea, or Hospitality; also Shosgusean, or White Horse, an Ottoe; the first an Ottoe, the second a Missouri.  The incidents just related, induced us to give to this place the name of the Council-bluff;