The men were chiefly employed in dressing the skins belonging to the party who accompanied captain Clarke.  About eleven o’clock Chaboneau and his wife returned with Cameahwait, accompanied by about fifty men with their women and children.  After they had encamped near us and turned loose their horses, we called a council of all the chiefs and warriors and addressed them in a speech; additional presents were then distributed, particularly to the two second chiefs, who had agreeably to their promises exerted themselves in our favour.  The council was then adjourned, and all the Indians were treated with an abundant meal of boiled Indian corn and beans.  The poor wretches, who had no animal food and scarcely any thing but a few fish, had been almost starved, and received this new luxury with great thankfulness.  Out of compliment to the chief we gave him a few dried squashes which we had brought from the Mandans, and he declared it was the best food he had ever tasted except sugar, a small lump of which he had received from his sister:  he now declared how happy they should all be to live in a country which produced so many good things, and we told him that it would not be long before the white men would put it in their power to live below the mountains, where they might themselves cultivate all these kinds of food instead of wandering in the mountains.  He appeared to be much pleased with this information, and the whole party being now in excellent temper after their repast, we began our purchase of horses.  We soon obtained five very good ones on very reasonable terms; that is, by giving for each merchandise which cost us originally about six dollars.  We have again to admire the perfect decency and propriety of their conduct; for although so numerous, they do not attempt to crowd round our camp or take any thing which they see lying about, and whenever they borrow knives or kettles or any other article from the men, they return them with great fidelity.

Towards evening we formed a drag of bushes, and in about two hours caught five hundred and twenty-eight very good fish most of them large trout.  Among them we observed for the first time ten or twelve trout of a white or silvery colour, except on the back and head where they are of a bluish cast:  in appearance and shape they resemble exactly the speckled trout, except that they are not quite so large, though the scales are much larger, and the flavour equally good.  The greater part of the fish was distributed among the Indians.

Friday 28.  Our visitors seem to depend wholly on us for food, and as the state of our provisions obliges us to be careful of our remaining stock of corn and flour, this was an additional reason for urging our departure; but Cameahwait requested us to wait till the arrival of another party of his nation who were expected to-day.  Knowing that it would be in vain to oppose his wish, we consented, and two hunters were sent out with orders to go further up the southeast