given to the warrior, who then came forward and made an apology to us; we then delivered it to the chief to be given to the most worthy, and he bestowed it on the same warrior, whose name was Great Blue Eyes.  After a more substantial present of small articles and tobacco, the council was ended with a dram to the Indians.  In the evening we exhibited different objects of curiosity, and particularly the airgun, which gave them great surprise.  Those people are almost naked, having no covering, except a sort of breechcloth round the middle, with a loose blanket or buffaloe robe painted, thrown over them.  The names of these warriors, besides those already mentioned were Karkapaha, (or Crow’s head) and Nenasawa (or Black Cat) Missouris; and Sananona (or Iron Eyes) Neswaunja (or Big Ox) Stageaunja (or Big Blue Eyes) and Wasashaco (or Brave Man) all Ottoes.  These two tribes speak very nearly the same language:  they all begged us to give them whiskey.

The next morning, August 20, the Indians mounted their horses and left us, having received a canister of whiskey at parting.  We then set sail, and after passing two islands on the north, came to on that side under some bluffs; the first near the river since we left the Ayauwa village.  Here we had the misfortune to lose one of our sergeants, Charles Floyd.  He was yesterday seized with a bilious cholic, and all our care and attention were ineffectual to relieve him:  a little before his death, he said to captain Clark, “I am going to leave you,” his strength failed him as he added “I want you to write me a letter,” but he died with a composure which justified the high opinion we had formed of his firmness and good conduct.  He was buried on the top of the bluff with the honours due to a brave soldier; and the place of his interment marked by a cedar post, on which his name and the day of his death were inscribed.  About a mile beyond this place, to which we gave his name, is a small river about thirty yards wide, on the north, which we called Floyd’s river, where we encamped.  We had a breeze from the southeast, and made thirteen miles.

August 21.  The same breeze from the southeast carried us by a small willow creek on the north, about one mile and a half above Floyd’s river.  Here began a range of bluffs which continued till near the mouth of the great Sioux river, three miles beyond Floyd’s.  This river comes in from the north, and is about one hundred and ten yards wide.  Mr. Durion, our Sioux interpreter, who is well acquainted with it, says that it is navigable upwards of two hundred miles to the falls, and even beyond them; that its sources are near those of the St. Peters.  He also says, that below the falls a creek falls in from the eastward, after passing through cliffs of red rock:  of this the Indians make their pipes; and the necessity of procuring that article, has introduced a sort of law of nations, by which the banks of the creek are sacred, and even tribes at war meet without