August 27.  The morning star appeared much larger than usual.  A gentle breeze from the southeast carried us by some large sandbars, on both sides and in the middle of the river, to a bluff, on the south side, at seven and a half miles distant; this bluff is of white clay or chalk, under which is much stone, like lime, incrusted with a clear substance, supposed to be cobalt, and some dark ore.  Above this bluff we set the prairie on fire, to invite the Sioux.  After twelve and a half miles, we had passed several other sandbars, and now reached the mouth of a river called by the French Jacques (James river) or Yankton, from the tribe which inhabits its banks.  It is about ninety yards wide at the confluence:  the country which it waters is rich prairie, with little timber:  it becomes deeper and wider above its mouth, and may be navigated a great distance; as its sources rise near those of St. Peter’s, of the Mississippi, and the red river of lake Winnipeg.  As we came to the mouth of the river, an Indian swam to the boat; and, on our landing, we were met by two others, who informed us that a large body of Sioux were encamped near us:  they accompanied three of our men, with an invitation to meet us at a spot above the river:  the third Indian remained with us:  he is a Maha boy, and says that his nation have gone to the Pawnees to make peace with them.  At fourteen miles, we encamped on a sandbar to the north.  The air was cool, the evening pleasant, the wind from the southeast, and light.  The river has fallen gradually, and is now low.

Tuesday, 28th.  We passed, with a stiff breeze from the south, several sandbars.  On the south is a prairie which rises gradually from the water to the height of a bluff, which is, at four miles distance, of a whitish colour, and about seventy or eighty feet high.  Further on is another bluff, of a brownish colour, on the north side; and at the distance of eight and a half miles is the beginning of Calumet bluff, on the south side, under which we formed our camp, in a beautiful plain, to wait the arrival of the Sioux.  At the first bluff the young Indian left us and joined their camp.  Before reaching Calumet bluff one of the periogues ran upon a log in the river, and was rendered unfit for service; so that all our loading was put into the second periogue.  On both sides of the river are fine prairies, with cotton wood; and near the bluff there is more timber in the points and valleys than we have been accustomed to see.

Wednesday, 29th.  We had a violent storm of wind and rain last evening; and were engaged during the day in repairing the periogue, and other necessary occupations; when, at four o’clock in the afternoon, sergeant Pryor and his party arrived on the opposite side, attended by five chiefs, and about seventy men and boys.  We sent a boat for them, and they joined us, as did also Mr. Durion, the son of our interpreter, who happened to be trading with the Sioux at this time.  He returned with sergeant Pryor to the