however, made a fire and kept himself tolerably
warm. A young Indian, about thirteen years of age, also came in soon
after. His father who came last night to inquire after him very
anxiously, had sent him in the afternoon to the fort: he was overtaken
by the night, and was obliged to sleep on the snow with no covering
except a pair of antelope skin moccasins and leggings and a buffaloe
robe: his feet being frozen we put them into cold water, and gave him
every attention in our power. About the same time an Indian who had also
been missing returned to the fort, and although his dress was very thin,
and he had slept on the snow without a fire, he had not suffered the
slightest inconvenience. We have indeed observed that these Indians
support the rigours of the season in a way which we had hitherto thought
impossible. A more pleasing reflection occurred at seeing the warm
interest which the situation of these two persons had excited in the
village, the boy had been a prisoner and adopted from charity, yet the
distress of the father proved that he felt for him the tenderest
affection, the man was a person of no distinction, yet the whole village
was full of anxiety for his safety and when they came to us, borrowed a
sleigh to bring them home with ease, if they survived, or to carry their
bodies if they had perished.

Friday 11. We despatched three hunters to join the same number whom we
had sent below about seven miles to hunt elk. Like that of yesterday the
weather to-day was cold and clear, the thermometer standing at 38
degrees below 0. Poscopsahe and Shotahawrora visited us, and past the
night at the fort.

Saturday 12. The weather continues very cold, the mercury at sunrise
being 20 degrees below 0. Three of the hunters returned, having killed
three elk.

Sunday 13. We have a continuation of clear weather, and the cold has
increased, the mercury having sunk to 34 degrees below 0. Nearly one
half of the Mandan nation passed down the river to hunt for several
days; in these excursions men, women and children, with their dogs, all
leave the village together, and after discovering a spot convenient for
the game, fix their tents; all the family bear their part in the labour,
and the game is equally divided among the families of the tribe. When a
single hunter returns from the chase with more than is necessary for his
own immediate consumption, the neighbours are entitled by custom to a
share of it: they do not however a