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th much attention to what had yesterday been declared by Le Borgne； whom he believed to be sincere； and then reproached them with their disregard of our counsels； and their wars on the Shoshonees and Ricaras。 Little Cherry； the old Minnetaree chief； answered that they had long stayed at home and listened to our advice； but at last went to war against the Sioux because their horses had been stolen and their companions killed； and that in an expedition against those people they met the Ricaras； who were on their way to strike them； and a battle ensued。 But in future he said they would attend to our words and live at peace。 Le Borgne added that his ears would always be open to the words of his Good Father； and shut against bad counsel。 Captain Clark then presented to Le Borgne the swivel； which he told him had announced the words of his Great Father to all the nations we had seen； and which； whenever it was fired； should recall those which we had delivered to him。 The gun was discharged； and Le Borgne had it conveyed in great pomp to his village。 The council then adjourned。〃
After much diplomacy and underhand scheming； one of the Mandan chiefs； Big White； agreed to go to Washington with the expedition。 But none of the Minnetarees could be prevailed upon to leave their tribe； even for a journey to the Great Father； of whose power and might so much had been told them。 The journal； narrating this fact； says further：
〃The principal chiefs of the Minnetarees now came down to bid us farewell； as none of them could be prevailed on to go with us。 This circumstance induced our interpreter； Chaboneau； to remain here with his wife and child； as he could no longer be of use to us； and； although we offered to take him with us to the United States； he declined； saying that there he had no acquaintance； and no chance of making a livelihood； and preferred remaining among the Indians。 This man had been very serviceable to us； and his wife was particularly useful among the Shoshonees： indeed； she had borne with a patience truly admirable the fatigues of so long a route； encumbered with the charge of an infant； who was then only nineteen months old。 We therefore paid him his wages； amounting to five hundred dollars and thirty…three cents； including the price of a horse and a lodge purchased of him； and soon afterward dropped down to the village of Big White； attended on shore by all the Indian chiefs； who had come to take leave of him。
〃We found him surrounded by his friends； who sat in a circle smoking； while the women were crying。 He immediately sent his wife and son； with their baggage； on board； accompanied by the interpreter and his wife； and two children； and then； after distributing among his friends some powder and ball which we had given him； and smoking a pipe； he went with us to the river side。 The whole village crowded about us； and many of the people wept aloud at the departure of their chief。〃
Once more embarked； the party soon reached Fort Mandan； where they had wintered in 1804。 They found very little of their old stronghold left except a few pickets and one of the houses。 The rest had been destroyed by an accidental fire。 Eighteen miles below； they camped near an old Ricara village； and next day； as they were about to resume their voyage； a brother of Big White； whose camp was farther inland； came running down to the beach to bid Big White farewell。 The parting of the two brothers was very affectionate； and the elder gave the younger a pair of leggings as a farewell present。 The Indian chief was satisfied with his treatment by the whites； and interested himself to tell them traditions of localities which they passed。 August 20 they were below the mouth of Cannon…ball River； and were in the country occupied and claimed by the Sioux。 Here； if anywhere； they must be prepared for attacks from hostile Indians。 At this point； the journal sets forth this interesting observation：
〃Since we passed in 1804； a very obvious change has taken place in the current and appearance of the Missouri。 In places where at that time there were sandbars； the current of the river now passes； and the former channel of the river is in turn a bank of sand。 Sandbars then naked are now covered with willows several feet high； the entrance of some of the creeks and rivers has changed in consequence of the quantity of mud thrown into them； and in some of the bottoms are layers of mud eight inches in depth。〃
The streams that flow into the Missouri and Mississippi from the westward are notoriously fickle and changeable。 Within a very few years； some of them have changed their course so that farms are divided into two parts； or are nearly wiped out by the wandering streams。 In at least one instance； artful men have tried to steal part of a State by changing the boundary line along the bed of the river； making the stream flow many miles across a tract around which it formerly meandered。 On this boundary line between the Sioux and their upper neighbors； the party met a band of Cheyennes and another of Ricaras； or Arikaras。 They held a palaver with these Indians and reproached the Ricara chief； who was called Gray…eyes； with having engaged in hostilities with the Sioux； notwithstanding the promises made when the white men were here before。 To this Gray…eyes made an animated reply：
〃He declared that the Ricaras were willing to follow the counsels we had given them； but a few of their bad young men would not live in peace； but had joined the Sioux and thus embroiled them with the Mandans。 These young men had； however； been driven out of the villages； and as the Ricaras were now separated from the Sioux； who were a bad people and the cause of all their misfortunes； they now desired to be at peace with the Mandans； and would receive them with kindness and friendship。 Several of the chiefs； he said； were desirous of visiting their Great Father； but as the chief who went to the United States last summer had not returned； and they had some fears for his safety； on account of the Sioux； they did not wish to leave home until they heard of him。 With regard to himself； he would continue with his nation； to see that they followed our advice。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃After smoking for some time； Captain Clark gave a small medal to the Chayenne chief； and explained at the same time the meaning of it。 He seemed alarmed at this present； and sent for a robe and a quantity of buffalo…meat； which he gave to Captain Clark； and requested him to take back the medal； for he knew that all white people were ‘medicine；' and was afraid of the medal； or of anything else which the white people gave to the Indians。 Captain Clark then repeated his intention in giving the medal； which was the medicine his great father had directed him to deliver to all chiefs who listened to his word and。 followed his counsels； and that as he ＇the chief＇ had done so； the medal was given as a proof that we believed him sincere。 He now appeared satisfied and received the medal； in return for which he gave double the quantity of buffalo…meat he had offered before。 He seemed now quite reconciled to the whites； and requested that some traders might be sent among the Chayennes； who lived； he sai