June 29, 1833
Early in the morning, gloomy sky, calm weather. The ground [had been] completely saturated by the violent rain during the night. One could scarcely step outside. At 7:30, 64°F [17.8°C]. A new band of Indians is expected today, but they will not be able to arrive early because they certainly cannot travel when their leather [tipis] are too heavy, [having been] drenched by rain. Several hours later a few Assiniboines arrived. They were very drenched, especially up to the knees, wherefrom something they are completely accustomed to. The rain continued. We chose a tall, powerful Assiniboine and had him come to our room, where Bodmer sketched him. He was extremely serious until Mr. Bodmer started his music box, whereupon he began to laugh. At twelve o’clock noon, 68 1/2°F [ 20.3°C]. The name of the Indian who was sketched is [— —]. His leather shirt was remarkably clean and attractive; [there were] very long leather fringes on the arms, where otherwise [such garments] often have braids of hair. On the chest the Assiniboines and Crees wear exceptionally large rosettes, which one does not see in this manner among the Dacotas.
It continued to rain until evening, when the sky cleared up. The entire yard in the fort was a lake. Several Indians arrived, including some remarkable figures. One wore his hair hanging down very long and plain, with a clipped tuft in front [that hung] down to his mouth. The hair on the side covered his face in such a manner that one saw almost nothing of it. At the same time, he had fastened a small white shell [to his hair] above each eye. In his hand he carried a bow-lance, longer than a man and draped with long bands made from grizzly bear intestines smeared with reddish dye. On his back this slender man, who was still young, carried a round shield (parflèche of the Canadians), which was painted green and red and covered with whitish leather. His whip was made of wood and [had] holes drilled into it like a flute. This man promised that he would let himself be sketched early in the morning.
Today an Indian brought the news that the Indians in the vicinity of Fort des Prairies and all other Assiniboines would arrive shortly and would sell all their beaver skins here. The people arriving today had been battered so badly by the rain and soaked by the mud that they looked strange. The evening was very cool and windy.
