April 18, 1834
The boat was equipped early. Weather calm, bright, and nice. My foot [was] like the day before. I had coffee, two eggs, and cornbread for breakfast. Kipp handed me the bill [for our stay].
Bodmer still drew a little in Dipäuch’s lodge. [At] seven thirty, 41°F [5°C]. South wind. Chardon will travel with us to the Little Missouri [Bad River]. The crate for the bears was cut apart. Mató-Tópe gave me a large, beautiful war whistle of swan bone as a present. I gave him presents in return. Between ten and eleven o’clock, Mr. Bodmer tried to let the magnetic needle swing according to Chardon’s watch. The [experiment] was closed at eleven fifteen and indicated the following results:
1st observation: in 5 minutes 66 oscillations
2nd observation: in 10 minutes 132 oscillations
3rd observation: in 10 minutes 132 oscillations.
Therefore completely in agreement.
At midday, nice weather; calm; light wind. At twelve o’clock, 58 1/2°F (14.7°C).; the boat was loaded. About two o’clock the wind turned, coming out of the southwest. After lunch, at about three o’clock, we took leave from Mr. Kipp and the inhabitants of the fort. Mató-Tópe, Péhriska-Rúhpa, and other Indians shook our hands.
The weather was nice, but [there was] a little wind. Our boat was equipped with a leather tent, where I stayed. I was led onto the boat, still quite lame. A few cannon shots were fired in our honor.
We slid down the river. Now and then we could see only a little green on the prairie. Even the willows were still brown here. We saw single ducks, wild geese, swans, and a few pelicans. Bodmer shot at them often and bagged a wood duck. Toward evening [the weather was] cool [and] windy; we lay to on the right bank opposite Goose Egg Lake. The boat was tied up with two ropes, a fire was lit in the forest, [and we] cooked. Indians had lived here in the winter.
