October 29, 1833
In the morning, bright, calm, cold weather. A bit of light snow was scattered across the prairie. At seven thirty, 26°F [−3.3°C]. Late last evening four additional Assiniboine Indians arrived. They had prepared approximately three accommodations for the night. Gravelle also came inside, a beaver trapper from the Milk River and a very good Ojibwe interpreter.
At eight thirty we saw a substantial herd of antelope on the prairie hills behind the fort—more than thirty peacefully walking around. Dreidoppel attempted to get close to them, but in vain. At one o’clock in the afternoon, 48°F [8.9°C].
For the trip Mr. Hamilton provided us with many kinds of necessary and comforting articles: coffee, white and brown sugar, salt, pepper, mustard, red cayenne pepper, [and] some bottles of wine. I took 2 gallons of whiskey (16 dollars) and 2 gallons of alcohol (32 dollars); one of them belonged to Mr. Bodmer.
I wrote a letter to Mr. Mitchell. Today the hunters rode out on a buffalo hunt; we will [not likely] meet them again. The afternoon was calm and pleasant. We could not take advantage of the calm weather [because we] were busy with packing. Today Mr. Bodmer drew Deschamps’ wife once more.
At four o’clock I let the [magnetic] needle swing. It indicated the following sequence: during ten minutes, 117, 118, 120 1/2, 119 1/2. Then during five minutes afterward, 60, and finally, shortly before five o’clock, again during ten minutes, 120 oscillations. For the first oscillations, it might not have been set exactly to the horizon. The fort’s thermometer indicated 44 1/2°[F] [6.9°C] at five o’clock. Bullets were cast, which I had to distribute to my [crew]. Indians brought winter moccasins, the fur on the inside. The Negro, Antoine, returned from hunting today and again brought [me] ten muskrats.
Every evening for three to four days, the medicine drum could be heard being beaten in an Indian [tipi] for a sick child. The parents [asked for] medicine from Mr. Hamilton, which he refused, however; first, because he could not heal [the child] of this [malady], and [second] because, if there was an unfortunate ending, the Indians would put the blame on him. These people very much like to meet with Chardon, because he is always telling them funny stories and constantly making them laugh. From long practical experience, he has acquired a real talent in dealing with Indians.
Mr. Hamilton gave me a sample of brown maple sugar, approximately 100 pounds of which were produced here a year. It comes from the box elder tree (Acer negundo) and is very good, just as sweet as the maple sugar in the eastern states on the Ohio and Wabash. We spent [our] last evening very pleasantly with Mr. Hamilton, where we carried on interesting conversations. The night was beautiful, calm, and clear; the moon was shining bright.
