It comes down from the mountainous hills which separate the waters of the Missouri from those of the Yellowstone. Late in the afternoon we perceived afar off the approach of a band of Indians. With a field glass we made out that it was our scouts returning, and before long they came in, at the head of a deputation of eighteen warriors, announcing their arrival by sounding shouts and joyful songs. All came and shook hands with me with especial eagerness, and after we had smoked the pipe of peace together - a first proof of their good will toward me - they announced, in the name of the head chiefs of their camp, that " my tobacco had been favorably received; that entry into their camp was open to the Black-robe alone; that no other white man would get out of it with his scalp; that all the chiefs and warriors were awaiting me with impatience, wishing to hear me and learn the motives of my visit."
Afterward we exchanged news. I learned that the big camp was three days' march away, in the Yellowstone val
ley, a few miles above the mouth of Powder river. The night was spent in feasts between the Indians of my escort and the newcomers, mingled with joyful songs and fra
ternal rounds of the calumet. They were uproarious reunions, 6 la sauvage, but harmony and cordiality prevailed. June 17th. After more or less of a night's sleep, we broke
camp early in the morning. It took us several hours to
reach the divide. From this elevation the eye covers a most arid and desolate region; it seemed to us to be im
penetrable or impassable to our two wagons. It was our
defile of Thermopylae. After careful examination, it was decided to go ahead, and by sheer strength of arms, and by doubling and tripling the number of animals for a distance of six miles, all the ascents and descents were accom
plished. In that place there is little vegetation or verdure,
or none at all. Thence we passed into the valley of the Poplar, level but very sandy for a great distance; we camped
near a pool of green and stagnant water. Here for the first
time we found abundance of wood. All the following day