As soon as they saw us the women and children fled in great consternation; the men offered us everything they had--the fish on the scaffolds, the dried berries, and the collars of elks' tushes worn by the children.

We took only a small quantity of the food, and gave them in return some small articles which conduced very much to pacify them.

The guide now coming up, explained to them who we were and the object of our visit, which seemed to relieve their fears; still a number of the women and children did not recover from their fright, but cried during our stay, which lasted about an hour.

The guide, whom we found a very intelligent, friendly old man, informed us that up this river there was a road which led over the mountains to the Missouri." To add to their difficulties, game had almost entirely disappeared, and the abundant fish in the river could not be caught for lack of proper fishing-tackle.

Timber from which canoes could be made, there was none, and the rapids in the rivers were sharp and violent.