He also requested that we would allow him to be absent ten days to provide his family with clothing, as the skin of the rein-deer is unfit for that purpose after the month of September.

We could not refuse to grant such a reasonable request, but caused St.Germain to accompany him, that his absence might not exceed the appointed time.
Previous to his departure the chief warned us to be constantly on our guard against the grizzly bears, which he described as being numerous in this vicinity, and very ferocious; one had been seen this day by an Indian, to which circumstance the lake owes its appellation.

We afterwards learned that the only bear in this part of the country is the brown bear, and that this by no means possesses the ferocity which the Indians, with their usual love of exaggeration, ascribe to it.

The fierce grizzly bear, which frequents the sources of the Missouri, is not found on the barren grounds.
The shores of this lake and the neighbouring hills are principally composed of sand and gravel; they are much varied in their outline and present some picturesque scenery.
The following observations were taken here: latitude 64 deg.

15' 17" N., longitude 113 deg.