Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/190

180 the Sioux, one of whom was his relation, who agreed to go with us.

We started on the 27th of May, crossed Missouri, and arrived the same evening at the upper village. This village is situated on an Island, in the Missouri, and is fortified in the same manner as the lower village, containing about sixty huts. Our party consisted of twenty-seven men, six women, and four children; none of the Gross-Ventres having their families with them. The next morning we proceeded, and soon left the Missouri, travelling a northwest course, in a well beaten path. The land on each side of us ascended into high ridges. On the northern side of them, was considerable timber, mostly cedar, and the land poor. The path continued up the vally [sic], but often passing over low ridges. On the 29th, we struck a branch of the stream called by the traders, Ball river. We followed this branch to its mouth. Here we crossed Ball river. We found some pleasant intervals on this river, but most of the land is poor, dry ridges, with very little timber. Our company soon took a course more northwardly, until we came to the mouth of Chuss-chu river. Here we came again to the banks of the Missouri, and met a party of Mandans, hunting buffaloe. The principal game found here is the buffaloe, cabree, or antelope, black tailed deer, and elk. We now frequently passed camps of Mandans, and on the 5th of June, arrived at the lower Mandan village. This