University of Virginia Library

Friday 12th of September 1806

a thick fog a little before day which blew of[f] at day light,
a heavy Dew this morning. we Set out at Sunrise the usial
hour and proceeded on very well about 7 miles met 2 perogues
from St. Louis one contained the property of Mr. Choteau
bound to the panias or River Platt, the other going up trapping
as high as the Mahars. here we met one of the french
men who had accompanied us as high as the Mandans he
informed us that Mr. McClellan was a fiew miles below the
wind blew a head soon after we passed those perogues, we
Saw a man on Shore who informed us that he was one of

Mr. Mc.Clellins party and that he was a Short distance below,
we took this man on board and proceeded on and Met Mr.
Mc.Clellin[16] at the St. Michls. Prarie we came too here we
found Mr. Jo. Gravelin the Ricaras enterpreter whome we had
Sent down with a Ricaras Chief in the Spring of 1805.[17] and
old M. Durion the Sieux enterpreter, we examined the instructions
of those interpreters and found that Gravelin was
ordered to the Ricaras with a Speach from the president of the
U. States to that nation and some presents which had been
given the Ricara Chief who had visited the U. States and unfortunately
died at the City of Washington, he was instructed
to teach the Ricaras agriculture & make every enquirey after
Capt. Lewis my self and the party. Mr. Durion was enstructed
to accompany Gravelin and through his influence pass him with
his presents &[c.] by the tetons bands of Sieux, and to provale
on Some of the Principal chiefs of those bands not exceeding
six to Visit the Seat of the Government next Spring. he was
also enstructed to make every enquirey after us. we made
Some Small addition to his instructions by extending the
number of Chiefs to 10 or 12 or 3 from each band including
the Yanktons &c. Mr. Mc.Clellin receved us very politely,
and gave us all the news and occurrences which had taken
place in the Illinois within his knowledge the evening proveing
to be wet and cloudy we concluded to continue all night,
we despatched the two Canoes a head to hunt with 5 hunters
in them [blank space in MS. for half a page.]