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10th.. of January Thursday 1805

last night was excessively Cold the Murkery this morning
Stood at 40°. below 0 which is 72°. below the freesing point,
we had one man out last night, who returned about 8 oClock
this morning. The Indians of the lower Villege turned out
to hunt for a man & a boy who had not returnd from the hunt
of yesterday, and borrow'd a Slay to bring them in expecting
to find them frosed to death[11] about 10 oClock the boy about


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13 years of age Came to the fort with his feet frosed and had
layed out last night without fire with only a Buffalow Robe to
Cover him, the Dress which he wore was a pr. of Cabra
(antelope) Legins, which is verry thin and mockersons we had
his feet put in cold water and they are Comeing too. Soon
after the arrival of the Boy, a Man Came in who had also
Stayed out without fire, and verry thinly Clothed, this man
was not the least injured. Customs & the habits of those
people has anured [them] to bare more Cold than I thought
it possible for man to endure. Sent out 3 men to hunt Elk
below about 7 miles

 
[11]

In Biddle's account are found some additional details, especially interesting as
showing a humane and generous nature in these Indians: "The boy had been a
prisoner and adopted from charity, yet the distress of the father proved that he felt for
him the tenderest affection. The man was a person of no distinction, yet the whole
village was full of anxiety for his safety."—Ed.