8th. February Friday 1805.
This morning was fair wind
S.E. the weather still warm and
pleasent. visited by the black-Cat the principal chief of the
Roop-tar-he, or
upper mandane village. this man possesses
more integrety, firmness,
inteligence and perspicuety of mind
than any indian I have met with in
this quarter, and I think
with a little management he may be made a
usefull agent in
furthering the views of our government. The black Cat
presented
me with a bow and apologized for
not having completed
the shield he had promised alledging that the weather
had been
too could to permit his making it, I gave him som small shot
6 fishing-hooks and 2 yards of ribbon his squaw also presented
me with 2 pair of mockersons for which
in return I
gave a small lookingglass and a couple of nedles. the chief
dined with me and left me in the evening. he informed me
that his
people suffered very much for the article of meat, and
that he had not
himself tasted any for several days.
