10 February in the morning, the ground was lightly covered with snow. The wind out of the north was strong, cold, and raw, as it had been all night long. Our room [was] full of smoke. At eight o’clock, 31°F [−0.6°C]. There was a light frost at the top. About ten o’clock, two of our people came back from Picotte’s with two dogs and one sled. They brought news that very many buffalo and Indians were in the region. It had been colder on the Little Missouri than anyone could remember for many years. The thermometer indicated −30°F [−34.4°C] and −40°F [−40°C] (for a long time). Three of Mr. Laidlaw’s men had frozen terribly as they traveled. Two of them froze their legs up to their bodies. Without doubt, they will die. One of Mr. Kipp’s people had fallen on the river and hurt his back so badly that he could not walk for four days. The ice of the Missouri was very [difficult] to travel [on] recently, covered with much water. About noon it thawed slightly at Fort Clark. At twelve o’clock, 31°F [−0.6°C]. Wind north.

About four o’clock in the afternoon, the Hidatsa chief Lachpitzí-Síhrisch (Yellow Bear) came riding on a small, black-dappled [horse]. Behind him he carried meat and a black, unborn buffalo calf—a disgusting sight—that he likely wanted to give [us?] as a present. On his head he wore a black silk scarf; his hair in front was twisted up in a bun; his robe was [painted] with suns (feather bonnets); [and] on his back he carried his bow with [a] beautifully decorated panther [skin] quiver. Charbonneau received him right away in his room.

This afternoon I wrote a letter to Mr. McKenzie, because tomorrow people—among them the half-breed hunter Contois—will leave for Fort Union. In the evening Kipp [had to] take care of the papers he needed to send, so we returned to our room early. Night dark, raw. The wind in the evening [was] not quite as strong as during the day. We had candles again.