1 February: In the morning, slightly overcast; the wind is still blowing, [though] only very slightly [and] out of the northwest. It was not cold [but] rather pleasant weather. At seven thirty, 29°F [−1.7°C]. Today Mr. Kipp sent three engagés with two dogsleds downriver to Picotte, to get meat, fat, and a few other things. They got ready early [and] hitched the dogs—who howled pitifully, because their feet were still bloody and injured from the last trek [and] they already had to leave again. Animals, dogs as well as horses, are terribly maltreated in this country. They do not have any pity on them and, moreover, have nothing for them to eat for long periods.

They mentioned in the fort last night that three hostile Sioux or Dacotas Assiniboines had lain in ambush near a lodge in Mih-Tutta-Hangkusch and crept away again. The [Assiniboines] could not shoot through the lodge. So they must have wanted to secretly watch for someone, but nobody appeared. This morning they found where [the ambushers] had been lying; they [had] left a knee band [garter?] there that [the Mandans] recognized as belonging to an enemy.

Mr. Bodmer went into Dipäuch’s lodge in the village to draw its interior precisely. Dreidoppel went hunting but saw nothing except a wolf, a magpie, and small titmice (Parus atricapillus). Mató-Tópe visited us and stayed here through noon. Several Indians came into the fort. The men cleaned the fort. At twelve o’clock, 27 1/2°F [−2.5°C].M05Wind northwesthora The weather is colder again; the wind stronger and cold. Charbonneau traveled to Bijoux at the Hidatsa [villages]. For lunch we had nothing to eat but corn soup and cornbread. For at least four more days we will have no meat. During the afternoon, Bodmer made drawings in Mih-Tutta-Hangkusch again. About four o’clock the wind turned to the northeast. Evening dark and calm. Night calm.