7 February: Early in the morning, cloudy sky, foggy horizon, light hoarfrost on the forests, frost [on the ground]. Wind brisk and cold out of the southeast. At seven thirty, 25 3/4°F [−3.5°C]. As soon as it turned daylight, the three engagés selected for the mission to Picotte—Penture, Boullé, and Pierre Abuchon—started moving out. They had two horse sleds loaded with corn and were supposed to bring back meat, fat, and perhaps other things. Old De l’Orme and Papin accompanied them to pick up their things [at Picotte’s]; [they will] return afterward. Charbonneau had lent them his sled (cariole). When we were at breakfast, news came that there were buffalo herds a short distance away across the river. The Indians in the lower forest village were informed by the ones from Ruhptare who had made the discovery and wanted to wait for [everyone to] go hunting together. At Mih-Tutta-Hangkusch, [people] could be seen driving their horses together from the prairie. Mató-Tópe came at this time. The wind became very strong and unpleasant. About ten o’clock, Upsichtä́ (Great Darkness) came and was drawn. I inspected my plants from the upper Missouri; [they] were mostly decayed. At twelve o’clock, [Page 3:146] 30°F [−1.1°C]. Wind very strong and unpleasant as [it was] in the morning; sky overcast with heavy clouds. The Mandans wanted to go buffalo hunting tomorrow, Belhumeur with them. Upsichtä́M07Upsichit́ä́ ('ch' velar) was excused. This characteristically tall Indian had counted many coups. He killed three Assiniboines in a skirmish. In 1822, when they killed five Assiniboines, he caught one in the water and held him under until he drowned. The deaf-mute and his brother shot a buffalo and gave some meat to the fort. The evening was dark and calm, not cold. The old chief Addíh-Hiddísch (Road Maker) told me many Hidatsa words. In the night, we [could] hear from our room the loud and high[- pitched] bark of the schähä́ckäs.