2 March: In the morning, bright sky, almost windless. At seven thirty, 12°F [−11.1°C]. Light wind out of the east. The forests [were] covered with hoarfrost. The ground [was] frozen hard with some kind of frost-beard. Many Indian women were busy early on the river and in the forest opposite. The day turned glorious and, at noon, warm. Síh-Chidä fetched some buckshot and shot a sipúska [grouse or prairie chicken] for me. Dreidoppel went out to hunt and found nothing. The old Hidatsa was drawn, and the old Crow Mahchsi-Berrockä told me river names in the Crow language. About noon Belhumeur and Hugron departed with letters to Fort Union. They had a dog travois with them. At the end of March, they will return with my canoe guides. At noon, warm and rather calm. At twelve thirty o’clock [sic], 35°F [1.7°C]. Wind southwest hora 2. During our midday meal, the whole room was full of Mandans [and] also one Hidatsa. This morning we had no more sugar for [our] coffee [and used] molasses instead. At noon we had it with our rice, too.

Now that all the Indians had moved to their summer villages, Mr. Kipp employed four respected men as protective guards against the women and children. They are called the soldiers (les soldats) of the fort. Today Dipäuch and Beróck-Itaïnú (Bull’s Neck), the oldest brother of the three ? deaf-mutes, were present in the fort [to serve] that function. Tomorrow it will be Mató’s and another man’s turn. They get food but otherwise no pay. The afternoon was fairly pleasant wherever the wind, which was rather strong, did not reach. Belhumeur and Hugron departed after lunch with two travois. They [intended to] stay today with Picotte and the Hidatsas.

The HHidatsa partisan wished to have Bodmer drawn, because the latter would take his portrait to Europe, and he [the partisan] would be with a war party at that time. Because I refused, he started to work himself and drew Bodmer. [His] drawing [demonstrated that he had] an unmistakable talent, [and] it cannot be denied that many Indians are gifted in this respect.

The sunset was beautiful. The wind [was] moderate, the sky clear. Our room was a guesthouse for the Indians. We had to keep a lot of tobacco ready. Evening starlit; still [a] light but moderate wind.