2 April: In the morning, heavy rain and a very dreary sky. At seven thirty, 4 1/2°R [42.1°F, 5.6°C]. Mr. Rindisbacher had delivered two of his drawings: the scalp dance of the Chippewa and the scene in which the Assiniboine Indian shoots a bison [buffalo]. Today I found in my papers a sketch of the plow in Indiana (near Mount Vernon) the way planters constructed it. I want to add it here.

At about ten o’ clock, the rain stopped. Dreidoppel went out to buy various things. Mr. Bodmer sketched an animal. At twelve o’ clock noon, 11 1/2°R [57.9°F, 14.4°C]. Mr. Mc Kenzie, whom I spoke with before lunch, told me to have my letters addressed to the American Fur Company; then I would receive them at the earliest opportunity. He advised me to come to the office at nine o’ clock the following morning, where he would sell me trade goods for the Indians. In the afternoon we again made some purchases. General Clark sent me my passport for the Indian territories along the Missouri; Captain Stewart received a similar one. These passports are useful only at military posts and with Indian agents; of the former there is now only one, and of the latter, three on the Missouri: Major Dougherty, Major B.

The former is in charge of the district on the lower Missouri. I paid a visit to the younger Mr. Chouteau, who is the chief official in the American Fur Company, and again did not find him at home. While passing a house, I saw a large number of voyageurs, or trappers, of the fur company occupied packing numerous steel or beaver traps, which will all be shipped to the interior on the Missouri. We spent the evening at home.