the Trade, and from the Asseneboines on account of their enmity to the Indians of the Missisouri. At length finding a fair opening we took our departure[.]

Our party consisted of M^r LaRocque, M^r LaFrance, four Voyagers and myself[.] Four horses carried our assortment for the Trade; and twice as many were assigned to carry Ourselves[.] The whole in charge of M^r LaRocque a deserving young gentleman[.] As for myself, happening to be newly arrived in the Indian Country, I was placed as an assistant to M^r Lafrance, for he did know how to write[.] We proceeded but to avoid the natives we were obliged to lengthen our journey by taking a circuitous route which conducted us through many extensive plains; most of which were in flames, as is generally the case, at this Season of the year. In the course of a few days we observed whole herds of Buffaloes with their hair singed[.] Some were blind, and half roasted carcasses strewed our way[.] We suffered great inconvenience through the scarcity of wood and water, and our horses were as badly off for water and food as we were[.] In this manner we smoothly jogged

on until

[4]