N^o 5

When I returned to my lodge the principal men of of the village assembled around me and began to remark that the great chiefs in the Spanish Settlements were cloathed in dresses which dazzled the eyes – that they were surrounded with armed men who had many Slaves – and that they made many presents to Indians[.] "Your chiefs continued they are white like the Chiefs of the Spaniards – but they are not great Chiefs[.] They do not look like Chiefs[.] The Indians think that you impose upon them[.] Who made them Chiefs? are they warriors? have they taken many scalps? Why are they superior to other men? What brought them here?" It required some consideration to answered all their questions[.] After some reflection I observed that they were chiefs through the great property they possessed through the great good that property caused among the Indian nations; and that they came here through curiosity and to see the Great men of the Mississouri villages[.]

On the other hand our gentlemen felt equally disappointed[.] Leaving th home they promised themselves a speedy and pleasant Journey – and but they experienced a long and disagreeable one[.] Accustomed to respect from the Indians in the vicinity of the Fort they had expected little short of adoration from distant tribes – but they met with a cool reception bordering upon contempt at the Mississouri[.] This part of their disappointment was perhaps owing to themselves – through their extreme inattention to dress[.] "They were not like the rich man cloathed in purple and fine linen nor did they live every day in splendor[.]" M^r H— soon became disgusted with the Indians and k[…] kept at a distance from the Indians But M^r C— tooks

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