this place. I dined to-day at Fort Platte, which has been mentioned as
situated at the junction of Laramie river with the Nebraska. Here I heard
a confirmation of the statements given above. The party of warriors, which
had started a few days since on the trail of the emigrants, was expected
back in fourteen days, to join the village with which their families and
the old men had remained. The arrival of the latter was hourly expected;
and some Indians have just come in who had left them on the Laramie fork,
about twenty miles above. Mr. Bissonette, one of the traders belonging to
Fort Platte, urged the propriety of taking with me an interpreter and two
or three old men of the village; in which case, he thought there would be
little or no hazard in encountering any of the war parties The principal
danger was in being attacked before they should know who we were.

They had a confused idea of the numbers and power of our people, and
dreaded to bring upon themselves the military force of the United States.
This gentleman, who spoke the language fluently, offered his services to
accompany me so far as the Red Buttes. He was desirous to join the large
party on its return, for purposes of trade, and it would suit his views,
as well as my own, to go with us to the Buttes; beyond which point it
would be impossible to prevail on a Sioux to venture, on account of their
fear of the Crows. From Fort Laramie to the Red Buttes, by the ordinary
road, is one hundred and thirty-five miles; and, though only on the
threshold of danger, it seemed better to secure the services of an
interpreter for the partial distance, than to have none at all.

So far as frequent interruption from the Indians would allow, we occupied
ourselves in making some astronomical calculations, and bringing the
general map to this stage of our journey; but the tent was generally
occupied by a succession of our ceremonious visitors. Some came for
presents, and others for information of our object in coming to the