were here together. The other camps were portions of other bands: Hunkpapas, Blackfoot-Sioux and others. June 17th and 18th. These days were spent in conferences and councils, in which all the chiefs and the principal braves took part. I will give you another time the particulars of these various gatherings. I made the opening speeches, at the request of Generals Sully and Parker, who made known to the chiefs the intentions of the Government toward them. The chiefs Spoke admirably in answer, being both wise and eloquent, and showed a disposition to main tain peace with the whites. Our relations with the Indians promise well for success, and our sessions lasted until late in
the evening. The camps being at some distance from the fort and on the other side of the river, I only had opportunity and time to baptize fifteen of their babies. I was taken to one poor little thing that was in its agony, and died a few instants after receiving baptism.
I hope to meet camps of the same tribes upon my return from Fort Union, and to speak to them more especially of religion, of which they seem very hungry to hear.
June 19th. We left Fort Rice early in the morning. The
distance to Fort Berthold is 175 miles. We arrived there without the slightest incident.
June 23d. On the way, four antelope were killed by the hunters. My time on the boat was employed in hearing the confessions of the Catholic soldiers and preparing them to approach the sacraments. A native of Brussels, named Charles Smet, was among the number; it was a great consolation to both of us to be able to speak our mother lan guage. He had lost none of his accent. An Irish couple, the servant of the general and a sergeant, profited by my presence to receive the nuptial benediction.
We spent some hours at Berthold in council with the chief of the three combined tribes; the Aricaras, Mandans and Minnetarees of Grosventres. They have always remained faithful to the Government. A final council will