Mon. 9th Jany— Some Snow last night, a hard wind this morning from W, N W, river Rises with large Sheets of Ice out of Mississippi, the morning is fair (the man Ramey gives me much trouble) I took Collins & went to the place he found a Hog Skined & Hung up, the Crows [1] had devoured the meet, Killed Prary fowl [2] and went across a Prary to a 2nd Bank where I discovered an Indian Fortification, [3] near the Second bank I attempted to cross a Bond [pond] of about 400 yds wide on the Ice & Broke in this fortress is 9 mouns forming a Circle two of them is about 7 foot above the leavel of the plain on the edge of the first bank and 2 m from the woods & about the Same distance from the main high land, about this place I found great quantities of Earthen ware & flints— about ½ m. N. is a Grave on an Emenince I returned before Sun Set, and found that my feet, which were wet had frozed to my Shoes, which rendered precaution necessary to prevent a frost bite, the Wind from the W, across the Sand Islands in the Mouth of the Missouries, raised Such a dust that I could not See in that derection, the Ice Continue to run & river rise Slowly— exceeding Cold day