Sun. 4.—Rained a little in the morning. No regard paid by any of Capt. W's company to the Sabbath and but little in appearance by ours for we were obliged as we judged to do things which we should not have done under other circumstances. We engaged the Indians to look for our cow and looked ourselves but in vain. She either returned to the mission or the Indians made sure of her we think, for they are in a state of starvation we are told having been frightened away by the Cholera and their corn rotted last year.
Monday 5.—Exchanged a little cow and calf with a Half Breed for a beef cow. Left some letters [with] General Clark's son to be sent the first chance to the Post Office which is perhaps 30 mi. Related to him the circumstances of the lost cow and requested if found to communicate to F. Johnson and request him to take her and account to the Mission So. for her; he promised to do all he could but thought it probable that the Indians had eaten her.
Started early before breakfast from the agency and traveled till 12 o'clock and then took breakfast.
It is called 75 mi. from the agency to Independence.
Two Indians turned in a yoke of oxen with ours and assisted in driving. Others followed and are cooking their dinner a little distance from us they come and sit down and watch us while cooking as if they had a great desire to be partakers with us but we dare not give them our food lest we should not have enough to last till we reach the buffalo.
Saw one beating something with a stick went to him and he had killed a rattlesnake.
Tues. 6.—Stopped to dine and bait our animals a little distance from the Caw Village. Here the Indians remained with their oxen.
Many came from the Village to trade and it was with great difficulty that we could prevent their dogs from devouring our bacon. Just as we were ready to remove it commenced raining but we proceeded and the rain soon ceased the sun shone and dried us.
