La Fromboise has some good Indian blood in his veins, and from his modes of life, as well as from a natural passion that seems to belong to the French adventurers in these wild regions, he has a great relish for songs and stories, of which he gives us many, and much pleasure; and furnishes us one of the most amusing and gentlemanly companions that could possibly be found. My friend Wood sings delightfully, also, and as I cannot sing, but can tell, now and then, a story, with tolerable effect, we manage to pass away our evenings, in our humble bivouack, over our buffalo meat and prairie hens, with much fun and amusement. In these nocturnal amusements, I have done _my_ part, by relating anecdotes of my travels on the Missouri, and other parts of the Indian country which I have been over; and occasionally reading from my note-book some of the amusing entries I had formerly made in it, but never have had time to transcribe for the world. As I can’t write music, and _can_ (in my own way) write a story, the readers will acquit me of egotism or partiality, in reporting only _my own part_ of the entertainments; which was generally the mere reading a story or two from my notes which I have with me, or relating some of the incidents of life which my old travelling companion “_Batiste_” and I had witnessed in former years. Of these, I read one last evening, that pleased my good friend La Fromboise so exceedingly, that I am constrained to copy it into my Letter and send it home. This amusing story is one that my man Ba’tiste used to tell to Bogard, and others with great zest; describing his adventure one night, in endeavouring to procure a _medicine-bag_, which I had employed him to obtain for me on the Upper Missouri; and he used to prelude it thus:— “Je commence—” “Dam your commonce, (said Bogard), tell it in English—” “Pardón, Monsieur, en Americaine—” “Well, American then, if you please; anything but your darned ‘_parlez vous_.’” “Bien, excusez—now Monsieur Bogard, you must know first place, de ‘_Medicine-Bags_’ is mere humbug, he is no _medicine_ in him—no pills; he is someting mysterieux. Some witchcraft, súppose. You must know que tous les sauvages have such tings about him, pour for good luck. Ce n’est que (pardón) it is only _hocus pocus_, to keep off witch, súppose. You must know ces articles can nevare be sold, of course you see dey cannot be buy. So my friend here, Monsieur Cataline, who have collect all de curiosités des pays sauvages, avait made strong applique to me pour for to get one of dese _medicine-bags_ for his Collection curieux, et I had, pour moimeme, le curiosité extreme pour for to see des quelques choses ces étranges looking tings was composi. I had learn much of dese strange custom, and I know wen de Ingin die, his _medicine-bags_ is buried wis him.