After three days of travel in pony-cart, we came in sight of the White River, and before descending into the valley and crossing the river caught a glimpse of the station building and the villages on the hills near it. Climbing the hill at the rear of the station, we drove into the yard, completely surprising Mr. Cross, who, nevertheless gave us a most hearty welcome. As soon as the news of our arrival had spread, we began to have visitors, but, knowing that I should not see many of the people, especially the older women, unless I went to their homes, I arranged with Mr. Cross to take me to the different villages. We spent two days in going about. I should think there are between forty and fifty houses in the three villages near there. In each of two houses, we found _three wives_ and ten children, and the others were well populated. All were in ignorance, and filth, and degradation, pitiable to see. Some babies nearly a year old had never been thoroughly washed since their birth. Some of the older people had never been to the school-house. A few rather pride themselves upon keeping aloof from the native teacher and the various exercises he conducts. We were pleasantly received at all the places. Some of the people had heard of "The Sacred Herald's" wife, though they had never seen me. Wishing to have all the women come to the school-house, that I might see more of them and have them meet Virginia De Coteau, the teacher's wife, we invited them to a feast. This is something the Dakotas are very fond of, though usually it is connected with some of their dances or other heathen customs. Some of the old women wished to know if I was going to _preach_ to them, evidently wanting to fight shy of anything of this sort, but I told them no, it was to be a real feast, not a prayer meeting. Mr. Cross entered heartily into the preparations for the festivity. We made about five gallons of coffee and the same quantity of stew, consisting of meat, onions, turnips, beans, rice and crackers, with the gravy well thickened--a very savory mess it was, too. We had crackers to pass around. Not a very elaborate _menu_, but one which appealed strongly to the Dakota taste. By noon the women began to gather, and soon the school-room was well filled, a good many sitting on the floor. There were about fifty present, not counting little babies. There were only two painted faces, though in our visiting there was scarcely a house in which there were not two or more of the women painted; the most of them had washed their faces and put on clean dresses.