July 30 . 1874. Morning at the Depot arranging various matters. Packing specimens &c Left two boxes in charge of Mr. Fish to be forwarded to Dufferin. One chiefly the geological specimens the other containing birds. Spoke to Commissioner about prospect of going back to Red R. by some other road, as by Ft Ellice or Edmonsten. He is quite agreeable to the proposition if any arrangement can be affected for travelling with the Mounted Police or otherwise.

No oats at Depot & so cannot move on tomorrow with Galway. Hope to get off next day & catch him at twelve miles W. of here. Mr. Conrad in charge of oats from Ft. Benton arrived this evening & reports them at hand.
Ashe coming in from his survey Eastward reported finding the remains of 21 dead indians on the prairie
Conrad says they are no doubt Crows. A party of about that strength having left Benton last autumn on a horse stealing expedition to the Blackfoot country to the North. They never returned.

Photographers going out in search of battle tomorrow, made arrangements to go with them.
Conrad tells me that the Butte? & country along Milk R. forms neutral ground for 4 or 5 tribes. The indians do not enter, or cross it except