But on the 28th of November, 1738, they drew near to the Missouri and were met by a chief of the great Mandan tribe, who was accompanied by thirty of his warriors, and who presented La Verendrye with young maize cobs and leaves of native tobacco, these being regarded as emblems of peace and friendship.
The Mandan tribe differed materially in its habits and customs from the Indians to the north, who supported themselves mainly, if not entirely, by hunting, who cared very little for agriculture, and moved continually like nomads over great stretches of country, living chiefly in tents or temporary villages.

The Mandans, on the other hand, were a people who practised agriculture, and had permanent and well-constructed towns.

In fact, their civilization and demeanour made such an impression on the Assiniboin and other northern tribes that they had been considered a sort of "white people", somewhat akin to Europeans, and La Verendrye was a little disappointed to find them only Amerindians in race and colour.
The six hundred Assiniboins who had gathered about La Verendrye's expedition proved to be a great trouble to him, as they were constantly picking quarrels with the Mandans, who were very dishonest.
Accordingly, La Verendrye arranged with the Mandans to frighten them away by pretending that the Siou Indians were on the warpath.

The six hundred Assiniboins bolted, but took with them La Verendrye's interpreter, so that he was henceforth obliged to communicate with the Mandans by means of signs and gestures.

This and other reasons decided him to return--even though it was the depth of winter, to Fort La Reine, but not before he had given the head chief of the Mandans a flag and a leaden plate which (unknown to the Mandans) meant taking possession of their country in the name of the French king.
The journey back to Fort La Reine, over the plains of the Assiniboin, was a terrible experience.