Envited those Cheifs on board to Show them our boat and Such
Curiossities as was Strange to them, we gave them 1/4 a glass of
whiskey which they appeared to be verry fond of, Sucked the bottle
after it was out & Soon began to be troublesom, one the 2d Cheif
assumeing Drunkness, as a Cloake for his rascally intentions I went
with those Cheifs (which left the boat with great reluctiance) to Shore
with a view of reconseleing those men to us, as Soon as I landed the
Perogue three of their young men Seased the Cable of the Perogue, the
Chiefs Soldr. Huged the mast, and the 2d Chief was verry insolent both
in words & justures declareing I Should not go on, Stateing he had not
recved presents Suffient from us, his justures were of Such a personal
nature I felt my Self Compeled to Draw my Sword, at this motion Capt.
Lewis ordered all under arms in the boat, those with me also Showed a
Disposition to Defend themselves and me, the grand Chief then took hold
of the roop & ordered the young warrers away, I felt my Self warm &
Spoke in verry positive terms Most of the warriers appeared to have
ther Bows Strung and took out their arrows from they quves. as I was
not permited to return, I Sent all the men except 2 Inpt. to the boat,
the perogu Soon returned with about 12 of our detumind men ready for
any event this movement caused a no. of the Indians to withdraw at a
distance,--Their treatment tome was verry rough & I think justified
rough ness on my part, they all left my Perogue and Councild. with
themselves the result I could not lern and nearly all went off after
remaining in this Situation Some time I offered my hand to the 1 & 2
Chief who refusd to recve it. I turned off & went with my men on board
the perogue, I had not progd. more the 10 paces before the 1st Cheif
3rd & 2 Brave men waded in after me. I took them in & went on board we
proceeded on about 1 mile & anchored out off a willow Island placed a
guard on Shore to protect the Cooks & a guard in the boat, fastened the
Perogues to the boat, I call this Island bad humered Island as we were
in a bad humer.
[Clark, September 26, 1804]
26th of Septr Set out early and proceeded on--the river lined with
indians, came too & anchored by the particular request of the Chiefs to
let their Womin & Boys See the Boat, and Suffer them to Show us some
friendship--great members of men womin & Children on the bank viewing
us--Those people are Spritely Small legs ille looking Set men
perticularly, they grease & Black themselves when they dress, make use
of Hawks feathers about thier heads, cover with a Roab each a polecat
Skin to hold their Smokeables, fond of Dress, Badly armed. ther women
appear verry well, fine Teeth, High Cheek Dress in Skin Peticoats, & a
Roabe with the flesh Side out and harey ends turned back over their
Sholdes, and look well--they doe all the Laborious work, and I may say
are perfect Slaves to thier husbands who frequently have Several wives-
Capt Lewis & 5 men went on Shore with the Chiefs, who appeared to wish
to become friendly they requested us to remain one night & see them
dance &c.--in the evening I walked on Shore, and Saw Several Mahar
Womin & Boys in a lodge & was told they were Prisones laterly taken in
a battle in which they killed a number & took 48 prisoners--I advised
the Chiefs to make peace with that nation and give up the Prisoners, if
they intended to follow the words of their great father they promised
that they would do So--I was in Several Lodges neetly formed, those
lodges are about 15 to 20 feet Diametr Stretched on Poles like a Sugar
Loaf, made of Buffalow Skins Dressed about 5 oClock I was approached by
10 well Dressed young men with a neet Buffalow Roab which they Set down
before me & requested me to get in they Carried me to ther Council
Tents forming 3/4 Circle & Set me down betwn 2 Chefs where about 70 men
were Seated in a circle, in front of the Chief 6 feet Square was
cleared & the pipe of peace raised on forks & Sticks, under which was
Swans down Scattered, the Flags of Spane & the one we gave them
yesterday was Displayed a large fire was made on which a Dog was
Cooked, & in the center about 400 wt of Buffalow meat which they gave
us,--Soon after, I took my Seat the young men went to the boat &
brought Capt Lewis in the Same way & placed him by me Soon after an old
man rose & Spoke approveing what we had done. requesting us to take
pitty on them &C. answered--They form their Camp in a circle
The great Chief then rose in great State and Spoke to the Same purpos
and with Solemnity took up the pipe of peace and pointed it to the
heavens, the 4 quartrs and the earth, he made Some divistation, &
presented the Sten to us to Smoke, after Smokeing & a Short Harrang to
his people we were requested to take the meat, and the Flesh of the Dog
gavin us to eat--We Smoked untill Dark, at which time all was cleared
away & a large fire made in the Center, Several men with Tamborens
highly Decorated with Der & Cabra Hoofs to make them rattle, assembled
and began to Sing & Beat--The women Came forward highly decerated with
the Scalps & Trofies of war of their fathes Husbands & relations, and
Danced the war Dance, which they done with great chearfulness untill 12
oClock, when we informed the Chief we intended return on bord, (they
offered us women, which we did not except) 4 Chiefs accompanied us to
the boat and Staid all night--Those people have a Description of Men
which they Call Soldiars, those men attend to the police of the Band,
Correct all vices &. I Saw one to day whip 2 Squars who appeared to
have fallen out, when the Soldier approached all appeared give way and
flee at night they Keep 4 or 5 men at different distances walking
around their Camp Singing the acursenes of the night all in Spirits
this evening wind hard from the S E
I saw 25 Squars & Boys taken 13 days ago in a battle with the Mahars,
in which they destroyed 40 Lodges, Killed 75 men & boys, & took 48
prisones which they promised us Should be delivered to Mr. Durion now
with the Yankton _____, we gave our Mahar interpeter a few alls & &. to
give those retched Prisonis, I saw Homney of ground Potatos a Spoon of
the Big Horn animals which will hold 2 quarts.
[Clark, September 26, 1804]
26th Septr. 1804 bad hd Isd.
26th of September Wednesday 1804
Set out early proceeded on and Came to by the wish of the Chiefs for to
let their Squars & boys See the Boat and Suffer them to treat us well
great number of men women & Children on the banks viewing us, these
people Shew great anxiety, they appear Spritely, generally ill looking
& not well made thier legs & arms Small Generally--they Grese & Black
themselves with coal when they dress, make use of a hawks feather about
their heads the men a robe & each a polecats Skins, for to hold ther
Bais roly for Smokeing fond of Dress & Show badly armed with fuseis &.
The Squaws are Chearfull fine lookg womin not handson, High Cheeks
Dressed in Skins a Peticoat and roab which foldes back over thir
Sholder, with long wool. doe all ther laborious work & I may Say
perfect Slaves to the men, as all Squars of nations much at war, or
where the womin are more noumerous than the men--after Comeing too
Capt. Lewis & 5 men went on Shore with the Chiefs, who appeared
desposed to make up & be friendly, after Captain Lewis had been on
Shore about 3 hours I became uneasy for fear of Some Deception & sent a
Serjeant to See him and know his treatment which he reported was
friendly, & thy were prepareing for a Dance this evening
The made frequent Selecitiation for us to remain one night only and let
them Show their good disposition towards us, we deturmined to remain,
after the return of Capt. Lewis, I went on Shore I saw Several Maha
Prisoners and Spoke to the Chiefs it was necessary to give those
prisoners up & become good friends with the Mahars if they wished to
follow the advice of their Great father I was in Several Lodges neetly
formed as before mentioned as to the Bauruly Tribe--I was met by about
10 well Dressd. yound men who took me up in a roabe Highly a decrated
and Set me Down by the Side of their Chief on a Dressed robe in a large
Council House this house formed a 3/4 Cercle of Skins well Dressed and
Sown together under this Shelter about 70 men Set forming a Circle in
front of the Chiefs a plac of 6 feet Diameter was Clear and the pipe of
peace raised on Sticks under which there was Swans down Scattered, on
each Side of the Circle two Pipes, The flags of Spain 2 & the Flag we
gave them in front of the Grand Chief a large fire was near in which
provisions were Cooking, in the Center about 400 wt. of excellent
Buffalo Beif as a present for us
Soon after they set me Down, the men went for Capt Lewis brough him in
the same way and placed him also by the Chief in a fiew minits an old
man rose & Spoke approveing what we had done & informing us of their
Situation requesting us to take pity on them &c which was answered The
Great Chief then rose with great State to the Same purpote as far as we
Could learn & then with Great Solemnity took up the pipe of peace whin
the principal Chiefs Spoke with the pipe of Peace he took in one hand
Some of the most Delicate parts of the Dog which was prepared for the
feist & made a Sacrifise to the flag--& after pointing it to the
heavins the 4 quarter of the Globe & the earth,, lit it and prosist
presented the Stem to us to Smoke, after a Smoke had taken place, & a
Short Harange to his people, we were requested to take the meal put
before us the dog which they had been cooking, & Pemitigon & ground
potatoe in Several platters. Pemn is buffo meat dried or baked pounded
& mixed with grease raw Dog Sioux think great dishused on festivals.
eat little of dog pemn & pote good we Smoked for an hour Dark & all was
Cleared away a large fire made in the Center, about 10 misitions
playing on tamberins. long sticks with Deer & Goats Hoofs tied So as to
make a gingling noise and many others of a Similer kind, those men
began to Sing, & Beet on the Tamboren, the women Came foward highly
Deckerated in theire way, with the Scalps and Trofies of war of ther
father Husbands Brothers or near Connection & proceeded to Dance the
war Dance which they done with Great Chearfullness untill 12 oClock
when we informed the Cheifs that they were fatigued &c. they then
retired & we Accompd. by 4 Chiefs returned to our boat, they Stayed
with us all night. Those people have Some brave men which they make use
of as Soldiers those men attend to the police of the Village Correct
all errors I saw one of them to day whip 2 Squars who appeared to have
fallen out, when he approachd all about appeared to flee with great
turrow at night thy keep two 3 4 or 5 men at deffinit Distances walking
around Camp Singing the accurrunces of the night all the men on board
100 paces from Shore wind from the S. E. moderate one man verry sick on
board with a Dangerass abscess on his Hip. all in Spirits this eveninge
In this Tribe I saw 25 Squars and boys taken 13 days ago in a battle
with the mahars in this battle they Destroyd 40 lodges, killed 75 men,
& Som boys & children, & took 48 Prisones Womin & boys which they
promis both Capt. Lewis and my Self Shall be Delivered up to Mr. Durion
at the Tribe, those are a retched and Dejected looking people the
Squars appear low & Corse but this is an unfavourabl time to judge of
them we gave our Mahar inteptr. Some fiew articles to give those Squats
in his name Such as alls needle &. &c.
I Saw & eat Pemitigon the Dog, Groud potatoe made into a Kind of
homney, which I thought but little inferior--I also Saw a Spoon made of
a horn of an animile of the Sheep kind the spoon will hold 2 quarts.
[Clark, September 27, 1804]
27th of Septr. 1804--The Bank as usial lined with Sioux, gave the 2
principal Chiefs a blanket & a peck of Corn each, Capt Lewis
accompanied the Chiefs to their Lodges, they informed us that a great
part of their nation had not arrived, & would arrive to night and
requested us to Delay one Day longer, that they might See us
I rote a letter to Mr. Durion, & prepared Some Commissions & a meadel &
Sent to Captain Lewis--at 2 oClock Capt Lewis retuned with 4 chiefs & a
Brave man named War-cha pa--after a delay of half an hour I went with
them on Shore, they left the boat with reluctiance (we Suspect they are
treacherous and are at all times guarded & on our guard) They again
offered me a young woman and wish me to take her & not Dispise them, I
wavered the Subject, at Dark the Dance began as usial and performed as
last night. womin with ther Husbands & relations cloths arms Scalps on
poles &c. &c. Capt Lewis joined me & we continued until about 11 oClock
and 2 Chief accompaned us to the boat I with 2 Cheifs was in a Perogue
going on board, by bad Stearing the parogu Struk the Cable with Such
force as to brake it near the anchor (Cap Lewis) and 3 or 4 men on
Shore, I had all hands up and was Compelled to Land--the Chief got
allarmed & allarmed the Indians the 1s Chief & about 200 men Came down
in great hast armd and for action, and found it was false, about 20 of
them Camped on Shore all night--this allarm Cap Lewis & well as my Self
viewed as the Signal of their intentions, one half on guard, our
misfortune of loseing our anchor obliged us to lay under a falling in
bank much exposed to the Accomplishment of the hostile intentions of
those Tetons (who we had every reason to believe from ther Conduct
intended to make an attempt to Stop our progress & if possible rob us-)
Peter Crusat who Spoke Mahar came in the night and informed me that the
mahar Prisoners told him that the Tetons intended to Stop us--We Shew'd
but little Sign of a knowledge of there intentions.
[Clark, September 27, 1804]
27th of Septr. Thursday 1804
I rose early aftr a bad nights Sleep found the Chief all up, and the
bank as usial lined with Spectators we gave the 2 great Cheifs a
Blanket a peace, or rethr they took off agreeable to their Custom the
one they lay on and each one Peck of Corn after Brackfast Capt. Lewis &
the Chiefs went on Shore, as a verry large part of their nation was
Comeing in, the Disposition of whome I did not know one of us being
Suffcent on Shore, I wrote a letter to Mr. P. Durion & prepared a
meadel & Some Comsns. & Sent to Cap Lewis at 2 oClock Capt. Lewis
returned with 4 Chiefs & a Brave man named War cha pa or on his Guard.
when the friends of those people die they run arrows through their
flesh above and below their elbous as a testimony of their Greaf after
Staying about half an hour, I went with them on Shore, Those men left
the boat with reluctience, I went first to the 2d Chiefs Lodge, where a
Croud Came around after Speeking on various Subjects I went to a
princpal mans lodge from there to the grand Chiefs lodge, after a fiew
minits he invited me to a Lodge within the Circle in which I Stayed
with all their principal men untill the Dance began, which was Similer
to the one of last night performed by their womn which poles on which
Scalps of their enemies were hung, Some with the Guns Spears & war
empliments their husbands in their hands
Capt. Lewis came on Shore and we Continued untill we were Sleepy &
returned to our boat, the 2nd Chief & one principal man accompanid us,
those two Indians accompanied me on board in the Small Perogue, Capt.
Lewis with a guard Still on Shore, the man who Steered not being much
acustomed to Steer, passed the bow of the boat & peroge Came broad Side
against the Cable & broke it which obliged me to order in a loud voice
all hands all hands up & at their ores, my preempty order to the men
and the bustle of their getting to their ores allarmd the Cheifs,
togethr with the appearance of the men on Shore, as the boat turnd. The
Cheif hollowered & allarmed the Camp or Town informing them that the
Mahars was about attacting us. in about 10 minits the bank was lined
with men armed the 1st Cheif at their head, about 200 men appeared and
after about 1/2 hour returned all but about 60 men who Continued on the
bank all night, the Cheifs Contd. all night with us--This allarm I as
well as Captn. Lewis Considered as the Signal of their intentions
(which was to Stop our proceeding on our journey and if Possible rob
us) we were on our Guard all night, the misfortune of the loss of our
Anchor obliged us to Lay under a falling bank much exposd. to the
accomplishment of their hostile intentions P. C--our Bowman who Cd.
Speek Mahar informed us in the night that the Maha Prisoners informed
him we were to be Stoped--we Shew as little Sighns of a Knowledge of
their intentions as possible all prepared on board for any thing which
might hapen, we kept a Strong guard all night in the boat no Sleep
[Clark, September 28, 1804]
28th of Septr 1804 Friday I made maney attempts in defferent ways to
find our anchor without Sukcess, the Sand had Covered her up, we
Deturmined to proceed on to Day--and after Brackfast we with great
Dificuelty got the Chiefs out of the boat, and when we were about
Setting out the Class Called the Soldiars took possession of the Cable-
the 1st Cheif was Still on board and intended to go a Short distance up
with us, was informed that the men Set on the Cable, he went out and
told Capt Lewis who was at the Bow, they wanted tobacco The 2d Chief
Demanded a flag & Tobacco which we refused to give, Stateing proper
reasons to them for it, after much rangleing, we gave a Carrot of
Tobacco to the 1st Cheif and he to the men &lurked the Cable from them
& proceeded on under a Breeze from the S E. we took in the 3rd Cheif
who was Sitting on a Sand bar 2 miles above--he told us the Rope was
held by order of the 2d Chief who was a Double Spoken man--Soon after
we Saw a man rideing full Speed up the bank, we brought him on board, &
he proved to be the Sun of the 3d Cheif, by him we Sent a talk to the
nation, explanitory of our hoisting the red flag under the white, if
they were for Peace Stay at home and doe as we had Derected them and if
they were for war or deturmined to attempt to Stop us, we were ready to
defend our Selves (as I had before Said)--we Substituted large Stones
in place of an Anchor, we came to at a Small Sand bar in the middle of
the river and Stayed all night-I am verry unwell I think for the want
of Sleep
[Clark, September 28, 1804]
28th of September 1804 Friday
Made many attemps in different ways to find our Anchor but could not,
the Sand had Covered it, from the misfortune of last night our boat was
laying at Shore in a verry unfavourable Situation, after finding that
the anchor Could not be found we deturmined to proceed on, with great
difficuelty got the Chiefs out of our boat, and when we was about
Setting out the Class Called the Soldiers took possession of the Cable
the 1 s Chief which was Still on board & intended to go a Short
distance up with us, I told him the men of his nation Set on the Cable,
he went out & told Capt Lewis who was at the bow the men who Set on the
Roap was Soldiers and wanted Tobacco Capt. L. Said would not agree to
be forced into any thing, the 2d Chief Demanded a flag & Tobacco which
we refusd. to Give Stateing proper reasons to them for it after much
difucelty-which had nearly reduced us to hostility I threw a Carot of
Tobacco to 1 s Chief Spoke So as to touch his pride took the port fire
from the gunner the Chief gives the Tobaco to his Soldiers & he jurked
the rope from them and handed it to the bows man we then Set out under
a Breeze from the S. E. about 2 miles up we observed the 3rd Chief on
Shore beckining to us we took him on board he informed us the roap was
held by the order of the 2d Chief who was a Double Spoken man, Soon
after we Saw a man Comeing full Speed, thro the plains left his horse &
proceeded across a Sand bar near the Shore we took him on board &
observed that he was the Son of the Chief we had on board we Sent by
him a talk to the nation Stateent the Cause of our hoisting the red
flag undr. the white, if they were for peace Stay at home & do as we
had Derected them, if the were for war ore were Deturmined to Stop us
we were ready to defend our Selves, we halted one houre & 1/2 on the S.
S. & made a Substitute of Stones for a ancher, refreshed our men and
proceeded on about 2 miles higher up & came too a verry Small Sand bar
in the middle of the river & Stayed all night, I am Verry unwelle for
want of Sleep Deturmined to Sleep to night if possible, the men Cooked
& we rested well.
[Clark, September 29, 1804]
Capt. W. Clarks Notes Continued as first taken-
29th of September Satturday 1804--Set out early Some bad Sand bars, at
9 oClock we observed the 2d Chief with 2 men and Squars on Shore, they
wished to go up with us as far as the other part of their band, which
would meet us on the river above not far Distant we refused to let one
more Come on board Stateing Suffient reasons, observd they would walk
on Shore to the place we intended to Camp, offered us women we objected
and told them we Should not Speake to another teton except the one on
board with us, who might go on Shore when ever he pleased, those
Indians proceeded on untill later in the evening when the Chief
requested that the Perogue might put him across the river which we
agreed to--Saw numbers of Elk on the Sand bars today, passed an old
Ricara Village at the mouth of a Creek without timber we Stayed all
night on the Side of a sand bar 1/2 a Mile from the Shore.
[Clark, September 29, 1804]
29th of Septr. Satturday 1804
Set out early Some bad Sand bars, proceeded on at 9 oClock we observed
the 2d Chief & 2 principal men one man & a Squar on Shore, they wished
to go up with us as far as the other part of their band, which they
Said was on the river a head not far Distant we refused Stateing verry
Sufhcint reasons and was plain with them on the Subject, they were not
pleased observed that they would walk on Shore to the place we intended
to Camp to night, we observed it was not our wish that they Should for
if they did we Could not take them or any other Tetons on board except
the one we had now with us who might go on Shore when ever he pleased-
they proceeded on, the Chief on board askd. for a twist of Tobacco for
those men we gave him 1/2 a twist, and Sent one by them for that part
of their band which we did not See, & Continued on Saw great numbers of
Elk at the mouth of a Small Creek Called No timber (-as no timber
appeared to be on it.) above the mouth of this Creek the Parties had a
Village 5 years ago,--The 2d Chief Came on the Sand bar & requested we
would put him across the river, I Sent a Perogue & Crossed him & one
man to the S. S. and proceeded on & Came too on a Sand bar on about 1/2
mile from the main Shore & put on it 2 Sentinals Continud all night at
anchor (we Substitute large Stones for anchors in place of the one we
lost) all in high Spirits &c
[Clark, September 30, 1804]
30th of September Sunday 1804 had not proceeded far before we
discovered an Indian running after us, he requstd to go with us to the
Ricaras, we refused to take him, I discovered at a great Distanc a
great number of men women & Children decending a hill towards the river
above which the Chief with us told us was the other Band, Some rain &
hard wind at about 10 oClock we anchored opposit the Camps of this band
and told them we took them by the hand, and Sent to each Chief a Carrot
of Tobacco & Some to the principal men and farther Said that after
Staying with the band below 2 days to See them we had been badly
treated and Should not land again, as we had not time to Delay--refured
then to Mr. Durion for a full account of us, and an explination of what
had been Said, they appeard ansioes for us to eat with them and
observed they were friendly we apoligised & proceeded on under a Double
reafed Sale--the Chief on board threw out to those that ran up Small
pieces of Tobacco & told them to go back and open thier ears, We Saw
great number of white guls--refresh the party with whiskey, in the
evening we Saw 2 Indians at a Distance, The boat turned by accident &
was nearly filling and rocked verry much, allarmed the Indian Chief on
board who ran and hid himself, we landed & the Indian express a wish to
return, we gave him a Blanket Knife & Some tobacco and advised him to
keep his men away, we camped on a Sand bar. verry Cold & windy-
[Clark, September 30, 1804]
30th of Septr. Sunday 1804.
Set out this morning early had not proceeded on far before we
discovered an Indn. running after us, he came up with us at 7 oClock &
requested to come on bord and go up to the recorees we refused to take
any of that band on board if he chose to proceed on Shore it was verry
well Soon after I discovered on the hills at a great distance great
numbers of Indians which appeared to be makeing to the river above us,
we proceeded on under a Double reafed Sail, & Some rain at 9 oClock
observed a large band of Indians the Same which I had before Seen on
the hills incamping on the bank the L. S. we Came too on a Sand bar
Brackfast & proceeded on & cast the ancher opposit their Lodgs. at
about 100 yards distand, and informed the Indians which we found to be
a part of the Band we had before Seen, that took them by the hand and
Sent to each Chief a Carrot of tobacco, as we had been treated badly by
Some of the band below, after Staying 2 days for them, we Could not
delay any time, & refured them to Mr. Duron for a full account of us
and to here our talk Sent by him to the Tetons, those were verry
Selecitious for us to land and eate with them, that they were friendly
&c. &. we appoligised & proceeded on, Sent the peroge to Shore above
with the Tobacco & Delivd. it to a Soldr. of the Chief with us Several
of them ran up the river, the Chf. on board threw then out a Small
twist of Tobacco & told them to go back & open ther ears. they recved
the Tobacco & returned to their lodges--we Saw great numbers of white
guls this day is cloudy & rainey--refresh the men with a glass of
whisky after Brackfast.
we Saw about 6 miles above 2 Indians who came to the bank and looked at
us a about 1/2 an hour & went over the hills to the S W. we proceeded
on under a verry Stiff Breeze from the S., the Stern of the boat got
fast on a log and the boat turned & was verry near filling before we
got her righted, the waves being verry high, The Chief on board was So
fritined at the motion of the boat which in its rocking caused Several
loose articles to fall on the Deck from the lockers, he ran off and hid
himself, we landed he got his gun and informed us he wished to return,
that all things were Cleare for us to go on we would not See any more
Tetons &c. we repeated to him what had been Said before and advised him
to keep his men away, gave him a blanket a Knife & Some Tobacco, Smokd
a pipe & he Set out. we also Set Sale and Came to at a Sand bar, &
Camped, a verrey Cold evening, all on our guard
[Clark, October 1, 1804]
1st of October Monday 1804 The wind blew hard from the S. E. all last
night, Set out early passed a large Island in the middle of the river
opposit this Island the Ricaras lived in 2 Villages on the S W. Side,
about 2 Miles above the upper point of the Island the Chyenne River
Coms in on the L. S. and is about 400 yards wide dischargeing but
little water for a R. of its Size, the Current jentle, and navagable,
to the Black mountains we haule the Boat over a Sand bar, River wide &
Shoal, pass'd a Creek at 5 mils we Call Sentinal Creek, a Small one
above, but little timber about this river, the hills not So high as
usial, the upper Creek I call lookout Creek, Camped on a Sand bar,
opposit a Tradeing house, where a Mr. Valles & 2 men had Some fiew
goods to trade with the Sioux, a boy came to us, This Mr. Vallie
informed us he wintered last winter 300 Legus up the Chyemne River
under the Black mountains, he Sais the River is rapid and bad to
navagate, it forks 100 Leagus up the N. fork enters the Black mountain
40 Leagues above the forks the Countrey like that on the Missouri less
timber more Cedar, the Coat Nur or Black m. is high and Some parts
retain Snow all Summer, Covered with timber principally pine, Great
number of goats and a kind of anamal with verry large horns about the
Size of a Small Elk, White Bear no bever on the chien great numbers in
the mountains, The Chyenne Nation has about 300 Lodges hunt the
Buffalow, Steel horses from the Spanish Settlements, which they doe in
1 month--the Chanal of this River is Corse gravel, Those mountains is
inhabited also by the white booted Turkeys worthy of remark that the
Grouse or Prarie hen is Booted, the Toes of their feet So constructed
as to walk on the Snow, and the Tail Short with 2 long Stiff feathers
in the middle.
Sand bars are So noumerous, that it is impossible to discribe them, &
think it unnecessary to mention them.
[Clark, October 1, 1804]
1st of October Monday 1804
The wind blew hard all last night from the S. E. verry Cold Set out
early the wind Still hard passed a large Island in the middle of the
river (1) opsd. the lower point of this Island the Ricrerees formerly
lived in a large Town on the L. S. above the head of the Island about 2
miles we passed the (2) River) L. S. this river Comes in from the S W.
and is about 400 yards wide, the Current appears gentle, throwing out
but little Sands, and appears to throw out but little water the heads
of this River is Indians live Some distance up this river, the presise
distance I cant learn, above the mouth of this river the Sand bars are
thick and the water Shoal the river Still verry wide and falling a
little we are obliged to haul the boat over a Sand bar, after makeing
Several attempts to pass. the wind So hard we Came too & Stayed 3 hours
after it Slackened a little we proceeded on round a bend, the wind in
the after part of the Day a head--(2) passed a Creek on the L. S. which
we Call the Sentinal, this part of the river has but little timber, the
hills not so high. the Sand bars now noumerous, & river more than one
mile wide including the Sand bars. (2) pass a Small Creek above the
latter which we Call lookout C-. Continued on with the wind imediately
a head, and Came too on a large Sand bar in the middle of the river, we
Saw a man opposit to our Camp on the L. S. which we discovd. to be a
Frenchman, a little of the willows we observed a house, we Call to them
to come over, a boy Came in a Canoo & informed that 2 french men were
at the house with good to trade with the Seauex which he expected down
from the rickerries everry day, Severl large parties of Seauex Set out
from the rics for this place to trade with those men--This Mr. Jon
Vallie informs us that he wintered last winter 300 Leagues up the Chien
River under the Black mountains, he informs that this river is verry
rapid and dificiult even for Canoos to assend and when riseing the
Swels is verry high, one hundred Leagues up it forks one fork Comes
from the S. the other at 40 Leagues above the forks enters the black
Mountain. The Countrey from the Missourie to the black mountain is much
like the Countrey on the Missourie, less timber & a greatr perpotion of
Ceder. The black Mountains he Says is verry high, and Some parts of it
has Snow on it in the Summer great quantities of Pine Grow on the
mountains, a great noise is heard frequently on those mountains-, on
the mountains great numbers of goat, and a kind of Anamale with large
Circuler horns, This animale is nearly the Size of an Argalia Small
Elk. White bear is also plenty--The Chien Inds. inhabit this river
principally, and Steel horses from the Spanish Settlements This
excurtion they make in one month the bottoms & Sides of R Chien is
Corse gravel. This frenchman gives an account of a white booted turkey
an inhabitant of the Cout Noie-
[Clark, October 1, 1804]
1st of October Monday 1804 at the Mouth of River Chien or Dog R
We proceeded now from the mouth of this river 11 miles and Camped on a
Sand bar in the river opposit to a Tradeing house verry windy & Cold-
11 miles above the Chien R
[Clark, October 1, 1804]
The red Berry is Called by the Rees Nar-nis-