R. Fields with the rhumitim in his neck, P. Crusat with the Same
Complaint in his Legs--the party other wise is well, as to my Self I
feel but Slight Simptoms of that disorder at this time,
[Clark, October 26, 1804]
26th of October 1804
wind from the S. E we Set the Ricara Chief on Shore with Some Mandans,
many on each Side veiwing of us, we took in 2 Chiefs (Coal and Big Man)
and halted a feiw minits at their Camps, on the L. S. fortified in
their way, here we Saw a trader from the Ossinniboin River Called
McCracken, this man arrived 9 day ago with goods to trade for horses &
Roabs one other man with him--we Camped on the L. Side a Short distanc
below the r st rnandan village on the L. S. many men women & Children
flocked down to See us--Capt Lewis walked to the Village with the Chief
and interpeters, my Rheumitism increasing prevented me from going also,
and we had Deturmined that both would not leave the boat at the Same
time untill we Knew the Desposition of the Nativs, Some Chieef visited
me & I Smoked with them--they appeared delighted with the Steel Mill
which we were obliged to use, also with my black Servent, Capt Lewis
returned late
[Clark, October 26, 1804]
26th of October Friday 1804
Set out early wind from the S W proceeded on Saw numbers of the Mandins
on Shore, we Set the Ricare Chief on Shore, and we proceeded on to the
Camp of two of their Grand Chiefs where we delayed a fiew minits, with
the Chiefs and proceeded on takeing two of their Chiefs on board & Some
of the heavy articles of his house hole, Such as earthen pots & Corn,
proceeded on, at this Camp Saw a McCracken Englishmon from the N. W
Company this mana Came nine Days ago to trade for horses & Buffalo
robes,--one other man Came with him. the Indians Continued on the banks
all day--but little wood on this part of the river, many Sand bars and
bad places, water much devided between them
for the 26th. Octr. we came too and Camped on the L. S. about 1/2 a
mile below the ist. Manddin Town on the L. S. Soon after our arrival
many men womin & Children flocked down to See us, Capt Lewis walked to
the village with the principal Chiefs and our interpters, my rhumatic
Complaint increasing I could not go--if I was well only one would have
left the Boat & party untill we new the Disposition of the Inds. I
Smoked with the Cheifs who Came after. Those people apd much pleased
with the Corn mill which we were obliged to use, & was fixed in the
boat.
[Clark, October 27, 1804]
27th of October Satturday 1804 we Set out early and Came too at the
village on the L. S. where we delayed a few minits, I walked to a
Chiefs Logg & Smoked with them, but Could not eat, which did displease
them a little, here I met with a Mr. Jessomme, who lived in this nation
13 years, I got him to interpet & he proceedd on with us we proceeded
on to a Centeral point opposit the Knife River, & formed a Camp on the
S. S. above the 2d Mandan village & opsd. the Mah-har-ha village--and
raised a flag Staff--Capt Lewis & the Intepeters walked down to the 2d
Village of Mandans, & returned in about an hour, we Sent 3 Carrotes of
tobacco to the other villages & enviting them to come down and Council
with us tomorrow,--we endeaver to precure Some Knowledge of the
principal Chiefs of the Different nations &.--well to give my ideas as
to the impression thais man makes on me is a Cunin artfull an
insoncear--he tels me he was once empld. by my brother in the Illinois &
of his description I conceve as a Spye upon the British of
Michillinicknac & St Joseph,s we think he may be made use full to us &
do employ him as an interpeter--no. of Indians bring their wives &c. to
the campes of our party on Shore &c.
[Clark, October 27, 1804]
27th of October Satturday 1804
we Set out arly Came too at this Village on the L. S. this village is
Situated on an eminance of about 50 feet above the Water in a handson
Plain it Containes houses in a kind of Picket work. the houses are
round and Verry large Containing Several families, as also their horses
which is tied on one Side of the enterance, a Discription of those
houses will be given hereafter, I walked up & Smoked a pipe with the
Cheifs of this Village they were anxious that I would Stay and eat with
them, my indisposition provented my eating which displeased them,
untill a full explination took place, I returned to the boat and Sent 2
Carrots of Tobacco for them to Smoke, and proceeded on, passed the 2d
Village and Camped opsd. the Village of the Weter Soon or ah wah bar
ways which is Situated on an eminance in a plain on the L. S. this
Village is Small and Contains but fiew inhabitents. above this village
& also above the Knife river on the Same Side of the Missouri the Big
bellies Towns are Situated a further Discription will be given here
after as also of the Town of Mandans on this Side of the river i e S.
Side
a fine worm Day we met with a french man by the name of jassamme which
we imploy as an interpeter This man has a wife & Children in the
Village--Great numbers on both Sides flocked down to the bank to view
us as wee passed.
Capt. Lewis with the Interpetr. walked down to the village below our
Camp After delaying one hour he returned and informed me the Indians
had returned to their village &c., &c., we Sent three Carrots of
Tobacco by three young men, to the three Villages above inviting them
to come Down & Council with us tomorrow. many Indians Came to view us
Some Stayed all night in the Camp of our party--we procured Some
information of Mr. Jessomme of the Chiefs of the Different Nations
[Clark, October 28, 1804]
28th of October 1804
the wind So hard from the S. W. We could not meet the Indians in
Councils, those who visited us we Sent to the nearest village,
Consulted the Black Cat M Chief about the Chiefs of the Different
Villages, who gave his Oppinion to us.
[Clark, October 28, 1804]
Sunday 28th of October 1804
a windey Day, fair and Clear many of the Grosvantres (or Big Bellies)
and Watersons Came to See us and hear the Council the wind being So
violently hard from the S. W. provented our going into Councel, (indeed
the Chiefs of the Manodans from the lower Village Could not Cross, we
made up the presents and entertained Several of the Curious Cheifs
whome, wished to See the Boat which was verry Curious to them viewing
it as great medison, as they also viewed my black Servent The Black Cat
Grand Chief of the Mandans, Capt Lewis & my Self with an Interpeter
walked up the river about 11/2 miles our views were to examine the
Situation & Timbers for a fort, we found the Situation good but the
Timber Scerce, or at least Small timbr Such as would answer us-, we
Cunsulted the Grand Chief in respect to the other Chiefs of the
Defferent Villages he gave the names of 12--George Drewyer Cought 2
Beaver above our Camp last night, we had Several presents from the
Woman of Corn boild homney, Soft Corn &c. &c. I prosent ajar to the
Chiefs wife who recved it with much pleasure our men verry Chearfull
this evening--we Sent the Cheifs of the Gross Vantres to Smoke a pipe
with the Grand Chef of the Mandins in his Village, & told them we would
Speek tomorrow.
[Clark, October 29, 1804]
29th of October 1804 a fine morning after Brackfast we were Visited by
the Old Chief of the Big Bellies or me ne tar res, this Man has Given
his power to his Son who is now on a war party against the Snake
Indians who inhabit the Rockey Mountains, the S W wind verry high--we
met in Council under an orning and our Sales Stretched round to keep
out as much wind as possible & Delivered a long Speach Similar to what
had been Said to the nations below, the old Chief was restless before
the Speech was half ended, observed his Camp was exposed & could wait
no longer &c. at the Conclusion of the Speach we mentioned the Ricaras
& requested them to make a peace & Smoke out of the Sacred Stem with
their Chief which I intreduced and gave him the pipe of peace to hand
around, they all Smoked with eagerness out of the pipe held by the
Ricara Chief Ar-ke-tar-na-Shar we mentioned our hands that were to be
discharged here, also the roberrey commited on th 2 french men below, &
requested them to answere us tomorrow, gave the Chief Small preasents
and a fiew presents for each village Shot the air gun which both
Surprised and astonished the nativs, and Soon dispersed
our Ricara Chief Came told me he wished to return to his nation
tomorrow I put him off & Said we would Send a talk by him after the
Chiefs had Spoken to us--we gave a Steel mill to the mandans which was
verry pleasing to them