is Chief Omp-Se-ha-ra Black mockerson. 2d Chief Oh-hark little Fox.
The Grand village of Manetarres, The One Eye is the principal Chief and
he is out on a hunting party. we Send by the Grape all the articles for
this grand Chief and all the Village what goods was intended for that
Village--The Prarie got on fire and went with Such Violenc & Speed as
to Catch a man & woman & burn them to Death, Several escapd. among
other a Small boy who was Saved by getting under a green Buffalow Skin,
this boy was half white, & the Indians Say all white flesh is medisan,
they Say the grass was not burnt where the boy Sat &c. &. this fire
passed us at 8 oClock, and lookd truly tremendious.
[Clark, October 29, 1804]
29th October Monday 1804
a fair fine morning after Brackfast we were visited by the old Cheaf of
the Big bellies or ____ this man was old and had transfered his power
to his Sun, who was then out at war against the Snake Indians who
inhabit the rockey mountains--at 10 oClock the S W. wind rose verry
high, we Collected the Chiefs and Commened a Council ounder a Orning
and our Sales Stretched around to Keep out as much wind as possible, we
delivered a long Speech the Substance of which Similer to what we had
Delivered to the nations below. the old Chief of the Grossanters was
verry restless before the Speech was half ended observed that he Could
not wait long that his Camp was exposed to the hostile Indians, &c. &.
he was rebuked by one of the Chiefs for his uneasiness at Such a time
as the present, we at the end of the Speech mentioned the Ricare who
Accompanied us to make a firm peace, they all Smoked with him (I gave
this Cheaf a Dollar of the American Coin as a Meadel with which he was
much pleased) In Councel we prosented him with a Certificate of his
Sincrrity and good Conduct &c. we also Spoke about the fur which was
taken from 2 french men by a Mandan, and informd of our intentions of
Sending back the french hands--after the Council we gave the presents
with much Seremoney, and put the Meadels on the Cheifs we intended to
make viz. one for each Town to whome we gave Coats hats & flags, one
Grand Cheif to each nation to whome we gave meadels with the presidents
likeness in Councel we requested them to give us an answer tomorrow or
as Soon as possible to Some points which required their Deliberation-
after the Council was over we Shot the Air gun which appeared to
assonish the nativs much, the greater part them retired Soon after
The Ricare Cheaf Ar-ke-tar-na-shar Came to me this evening and tells me
that he wishes to return to his Village & nation, I put him off Saying
tomorrow we would have an answer, to our talk to the Satisfaction &
Send by him a String of wompom informing what had passed here. a Iron
or Steel Corn Mill which we gave to the Mandins, was verry Thankfully
recived--(rte The Prarie was Set on fire (or Cought by accident) by a
young man of the Mandins, the fire went with Such velocity that it
burnt to death a man and woman, who Could not Get to any place of
Safty, one man a woman & Child much burnt and Several narrowly escaped
the flame--a boy half white was Saved un hurt in the midst of the
flaim, Those ignerent people Say this boy was Saved by the great Spirit
medisin because he was white--The Cause of his being Saved was a Green
buffalow Skin was thrown over him by his mother who perhaps had more
fore Sight for the pertection of her Son, and less for herself than
those who escaped the flame, the Fire did not burn under the Skin
leaving the grass round the boy This fire passed our Camp last about 8
oClock P.M. it went with great rapitidity and looked Tremendious