[Clark, December 7, 1804]
7th of December Friday 1804
a verry Cold day wind from the N W. the Big White Grand Chief of the 1s
Village, Came and informed us that a large Drove of Buffalow was near
and his people was wating for us to join them in a Chase Capt. Lewis
took 15 men & went out joined the Indians, who were at the time he got
up, Killing the Buffalows on Horseback with arrows which they done with
great dexterity, his party killed 14 Buffalow, five of which we got to
the fort by the assistance of a horse in addition to what the men
Packed on their backs--one Cow was killed on the ice after drawing her
out of a vacancey in the ice in which She had fallen, and Butchered her
at the fort--those we did not get in was taken by the indians under a
Custon which is established amongst them i e. any person Seeing a
buffalow lying without an arrow Sticking in him, or Some purticular
mark takes possesion, many times (as I am told) a hunter who Kills
maney Buffalow in a chase only Gets a part of one, all meat which is
left out all night falls to the Wolves which are in great numbers,
always in the Buffalows--the river Closed opposit the fort last night
11/2 inches thick The Thermometer Stood this morning at 1 d. below o-
three men frost bit badly to day
[Clark, December 8, 1804]
8th December Satturday 1804
a verry Cold morning, the Thermometer Stood at 12 d. below 0 which is
42 d. below the freesing point, wind from the N W I with 15 men turned
out Indians joined us on horseback, shot with arrows rode along side of
buffaloel and killed 8 buffalow & one Deer, one Cow and Calf was
brought in, two Cows which I killed at 7 miles Dst. I left 2 men to
Skin & Keep off the wolves, and brought in one Cow & a calf, in the
evening on my return to the fort Saw great numbers of Buffalow Comeing
into the Bottoms on both Sides of the river This day being Cold Several
men returned a little frost bit; one of men with his feet badly frost
bit my Servents feet also frosted & his P-s a little, I feel a little
fatigued haveing run after the Buffalow all day in Snow many Places 10
inches Deep, Generally 6 or 8, two men hurt their hips verry much in
Slipping down--The Indians kill great numbers of Buffalow to day--2
reflectings Suns to day
[Clark, December 9, 1804]
9th December Sunday 1804
The Thermometer Stood this morning at 7° above 0, wind from the E. Capt
Lewis took 18 men & 4 horses and went out Send in the meet killed
yesterday and kill more, the Sun Shown to day Clear, both interpeters
went to the Villages to day at 12 oClock two Chiefs Came loaded with
meat one with a dog & Slay also loaded with meat, Capt. Lewis Sent in 4
Hors's loaded with meat, he continued at the hunting Camp near which
they killed 9 buffalow.
[Clark, December 10, 1804]
10th Monday Decr. 1804 Fort Mandan
a verry Cold Day The Thermometer to day at 10 & 11 Degrees below 0.,
Capt. Lewis returned, to day at 12 oClock leaveing 6 men at the Camp to
prepare the meat for to pack 4 Horse loads Came in, Capt Lewis had a
Cold Disagreeable night last in the Snow on a Cold point with one Small
Blankett the Buffaloe Crossed the river below in emence herds without
brakeing in. only 2 buffalow killed to day one of which was too pore to
Skin, The men which was frost bit is gitting better. the rise 11/2 inch
wind North
[Clark, December 11, 1804]
11th December Tuesday 1804
a verry Cold morning Wind from the north The Thermomettr at (4 oClock A
M at 21°) Sunrise at 21° See list. below 0 which is 53° below the freesing
point and getting colder, the Sun Shows and reflects two imigies, the
ice floating in the atmespear being So thick that the appearance is
like a fog Despurceing
Sent out three horses for meat & with Derections for all the hunters to
return to the fort as Soon as possible at 1 oClock the horses returned
loaded at night all the hunters returned, Several a little frosted, The
Black Cat Chief of the Mandans paid us a Visit to day continue Cold all
day river at a Stand
[Clark, December 12, 1804]
12th December Wednesday 1804
a Clear Cold morning wind from the north the Thormometer at Sun rise
Stood at 38° below 0, moderated untill 6 oClock at which time it began to
get Colder. I line my Gloves and have a cap made of the Skin of the
Louservia (Lynx) (or wild Cat of the North) the fur near 3 inches long
a Indian Of the Shoe nation Came with the half of a Cabra ko ka or
Antilope which he killed near the Fort, Great numbers of those animnals
are near our fort but the weather is So Cold that we do not think it
prudent to turn out to hunt in Such Cold weather, or at least untill
our Consts. are prepared to under go this Climate. I measure the river
from bank to bank on the ice and make it 500 yards
[Clark, December 13, 1804]
13th December Thursday 1804
The last night was verry Clear & the frost which fell Covered the ice
old Snow & thos parts which was naked 1/6 of an inch, The Thermotr.
Stands this morning at 20° below 0, a fine day. find it imposible to make
an Observation with an artifical Horsison Joseph Fields kill a Cow and
Calf to day one mile from the fort river falls
[Clark, December 14, 1804]
14th December Friday 1804
a fine morning. wind from the S. E. the murckerey Stood at '0' this
morning I went with a party of men down the river 18 miles to hunt
Buffalow, Saw two Bulls too pore to kill, the Cows and large gangues
haveing left the River, we only killed two Deer & Camped all night with
Some expectation of Seeing the Buffalow in the morning, a verry Cold
night, Snowed.
[Clark, December 15, 1804]
15th of December 1804 Satturday
a Cold Clear morning, Saw no buffalow, I concluded to return to the
Fort & hunt on each Side of the river on our return which we did
without Success--the Snow fell 11/2 inches deep last night. wind North-
on my return to the fort found Several Chiefs there
[Clark, December 16, 1804]
Fort Mandan
16th December, Sunday 1804
a clear Cold morning, the Thermtr. at Sun rise Stood at 22° below 0, a
verry Singaler appearance of the Moon last night, as She appeared thro
The frosty atmispear--Mr. Henny, from the Establishment on River
Ossinnniboin, with a letter from, Mr Charles Chaboillez one of the Cos
arrived in 6 Days, Mr. C in his letters expressed a great anxiety to
Serve us in any thing in his power-
a root Discribed by Mr. Henry for the Cure of a Mad Dog
Mr. Le rock a Clerk, of the N W Company and Mr. George Bunch a Clerk of
the Hudsons bay Compy accompanied Mr. Henny from the Village
[Clark, December 17, 1804]
17th December Monday 1804
a verry Cold morning the Thrmt. Stood a 43° below 0. We found Mr. Henny a
verry intelligent man from whome we obtained Some Scetches of the
Countrey between the Mississippi & Missouri, and Some Sketches from
him, which he had obtained from the Indins. to the West of this place
also the names and charecktors of the Sceoux &c about 8 oClock P M. the
thermometer fell to 74° below the freesing pointe--the Indian Chiefs Sent
word that Buffalow was in our neighbourhood, and if we would join them,
in the morning they would go and kill them-
[Clark, December 18, 1804]
18th December Tuesday 1804
The Themometer the Same as last night Mr. Haney & La Rocke left us for
the Grossventre Camp, Sent out 7 men to hunt for the Buffalow They
found the weather too cold & returned, Several Indians Came, who had
Set out with a veiw to Kill buffalow, The river rise a little I imploy
my Self makeing a Small map of Connection &. Sent Jessomme to the Main
Chief of the mandans to know the Cause of his detaining or takeing a
horse of Chabonoe our big belly interpeter, which we found was thro the
rascallity of one Lafrance a trader from the N W. Company, who told
this Cheif that Chabonah owd. him a horse to go and take him he done So
agreeable to an indian Custom--he gave up the horse
[Clark, December 19, 1804]
19th December Wednesday 1804
The wind from S. W. the weather moderated a little, I engage my self in
Connecting the Countrey from information. river rise a little
[Clark, December 20, 1804]
20th December Thursday 1804
The wind from the N W a moderate day, the Thermometr 37° above 0, which
givs an oppertunity of putting up our pickets next the river, nothing
remarkable took place to Day river fall a little
[Clark, December 21, 1804]
21st December Friday 1804
a fine Day worm and wind from the N W by W, the Indian whome I stoped
from Commiting murder on his wife, thro jellousy of one of our
interpeters, Came & brought his two wives and Showed great anxiety to
make up with the man with whome his joulassey Sprung--a womin brought a
Child with an abcess on the lower part of the back, and offered as much
corn as She Could carry for Some medison, Capt Lewis administered &c.
[Clark, December 22, 1804]
22nd December Satturday 1804
a number of Squars womn & men Dressed in Squars Clothes Came with Corn
to Sell to the men for little things, we precured two horns of the
animale the french Call the rock mountain Sheep those horns are not of
the largest kind--The mandans Indians Call this Sheep Ar-Sar-ta it is
about the Size of a large Deer, or Small Elk, its Horns Come out and
wind around the head like the horn of a Ram and the teckere not unlike
it much larger and thicker perticelarly that part with which they but
or outer part which is ____ inchs thick, the length of those horns,
which we have is
[Clark, December 23, 1804]
23rd December Sunday 1804
a fine Day great numbers of indians of all discriptions Came to the
fort many of them bringing Corn to trade, the little Crow, loadd. his
wife & Sun with corn for us, Cap. Lewis gave him a few presents as also
his wife, She made a Kettle of boild Simnins, beens, Corn & Choke
Cherris with the Stones which was paletable
This Dish is Considered, as a treat among those people, The Chiefs of
the Mandans are fond of Stayin & Sleeping in the fort
[Clark, December 24, 1804]
24 December Monday 1804
Several Chiefs and members of men womin and Children at the fort to
day, Some for trade, the most as lookers on, we gave a fellet of Sheep
Skin (which we brought for Spunging) to 3 Chiefs one to each of 2
inches wide, which they lay great value (priseing those felets equal to
a fine horse), a fine Day we finished the pickingen around our works
[Clark, December 25, 1804]
25th December Christmass Tuesday
I was awakened before Day by a discharge of 3 platoons from the Party
and the french, the men merrily Disposed, I give them all a little
Taffia and permited 3 Cannon fired, at raising Our flag, Some men went
out to hunt & the Others to Danceing and Continued untill 9 oClock P,
M, when the frolick ended &c.
[Clark, December 26, 1804]
26th Decr. Wednesday 1804
a temperate day no Indians to day or yesterday. A man from the N W
Company Came Down from the Gross Vintres to Get one of our interpeters
to assist them in trade This man informed that the Party of Gross
Ventres who persued the Ossinboins that Stold their horses, has all
returned in their usial way by Small parties, the last of the party
bringing 8 horses which they Stole from a Camp of Asniboins which they
found on Mouse river-
[Clark, December 27, 1804]
27th December 1804 Thursday
a little fine Snow weather something Colder than yesterday Several
Indians here to Day, much Surprised at the Bellos & method of makeing
Sundery articles of Iron wind hard from the N W.
[Clark, December 28, 1804]
28th of December Friday 1804
blew verry hard last night, the frost fell like a Shower of Snow,
nothing remarkable to day, the Snow Drifting from one bottom to another
and from the leavel plains into the hollows &c
[Clark, December 29, 1804]
29th December Satturday 1804
The frost fell last night nearly a 1/4 of an inch Deep and Continud to
fall untill the Sun was of Some bite, the Murcurey Stood this morning
at 9 d below 0 which is not considered Cold, as the Changes take place
gradually without long intermitions
a number of Indians here
[Clark, December 30, 1804]
30th December Sunday 1804
Cold the Termtr. at 20 d below 0 a number of Indians here to day they
are much Supprised at the Bellows one Deer Killed
[Clark, December 31, 1804]
Fort Mandan
31st of December Monday 1804
a fine Day Some wind last night which mixed the Snow and Sand in the
bend of the river, which has the appearance of hillocks of Sand on the
ice, which is also Covered with Sand & Snow, the feost which falls in
the night continues on the earth & old Snow &c. &c.--a Number of
indians here every Day our blckSmitth mending their axes hoes &c. &c.
for which the Squars bring Corn for payment
[Clark, January 1, 1805]
Fort Mandan on the N E bank of the Missouries 1600 miles up
January the 1st 1805 Tuesday
The Day was ushered in by the Discharge of two Cannon, we Suffered 16
men with their musick to visit the 1st Village for the purpose of
Danceing, by as they Said the perticular request of the Chiefs of that
village, about 11 oClock I with an inturpeter & two men walked up to
the Village (my views were to alay Some little miss understanding which
had taken place thro jelloucy and mortificatiion as to our treatment
towards them) I found them much pleased at the Danceing of our men, I
ordered my black Servent to Dance which amused the Croud verry much,
and Some what astonished them, that So large a man Should be active &c.
&.
I went into the lodges of all the men of note except two, whome I heard
had made Some expressions not favourable towards us, in Compareing us
with the trabers from the north--Those Cheifs observed what they Sayed
was in just & lafture.--just as I was about to return the 2d Chief and
the Black man, also a Chief returnd from a mission on which they had
been Sent to meet a large party 150 of Gross Ventres who were on their
way down from their Camps 10 Miles above to revenge on the Shoe tribe
an injurey which they had received by a Shoe man Steeling a Gross
Venters Girl, those Chiefs gave the pipe turned the party back, after
Delivering up the girl, which the Shoe Chief had taken and given to
them for that purpose. I returned in the evening, at night the party
except 6 returned, with 3 robes, an 13 Strings of Corn which the
indians had given them, The Day was worm, Themtr. 34° abov 0, Some fiew
Drops of rain about Sunset, at Dark it began to Snow, and Snowed the
greater part of the night, (the temptr for Snow is about o) The Black
Cat with his family visited us to day and brought a little meet
[Clark, January 2, 1805]
2nd of January Wednesdey 1805
a Snowey morning a party of men go to Dance at the 2nd Village to
Dance, Capt Lewis & the interptr visit the 2d Village, and return in
the evening, Some Snow to Day verry Cold in the evining
[Clark, January 3, 1805]
3rd of January Thursday 1805
Soome Snow to day; 8 men go to hunt the buffalow, killed a hare & wolf
Several Indians visit us to day & a Gross Ventre came after his wife,
who had been much abused, & come here for Protection.
[Clark, January 4, 1805]
Fort Mandan
4th of January Friday 1805
a worm Snowey morning, the Themtr. at 28° abov 0, Cloudy, Sent out 3 men
to hunt down the river, Several Indians Came today the little Crow, who
has proved friendly Came we gave him a handkerchf & 2 files, in the
evening the weather became cold and windey, wind from the N W. I am
verry unwell the after part of the Daye
[Clark, January 5, 1805]
5th of January Satturday 1805
a cold day Some Snow, Several Indians visit us with thier axes to get
them mended, I imploy my Self drawing a Connection of the Countrey from
what information I have recved--a Buffalow Dance (or Medison) for 3
nights passed in the 1st Village, a curious Custom the old men arrange
themselves in a circle & after Smoke a pipe, which is handed them by a
young man, Dress up for the purpose, the young men who have their wives
back of the circle go to one of the old men with a whining tone and
request the old man to take his wife (who presents necked except a
robe) and--the Girl then takes the Old man (who verry often can
Scercely walk) and leades him to a Convenient place for the business,
after which they return to the lodge, if the Old man (or a white man)
returns to the lodge without gratifying the man & his wife, he offers
her again and again; it is often the Case that after the 2d time
without Kissing the Husband throws a nice robe over the old man & and
begs him not to dispise him, & his wife (we Sent a man to this Medisan
last night, they gave him 4 Girls) all this is to cause the buffalow to
Come near So that They may kill thim 2
[Clark, January 6, 1805]
6th of January Sunday 1805
a Cold day but fiew indians to day I am ingaged as yesterday
[Clark, January 7, 1805]
7th of January Monday 1805 Fort Mandan
a verry Cold clear Day, the Themtr Stood at 22 d below 0 wind N W., the
river fell 1 inch Several indians returned from hunting, one of them
the Big White Chef of the Lower Mandan Village, Dined With us, and gave
me a Scetch of the Countrey as far as the high mountains, & on the
South Side of the River Rejone, he Says that the river rejone recves 6
Small rivers on the S. Side, & that the Countrey is verry hilley and
the greater part Covered with timber, Great numbers of beaver &c.--the
3 men returned from hunting, they kill'd 4 Deer & 2 wolves, Saw
Buffalow a long ways off, I continue to Draw a connected plote from the
information of Traders, Indians & my own observation & idea--from the
best information, the Great falls is about 800 miles nearly west,-
[Clark, January 8, 1805]
8th of January Tuesday 1805
a Cold Day but fiew indians at the fort to day wind from the N, W, one
man at the Village
[Clark, January 9, 1805]
9th of January Wednesday 1805
A Cold Day Themometer at 21° below 0, Great numbers of indians go to Kill
Cows, the little Crow Brackft. with us, Several Indians Call at the
Fort nearly frosed, one man reported that he had Sent his Son a Small
boy to the fort about 3 oClock, & was much distressed at not finding
him here, the after part of this day verry Cold, and wind Keen
[Clark, January 10, 1805]
10th Of January 1805 This morning a boy of 13 years of age Came to the
fort with his feet frozed, haveing Stayed out all night without fire,
with no other Covering than a Small Robe goat skin leagens & a pr.
Buffalow Skin mockersons--The Murcery Stood at 72° below the freesing
point--Several others Stayed out all night not in the least hurt, This
boy lost his Toes only-
[Clark, January 10, 1805]
10th of January Thursday 1805
last night was excessively Cold the murkery this morning Stood at 40°
below 0 which is 72° below the freesing point, we had one man out last
night, who returned about 8 oClock this morning The Indians of the
lower Villages turned out to hunt for a man & a boy who had not returnd
from the hunt of yesterday, and borrowd a Slay to bring them in
expecting to find them frosed to death about 10 oclock the boy about 13
years of age Came to the fort with his feet frosed and had layen out
last night without fire with only a Buffalow Robe to Cover him, the
Dress which he wore was a pr of Cabra Legins, which is verry thin and
mockersons--we had his feet put in Cold water and they are Comeing too-
Soon after the arrival of the Boy, a man Came in who had also Stayed
out without fire, and verry thinly Clothed, this man was not the least
injured Customs & the habits of those people has ancered to bare more
Cold than I thought it possible for man to indure