Clark: August 14, 1804
On a fine Tuesday morning with shifting winds, the party sent to the Maha (Omaha) village returned around noon reporting they found no Indians or fresh signs, as the tribe was still away on a buffalo hunt. Clark reflected on the abandoned village, noting that smallpox had killed roughly 400 people four years earlier, reducing the nation to about 300 men and leaving them vulnerable to neighboring tribes. He recorded that grief-stricken Mahas had burned their village and killed family members during the epidemic, and described their practice of burying the dead atop high mounds.
14th of August at 12 oClock the Party Sent yesterday to the Towns
returned, and informed that they Could not find any Indians, they had not
returned from hunting the Buffalow in the Praries, wind Shifted to the N
W. Our party Sent after the Deserter and to the Otteau towns, have not
Came up as yet
The Situation of this Village, now in ruins Siround by enunbl. hosts of
grave the ravages of the Small Pox (4 years ago) they follow the Buf. and
tend no Corn
—
14th August Tuesday 1804 a fine morning wind from the S E The men Sent to
the Mahar Town last evening has not returned we Conclude to Send a Spye to
Know the cause of Their delay at about 12 oClock the Party returned and
in-formed. us that they Could not find the Indians nor any fresh Sign,
those people have not returned from their Buffalow hunt, Those people
haveing no houses no Corn or any thing more than the graves of their
ancesters to attach them to the old Village, Continue in pursuite of the
Buffalow longer than others who had greater attachments to their native
Villagethe ravages of the Small Pox (which Swept off 400 men & women
& Children in perpoposion) has reduced this Nation not exceeding 300
men and left them to the insults of their weaker neighbours which before
was glad to be on friendly turms with themI am told whin this fatal
malady was among them they Carried ther franzey to verry extroadinary
length, not only of burning their Village, but they put their wives &
Children to Death with a view of their all going together to Some better
CountreyThey burry their Dead on the tops of high hills and rais
mounds on the top of them,The cause or way those people took the
Small Pox is uncertain, the most Probable from Some other Nation by means
of a warparty
Observed Time and Distance of the Sun & Moon the Moon East the 13th of
August Monday 1804, three Miles NE of the Mahars old village at Fish Camp-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
14th of August at 12 o'clock the party sent yesterday to the towns returned, and informed us that they could not find any Indians; they had not returned from hunting the buffalo in the prairies. Wind shifted to the NW. Our party sent after the deserter and to the Oto (Otteau) towns has not come up as yet.
The situation of this village, now in ruins, is surrounded by innumerable hosts of graves from the ravages of the smallpox (4 years ago). They follow the buffalo and tend no corn.
14th August Tuesday 1804. A fine morning, wind from the SE. The men sent to the Mahar (Omaha) town last evening have not returned. We concluded to send a spy to learn the cause of their delay. At about 12 o'clock the party returned and informed us that they could not find the Indians nor any fresh sign. Those people have not returned from their buffalo hunt. Those people, having no houses, no corn, or anything more than the graves of their ancestors to attach them to the old village, continue in pursuit of the buffalo longer than others who had greater attachments to their native village.
The ravages of the smallpox (which swept off 400 men, women, and children in proportion) has reduced this nation to not exceeding 300 men, and left them to the insults of their weaker neighbors, who before were glad to be on friendly terms with them. I am told that when this fatal malady was among them, they carried their frenzy to very extraordinary lengths, not only burning their village, but also putting their wives and children to death with the idea that they would all go together to some better country.
They bury their dead on the tops of high hills and raise mounds on top of them. The cause or way those people took the smallpox is uncertain, but most probably it came from some other nation by means of a war party.
Observed time and distance of the sun and moon, the moon east, the 13th of August Monday 1804, three miles NE of the Mahar (Omaha) old village at Fish Camp.
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