Clark: August 14, 1806
The party traveled downriver and reached the Mandan and Hidatsa villages, firing the blunderbusses to announce their arrival. Clark met chiefs of the Mahaha, Little Menetarre, and Black Cat villages, who welcomed them warmly; the Little Menetarre chief wept over a son killed by Blackfoot Indians. Clark sent for interpreter Jessomme and renewed invitations for chiefs to travel to meet the U.S. president. Black Cat declined, fearing Sioux attacks. Sandy winds forced a camp move across the river. The Mahaha chief supplied corn, and One Eye, principal Hidatsa chief, arrived for council.
Thursday 14th August 1806 Set out at Sunrise and proceeded on. when we
were opposit the Minetares Grand Village we Saw a number of the Nativs
viewing of we derected the Blunderbuses fired Several times, Soon after we
Came too at a Croud of the nativs on the bank opposit the Village of the
Shoe Indians or Mah-har-ha’s at which place I saw the principal Chief of
the Little Village of the Menitarre & the principal Chief of the
Mah-har-has. those people were extreamly pleased to See us. the Chief of
the little Village of the Menetarias cried most imoderately, I enquired
the Cause and was informed it was for the loss of his Son who had been
killed latterly by the Blackfoot Indians. after a delay of a fiew minits I
proceeded on to the black Cats Village on the N. E. Side of the Missouri
where I intended to Encamp but the Sand blew in Such a manner that we
deturmined not to continu on that Side but return to the Side we had left.
here we were visited by all the inhabitants of this village who appeared
equally as well pleased to See us as those above. I walked up to the Black
Cats village & eate some Simnins with him, and Smoked a pipe this
Village I discovered had been rebuilt Since I left it and much Smaller
than it was; on enquirey into the Cause was informed that a quarrel had
taken place and Lodges had removed to the opposd Side. I had Soon as I
landed despatched Shabono to the Minetarras inviting the Chiefs to visit
us, & Drewyer down to the lower Village of the Mandans to ask Mr.
Jessomme to Come and enterpret for us. Mr. Jessomme arived and I spoke to
the chiefs of the Village informing them that we Spoke to them as we had
done when we were with them last and we now repeeted our envitation to the
principal Chiefs of all the Villages to accompany us and to the U States
&c. &c. the Black Cat Chief of the Mandans, Spoke and informed me
that he wished to Visit the United States and his Great Father but was
afraid of the Scioux who were yet at war with them and had killed Several
of their men Since we had left them, and were on the river below and would
Certainly kill him if he attempted to go dow.i. I indeavered to do away
with his objections by informig him that we would not Suffer those indians
to hurt any of our red Children who Should think proper to accompany us,
and on their return they would be equally protected, and their presents
which would be very liberal, with themselves, Conveyed to their own
Country at the expence of the U. States &c. &c. The chief promised
us Some corn tomorrow. after the Council I directed the Canoes to cross
the river to a brook opposit where we Should be under the wind and in a
plain where we would be Clear of musquetors & after Crossing the Chief
of the Mah har has told me if I would Send with him he would let me have
some corn. I directed Sergt Gass & 2 men to accompany him to his
Village, they Soon returned loaded with Corn. the Chief and his wife also
came down. I gave his wife a fiew Needles &c.The Great Chif of
all the Menitarres the one eye Came to Camp also Several other Chiefs of
the different Villages. I assembled all the Chiefs on a leavel Spot on the
band and Spoke to them & see next book.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday, 14th August 1806. We set out at sunrise and proceeded on. When we were opposite the Minetares Grand Village, we saw a number of the natives looking at us. We directed that the blunderbusses be fired several times. Soon after, we came to at a crowd of the natives on the bank opposite the village of the Shoe Indians, or Mah-har-ha's, where I saw the principal chief of the Little Village of the Menitarre and the principal chief of the Mah-har-has. These people were extremely pleased to see us. The chief of the Little Village of the Menetarias cried immoderately. I asked the cause and was informed it was for the loss of his son, who had lately been killed by the Blackfoot Indians.
After a delay of a few minutes, I proceeded on to the Black Cat's village on the northeast side of the Missouri, where I intended to camp. But the sand blew in such a manner that we determined not to continue on that side, and instead returned to the side we had left. Here we were visited by all the inhabitants of this village, who appeared equally as well pleased to see us as those above. I walked up to the Black Cat's village and ate some simmins with him, and smoked a pipe. I discovered this village had been rebuilt since I left it and was much smaller than it had been. On inquiring into the cause, I was informed that a quarrel had taken place and several lodges had moved to the opposite side.
As soon as I had landed, I had dispatched Shabono (Charbonneau) to the Minetarres, inviting the chiefs to visit us, and Drewyer (Drouillard) down to the lower village of the Mandans to ask Mr. Jessomme (Jusseaume) to come and interpret for us. Mr. Jessomme arrived, and I spoke to the chiefs of the village, informing them that we spoke to them as we had done when we were with them last, and that we now repeated our invitation to the principal chiefs of all the villages to accompany us to the United States, etc., etc.
The Black Cat, chief of the Mandans, spoke and informed me that he wished to visit the United States and his Great Father, but was afraid of the Sioux, who were still at war with them and had killed several of their men since we had left them, and were on the river below and would certainly kill him if he attempted to go down. I tried to do away with his objections by informing him that we would not allow those Indians to hurt any of our red children who should think proper to accompany us, and that on their return they would be equally protected, and their presents, which would be very liberal, along with themselves, would be conveyed to their own country at the expense of the United States, etc., etc. The chief promised us some corn tomorrow.
After the council, I directed the canoes to cross the river to a brook opposite, where we would be sheltered from the wind and in a plain where we would be clear of mosquitoes. After crossing, the chief of the Mah-har-has told me that if I would send with him, he would let me have some corn. I directed Sergeant Gass and two men to accompany him to his village. They soon returned loaded with corn. The chief and his wife also came down. I gave his wife a few needles, etc.
The great chief of all the Menitarres, the One Eye, came to camp also, along with several other chiefs of the different villages. I assembled all the chiefs on a level spot on the bank and spoke to them—see next book.
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