Clark: August 22, 1806

Friday, 22nd August 1806. It rained all last night, and every person and all our bedding got wet. The morning was cloudy. At 8 A.M., I was requested to go to the Chief's. I walked up, and he informed me that he should not go down but would stay and take care of the village and prevent the young men from doing wrong. He spoke much to the same purport as the Grey Eyes. The 2nd Chief spoke to the same effect, and all they said was only a repetition of what they had said before. The Chief gave me some soft corn, and the 2nd Chief gave me some tobacco seed. The interpreter Garrow informed me that he had been speaking to the chiefs and warriors this morning and assured me that they had no intention of going down until the return of the chief who went down last spring a year ago. I told the chiefs to attend to what we had said to them, that in a short time they would find our words true and our counsels good. They promised to attend strictly to what had been said to them, and observed that they must trade with the Sioux one more time to get guns and powder; that they had no guns or powder and had more horses than they had use for, and that after they got guns and powder they would never again have anything to do with them, etc., etc. I returned to the canoes and directed the men to prepare to set out. Some Cheyennes from two lodges on the main S.E. shore came and smoked with me, and at 11 A.M. we set out, having parted with those people, who appeared to be sorry to part with us. At this nation we found a Frenchman by the name of Rokey, who was one of our engagees as high as the Mandans. This man had spent all his wages and requested to return with us. We agreed to give him a passage down. I directed 2 guns to be fired. We proceeded on, passed the Marapa and the We-ter-hoo Rivers, and landed to dry our bedding and robes, etc., which were all wet. Here we delayed until 6 P.M. and dried our things, which were much spoiled.

I directed 5 of the hunters to proceed on to Grouse Island, a few miles below, and hunt on that island until we arrived. We proceeded on to the main N.E. shore below the island and camped. The hunters joined us without anything. They saw no game on the island. We made only 17 miles today. Below the Arikaras, the river widens and the sand bars are immensely numerous, with much less timber in the bottoms than above.

The Cheyennes are portly Indians, much the complexion of the Mandans and Arikaras, with high cheeks, straight limbs, and high noses. The men are large. Their dress in summer is simply a robe of a light buffalo skin, with or without the hair, and a breechcloth and moccasins. Some wear leggings and moccasins. Their ornaments are but few, and those are composed principally of such articles as they procure from other Indians, such as blue beads, shells, red paint, rings of brass, brooches, etc. They also wear bear's claws about their necks, and strips of otter skin (which they, as well as the Arikaras, are excessively fond of) around their necks, falling back behind. Their ears are cut at the lower part, but few of them wear ornaments in them. Their hair is generally cut in the forehead above their eyes, and small ornamented plaits in front of each shoulder. The remainder of the hair is either twisted in with horse or buffalo hair and divided into two plaits over the shoulder, or, what is most common, flows back. Their women are homely, with coarse features and wide mouths. They wear simply a leather garment made in a plain form of two pieces of equal length and equal width, which are sewn together with sinews from the tail to about halfway from the hip to the arm. A string fastens the two pieces together over the shoulders, leaving a flap or lapel which falls over nearly halfway down their body both before and behind. These dresses usually fall as low as mid-leg. They are frequently ornamented with beads and shells and elk tusks, of which all Indians are very fond. These dresses are also frequently printed in various regular figures with hot sticks, which are rubbed on the leather with such velocity as to nearly burn it. This is very handsome. They wear their hair flowing and are excessively fond of ornamenting their ears with blue beads. This nation is peaceably disposed. They may be estimated at from 350 to 400 men inhabiting from 130 to 150 lodges. They are rich in horses and dogs; the dogs carry a great proportion of their light baggage. They confess to be at war with no nation except the Sioux, with whom they have ever since their remembrance been on a defensive war, with the bands of Sioux. As I was about to leave the chief of the Cheyennes' lodge, he requested me to send some traders to them, that their country was full of beaver and they would then be encouraged to kill beaver, but now they had no use for them as they could get nothing for their skins and did not know well how to catch beaver. If the white people would come among them, they would become acquainted, and the white people would teach them how to take the beaver. I promised the nation that I would inform their Great Father, the President of the U.S., and he would have them supplied with goods, and mentioned in what manner they would be supplied, etc., etc.

I am happy to have it in my power to say that my worthy friend Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) is recovering fast. He walked a little today for the first time. I have discontinued the tent in the hole where the ball came out.

I have before mentioned that the Mandans, Maharhas, Menetarras, and Arikaras keep their horses in the lodge with themselves at night.