Clark: August 29, 1804
Cloudy with rain overnight and into the morning. The men crafted a tow rope from elk skin while Clark worked on writing a speech. Colter was sent ahead with provisions to find Shannon. Around 4 PM, Sergeant Pryor and interpreter Pierre Dorion arrived across the river with about 70 Sioux, including five chiefs. The party sent over a pirogue, tobacco, corn, and kettles, planning to hold council the next day. Pryor described the Sioux's painted conical buffalo-skin lodges and a fat dog served as a feast of honor. Drouillard killed a deer.
29th August Wednesday 1804rained last night and Some this morning
verry cloudy Set Some men to work to make a Toe rope of Elk Skin, and my
Self to write, Sent one man to pursue Shannon a head with Some provisions,
I am much engaged writeing a Speech at 4 oClock Sergt. Pryor & Mr.
Durion the Soues interpeter with about 70 Soues arrived on the opposit
Side of the river we Sent over for them, who came over Mr. D. & his
Son who was tradeing with the Indians Came over Mr. Durion informed that
three Chiefs were of the Party, we Sent over Serjt. Pryor with young Mr.
Durion, Six Kettles for the Indians to Cook the meat they Killed on the
way from their Camp (2 Elk & 6 Deer) a bout a bucket of Corn & 2
twists of Tobacco to Smoke intending to Speak to them tomorrowG.
Drewyer Killed a Deer-. Sergt. Pryor informs that when he approached the
Indian Camp they Came to meet them Supposeing Cap Lewis or my Self to be
of the party intending to take us in a roabe to their Camp-he approached
the Camp which was handsum made of Buffalow Skins Painted different
Colour, their Camps formed of a Conic form Containing about 12 or 15
persons each and 40 in number, on the River Jacque of 100 yds wide &
Deep Containing but little wood, They had a fat dog Cooked as a feest; for
them, and a Snug aptmt for them to lodge on their march they passed thro
plains Covd. with game &. &. &.
—
29th August Wednesday 1804 Some rain last night & this morning, Sent
on Colter with Provisions in pursute of Shannon, had a Toe roap made of
Elk Skin, I am much engaged reriteingat 4 oClock P M. Sergt. Pryor
& Mr. Dorion with 5 Chiefs and about 70 men &c. arrived on the
opposite Side we Sent over a Perogue & Mr. Dorrion & his Son who
was tradeing with the Indians Came over with Serjt Pryer, and informed us
that the Chiefs were there we Sent Serjt. Pryor & yound Mr. Dorion
with Som Tobacco, Corn & a few Kitties for them to Cook in, with
directions to inform the Chiefs that we would Speek to them tomorrow.
Those Indians brought with them for their own use 2 Elk & 6 Deer which
the young men Killed on the way from their Camp 12 miles distant.
Serjt. Pryor informs me that when Came near the Indian Camp they were met
by men with a Buffalow roabe to Carry them, Mr. Dorion informed “they were
not the Owners of the Boats & did not wish to be Carried”- the Sceouex
Camps are handson of a Conic form Covered with Buffalow Roabs Painted
different Colours and all Compact & hand Somly arranged, covered all
round an orpen part in the Center for the fire, with Buffalow roabs each
Lodg has a place for Cooking detached, the lodges contain 10 to 15 personsa
Fat Dog was presented as a mark of their Great respect for the party of
which they partook hartily and thought it good & well flavored
The River Jacque is Deep & is navagable for Perogues a long distance
up at the mouth it is Shallow & narrow but above it is 80 or 90 yards
wide passing thro rich Praries with but little timber this river passes
the Souex River and heads with the St Peters and a branch of Red river
which which falls into Lake Winepik to the North
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
29th August Wednesday 1804. It rained last night and some this morning, very cloudy. I set some men to work to make a tow rope of elk skin, and myself to writing. Sent one man to pursue Shannon ahead with some provisions. I am much engaged writing a speech. At 4 o'clock Sergt. Pryor and Mr. Durion (Dorion), the Sioux interpreter, with about 70 Sioux arrived on the opposite side of the river. We sent over for them, and they came across. Mr. D. and his son, who was trading with the Indians, came over. Mr. Durion informed us that three chiefs were of the party. We sent over Sergt. Pryor with young Mr. Durion, six kettles for the Indians to cook the meat they killed on the way from their camp (2 elk and 6 deer), about a bucket of corn, and 2 twists of tobacco to smoke, intending to speak to them tomorrow. G. Drewyer killed a deer.
Sergt. Pryor informs that when he approached the Indian camp, they came to meet them, supposing Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) or myself to be of the party, intending to carry us in a robe to their camp. He approached the camp, which was handsome, made of buffalo skins painted different colors. Their camps were formed of a conic shape, containing about 12 or 15 persons each, and 40 in number, on the River Jacque, which is 100 yards wide and deep, containing but little wood. They had a fat dog cooked as a feast for them, and a snug apartment for them to lodge in. On their march they passed through plains covered with game, etc., etc., etc.
29th August Wednesday 1804. Some rain last night and this morning. Sent on Colter with provisions in pursuit of Shannon. Had a tow rope made of elk skin. I am much engaged writing. At 4 o'clock P.M. Sergt. Pryor and Mr. Dorion with 5 chiefs and about 70 men, etc., arrived on the opposite side. We sent over a pirogue, and Mr. Dorrion (Dorion) and his son, who was trading with the Indians, came over with Sergt. Pryor and informed us that the chiefs were there. We sent Sergt. Pryor and young Mr. Dorion with some tobacco, corn, and a few kettles for them to cook in, with directions to inform the chiefs that we would speak to them tomorrow. Those Indians brought with them for their own use 2 elk and 6 deer, which the young men killed on the way from their camp, 12 miles distant.
Sergt. Pryor informs me that when he came near the Indian camp, they were met by men with a buffalo robe to carry them. Mr. Dorion informed them "they were not the owners of the boats and did not wish to be carried." The Sioux camps are handsome, of a conic form, covered with buffalo robes painted different colors, and all compact and handsomely arranged. They are covered all around, with an open part in the center for the fire, lined with buffalo robes. Each lodge has a place for cooking detached, and the lodges contain 10 to 15 persons. A fat dog was presented as a mark of their great respect for the party, of which they partook heartily and thought it good and well flavored.
The River Jacque is deep and is navigable for pirogues a long distance up. At the mouth it is shallow and narrow, but above it is 80 or 90 yards wide, passing through rich prairies with but little timber. This river passes the Sioux River and heads with the St. Peters and a branch of the Red River, which falls into Lake Winnipeg (Winepik) to the north.
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