Clark: December 7, 1804
On a bitterly cold Friday with northwest winds and the thermometer at one degree below zero, Big White, the grand chief of the first Mandan village, alerted the captains that a large herd of buffalo was nearby. Captain Lewis took fifteen men to join the Mandans, who were skillfully killing buffalo on horseback with arrows. Lewis's party killed fourteen buffalo, but only five were brought back to the fort, as local custom let others claim unmarked carcasses and wolves took meat left overnight. Three men were badly frostbitten.
at Fort mandan 7th of December 1804, we were informed by a Chief that
great numbers of Buffalow were on the hills near us Cap Lewis with a party
went out & Killed 11three in view of our fort, The weather so excesive
Cold & wolves plenty, we only saved 5 of them, I with a party turned
on the 8th out and found the Buffalow at 7 ms. distant Killed 8 & a
Deer, I returned with 2 Cows leaving men with remaining meatSeveral
men badly frost bitThe Themormeter Stood this morning at 44 d.
below Breizing.
Capt Lewis went out 9th & Stayed all night out Killed 9 buffalowmaney
of the Buffalow Killed were So meager that they not fit for use Collected
by the ade of Some horses the best of the meat in fact all we could Save
from wolves & I went on a hunting party the 14 & 15 of Decr.much
Snow verry cold 52° below freesinge. N W. & H Bay Clerks Visit us the
16th also Mr Hainey, Cold Tem. 74° below freesing
I visit the Mandans on the 1s of January Capt Lewis the 2nd
—
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 backsone 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 fortthose 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 Buffalowsthe 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
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
At Fort Mandan, 7th of December 1804, we were informed by a Chief that great numbers of buffalo were on the hills near us. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) with a party went out and killed three in view of our fort. The weather was so excessively cold and wolves plenty, we only saved 5 of them. I, with a party, turned out on the 8th and found the buffalo at 7 miles distant, killed 8 and a deer. I returned with 2 cows, leaving men with the remaining meat. Several men were badly frostbitten. The thermometer stood this morning at 44 degrees below freezing.
Capt Lewis went out on the 9th and stayed out all night, killed 9 buffalo. Many of the buffalo killed were so lean that they were not fit for use. We collected, by the aid of some horses, the best of the meat — in fact all we could save from wolves. I went on a hunting party the 14th and 15th of December. Much snow, very cold, 52° below freezing. N.W. and H. Bay Clerks visited us on the 16th, also Mr Hainey. Cold, temperature 74° below freezing.
I visited the Mandans on the 1st of January, Capt Lewis on the 2nd.
7th of December, Friday 1804. A very cold day, wind from the N.W. The Big White, Grand Chief of the 1st Village, came and informed us that a large drove of buffalo was near and his people were waiting for us to join them in a chase. Capt. Lewis took 15 men and went out, joined the Indians, who were at the time he got up killing the buffalo on horseback with arrows, which they did with great dexterity. His party killed 14 buffalo, 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 an opening in the ice into which she had fallen, and butchered her at the fort. Those we did not get in were taken by the Indians under a custom which is established amongst them, i.e., any person seeing a buffalo lying without an arrow sticking in him, or some particular mark, takes possession. Many times (as I am told) a hunter who kills many buffalo 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 buffalo. The river closed opposite the fort last night, 1 1/2 inches thick. The thermometer stood this morning at 1 degree below 0. Three men frostbit badly today.
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