Clark: February 21, 1805
A pleasant day at Fort Mandan, with clothes set out to dry in the sun. Visitors Big White and Big Man described a sacred Medicine Stone three days' march southwest, which their people consult each spring for prophecies about war, peace, and coming events; the Hidatsa (Big Bellies) reportedly have a similar stone. Captain Lewis returned with two sleds carrying about 3,000 pounds of meat from a lower cache, having been unable to catch the Sioux war party that destroyed an upper deposit. He killed 36 deer and 14 elk over two days of hunting.
21st February Thursday 1805 a Delightfull Day put out our Clothes to SunVisited
by the big white & Big man they informed me that Several men of their
nation was gorn to Consult their Medison Stone about 3 day march to the
South West to know What was to be the result of the insuing yearThey
have great confidence in this Stone and Say that it informs them of every
thing which is to happen, & visit it every Spring & Sometimes in
the Summer “They haveing arrived at the Stone give it Smoke and proceed to
the wood at Some distance to Sleep the next morning return to the Stone,
and find marks white & raised on the Stone representing the piece or
war which they are to meet with, and other changes, which they are to
meet” This Stone has a leavel Surface of about 20 feet in Surcumfrance,
thick and pores, and no doubt has Some mineral qualtites effected by the
Sun.
The Big Bellies have a Stone to which they ascribe nearly the Same Virtues
Capt Lewis returned with 2 Slays loaded with meat, after finding that he
could not overtake the Souis war party, (who had in their way distroyd all
the meat at one Deposit which I had made & Burnt the Lodges)
deturmined to proceed on to the lower Deposit, which he found had not been
observed by Soux he hunted two day Killed 36 Deer & 14 Elk, Several of
them So meager, that they were unfit for use, the meet which he killed and
that in the lower Deposit amounting to about 3000 wt was brought up on two
Slays, one Drawn by 16 men had about 2400 wt on it
[Clark, February 22, 1805]
Fort Mandan
22nd of February Friday 1805.
a Cloudy morning, at about 12 oClock it began to rain and Continud for
a fiew minits, and turned to Snow, and Continud Snowing for about one
hour, and Cleared away fair The two hunters left below arrived, They
killed two Elk, and hung them up out of the reach of the wolvesThe
Coal a Ricara who is a considerable Chief of the Mandans visited us to
day, and maney others of the three nations in our neighbourhood.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
21st February Thursday 1805. A delightful day. Put our clothes out in the sun. Visited by the Big White and Big Man. They informed me that several men of their nation had gone to consult their Medicine Stone, about 3 days' march to the southwest, to learn what would be the result of the coming year. They have great confidence in this stone and say that it informs them of everything that is to happen. They visit it every spring and sometimes in the summer. "Having arrived at the stone, they give it smoke and proceed to the woods at some distance to sleep. The next morning they return to the stone, and find marks, white and raised on the stone, representing the peace or war which they are to meet with, and other changes which they are to encounter." This stone has a level surface of about 20 feet in circumference, is thick and porous, and no doubt has some mineral qualities affected by the sun.
The Big Bellies have a stone to which they ascribe nearly the same virtues.
Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) returned with 2 sleighs loaded with meat. After finding that he could not overtake the Sioux war party (who had on their way destroyed all the meat at one deposit which I had made, and burnt the lodges), he determined to proceed on to the lower deposit, which he found had not been discovered by the Sioux. He hunted two days, killed 36 deer and 14 elk, several of them so lean that they were unfit for use. The meat which he killed, and that in the lower deposit, amounting to about 3000 pounds, was brought up on two sleighs; one drawn by 16 men had about 2400 pounds on it.
[Clark, February 22, 1805]
Fort Mandan
22nd of February Friday 1805. A cloudy morning. At about 12 o'clock it began to rain and continued for a few minutes, then turned to snow, and continued snowing for about one hour, and cleared away fair. The two hunters left below arrived. They killed two elk and hung them up out of the reach of the wolves. The Coal, an Arikara who is a considerable chief of the Mandans, visited us today, along with many others of the three nations in our neighborhood.
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