Clark: January 16, 1805
About thirty Mandans, including six chiefs, visited the fort, despite Hidatsa warnings that the white men would kill them; they were instead smoked with, entertained with dancing, and treated well. A young Hidatsa war chief, 26 years old, also visited with a man and his wife, and the captains fired the air gun and cannon to impress him. He provided a map of the Missouri and spoke of plans to war against the Snake Indians in spring, but agreed to stay home after Clark urged peace. Little Crow brought corn, and four hunters returned, one frostbitten.
16th January Wednesday 1805 about thirty Mandans Came to the fort to day,
6 Chiefs. Those Me ne to rees told them they were liars, had told them if
they came to the fort the whites men would kill them, they had been with
them all night, Smoked in the pipe and have been treated well and the
whites had danced for them, observing the Mandans were bad and ought to
hide themselves- one of the 1st War Chiefs of the big belles nation Came
to See us to day with one man and his Squar to wate on him we Shot the Air
gun, and gave two Shots with the Cannon which pleased them verry much, the
little Crow 2d Chf of the lower village came & brought us Corn &.
4 men of ours who had been hunting returned one frost’d
This war Chief gave us a Chart in his way of the Missourie, he informed us
of his intentions of going to war in the Spring against the Snake Indians
we advised him to look back at the number of nations who had been
distroyed by war, and reflect upon what he was about to do, observing if
he wished the hapiness of his nation, he would be at peace with all, by
that by being at peace and haveing plenty of goods amongst them & a
free intercourse with those defenceless nations, they would get on easy
terms a great Number of horses, and that nation would increas, if he went
to war against those Defenceless people, he would displease his great
father, and he would not receive that pertection & Care from him as
other nations who listened to his wordThis Chief who is a young man
26 yr. old replied that if his going to war against the Snake indians
would be displeasing to us he would not go, he had horses enough.
we observed that what we had Said was the words of his Great father, and
what we had Spoken to all the nations which we Saw on our passage up, they
all promis to open their ears and we do not know as yet if any of them has
Shut them (we are doubtfull of the Souxs) if they do not attend to what we
have told them their great father will open their earsThis Cheif
Said that he would advise all his nation to Stay at home untill we Saw the
Snake Indians & Knew if they would be friendly, he himself would
attend to what we had told him
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
16th January Wednesday 1805. About thirty Mandans came to the fort today, including 6 chiefs. The Minetarees told them they were liars, that they had told them if they came to the fort the white men would kill them, but they had been with them all night, smoked the pipe, and had been treated well, and the whites had danced for them, observing that the Mandans were bad and ought to hide themselves. One of the first war chiefs of the Big Bellies nation came to see us today with one man and his squaw to wait on him. We shot the air gun, and fired two shots with the cannon, which pleased them very much. The Little Crow, 2nd chief of the lower village, came and brought us corn, etc. Four of our men who had been hunting returned, one frostbitten.
This war chief gave us a chart, in his way, of the Missouri. He informed us of his intentions of going to war in the spring against the Snake Indians. We advised him to look back at the number of nations who had been destroyed by war, and to reflect upon what he was about to do, observing that if he wished the happiness of his nation, he would be at peace with all. By being at peace and having plenty of goods among them, and a free intercourse with those defenseless nations, they would obtain on easy terms a great number of horses, and that nation would increase. If he went to war against those defenseless people, he would displease his great father, and he would not receive that protection and care from him as other nations who listened to his word. This chief, who is a young man 26 years old, replied that if his going to war against the Snake Indians would be displeasing to us, he would not go; he had horses enough.
We observed that what we had said was the words of his great father, and what we had spoken to all the nations which we saw on our passage up. They all promised to open their ears, and we do not know as yet if any of them has shut them (we are doubtful of the Sioux). If they do not attend to what we have told them, their great father will open their ears. This chief said that he would advise all his nation to stay at home until we saw the Snake Indians and knew if they would be friendly; he himself would attend to what we had told him.
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