Clark: November 1, 1804
Chiefs from the lower Mandan village, including Big White (Sha-ha-ca), visited the captains and asked them to stop by their village for corn. They expressed willingness to make peace with the Arikaras, offering to send a chief and brave men to smoke with them. The wind blew hard from the northwest. Trader McCrackin departed at 7 a.m. for the Assiniboine fort, carrying a letter from the captains. In the evening, the party set out downriver to select a winter campsite, while Captain Lewis stopped at the lower village. Clark landed and camped for the night.
1 November 1804 Visited by Several Chiefs of the lower Village who
requested we would call on them &c. Spoke to the Same purpote with the
Grand Chief. we Set out in the evening & I with the Party droped down
to the place we intended to winter & Cap Lewis called at the Village 3
miles above &. &.
—
1st of November Thursday 1804 the wind hard from the N W. Mr. McCrackin a
Trader Set out at 7 oClock to the fort on the Ossiniboin by him Send a
letter, (incloseing a Copy of the British Ministers protection) to the
principal agent of the Companyat about 10 OClock the Cheifs of the
Lower Village Cam and after a Short time informed us they wished they
would us to call at their village & take Some Corn, that they would
make peace with the Ricares they never made war against them but after the
rees Killed their Chiefs they killed them like the birds, and were tired
and would Send a Chief and Some brave men to the Ricares to Smoke with
that people in the evening we Set out and fell down to the lower Village
where Capt. Lewis got out and continud at the Village untill after night I
proceeded on & landed on the S. S. at the upper point of the 1st
Timber on the Starboard Side after landing & Continuingeall
night droped down to a proper place to build Capt Lewis Came down after
night, and informed me he intended to return the next morning by the
perticular Request of the Chiefs.
We passed the Villages on our Decent in veiw of Great numbers of the
inhabitents
—
The 1st of Novr. Mandins is Village the Main Chief Big White & 2
others i e the Big Man or Sha-ha-ca and ____ Came early to talk, and Spoke
as follows, after Smoking, Viz.
Is it Certain that the ricares intend to make good with us our wish is to
be at peace with all, we will Send a Chief with the pania Chief and Some
young men to Smoke and make good peace-? are you going to Stay abov or
below this Cold.answer by C. L We are going down a few miles to
look a place we can find no place abov proper.
The panias know’s we do not begin the war, they allway begin, we Sent a
Chief and a pipe to the Pania to Smoke and they killed them-, we have
killed enough of them we kill them like the birds, we do not wish to kill
more, we will, make a good peace
We were Sorry when we heard of your going up but now you are going down,
we are glad, if we eat you Shall eat, if we Starve you must Starve also,
our village is too far to bring the Corn to you, but we hope you will Call
on us as you pass to the place you intend to Stop
C L answered the above-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
1 November 1804. Visited by several chiefs of the lower village, who requested we would call on them, etc. Spoke to the same purpose as with the Grand Chief. We set out in the evening, and I with the party dropped down to the place we intended to winter, and Cap Lewis (Capt. Lewis) called at the village 3 miles above, etc., etc.
1st of November, Thursday 1804. The wind hard from the N.W. Mr. McCrackin, a trader, set out at 7 o'clock for the fort on the Ossiniboin (Assiniboine). By him I sent a letter (enclosing a copy of the British Minister's protection) to the principal agent of the Company.
At about 10 o'clock the chiefs of the lower village came, and after a short time informed us they wished us to call at their village and take some corn; that they would make peace with the Ricares (Arikaras); they never made war against them, but after the Rees killed their chiefs, they killed them like the birds, and were tired, and would send a chief and some brave men to the Ricares to smoke with that people.
In the evening we set out and fell down to the lower village, where Capt. Lewis got out and continued at the village until after night. I proceeded on and landed on the S.S. (south side) at the upper point of the 1st timber on the starboard side. After landing and continuing all night, we dropped down to a proper place to build. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) came down after night, and informed me he intended to return the next morning by the particular request of the chiefs.
We passed the villages on our descent in view of great numbers of the inhabitants.
The 1st of Novr. (November). Mandins (Mandans) Village. The main chief Big White and 2 others, i.e., the Big Man or Sha-ha-ca and ____, came early to talk, and spoke as follows, after smoking, viz:
Is it certain that the Ricares intend to make good with us? Our wish is to be at peace with all. We will send a chief with the Pania (Pawnee) chief and some young men to smoke and make a good peace. Are you going to stay above or below this cold?
Answer by C.L. (Capt. Lewis): We are going down a few miles to look for a place; we can find no place above proper.
The Panias know we do not begin the war; they always begin. We sent a chief and a pipe to the Pania to smoke, and they killed them. We have killed enough of them; we kill them like the birds. We do not wish to kill more; we will make a good peace.
We were sorry when we heard of your going up, but now you are going down, we are glad. If we eat, you shall eat; if we starve, you must starve also. Our village is too far to bring the corn to you, but we hope you will call on us as you pass to the place you intend to stop.
C.L. (Capt. Lewis) answered the above.
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