Clark: November 12, 1804
On a bitterly cold day with freezing temperatures and ice forming along the river, Big White, principal chief of the lower Mandan village, visited and brought about 100 pounds of fine meat carried by his wife. Clark gave small presents to her and a small ax to the child. Three men were sick, swans flew south, and hunters sent downriver had not returned. The interpreter relayed Mandan oral history of their migrations after smallpox devastated the nation, and Clark recorded population estimates and war alliances among the Mandans, Hidatsas, Crows, Sioux, and neighboring tribes.
12th November Monday 1804 a verry Cold night early this morning the Big
White princapal Chief of the lower Village of the Mandans Came Down, he
packd about 100 W. of fine meet on his Squar for us, we made Some Small
presents to the Squar, & Child gave a Small ax which She was much
pleased3 men Sick with the ____ Several, Wind Changeable verry cold
evening, freesing all day Some ice on the edges of the river.
Swans passing to the South, the Hunters we Sent down the river to hunt has
not returned
The interpeter Says that the Mandan nation as they old men Say Came out of
a Small lake where they had Gardins, maney years ago they lived in Several
Villages on the Missourie low down, the Smallpox destroyed the greater
part of the nation and reduced them to one large Village and Some Small
ones, all nations before this maladey was affrd. of them after they were
reduced the Sioux and other Indians waged war, and killed a great maney,
and they moved up the Missourie, those Indians Still continued to wage
war, and they moved Still higher, untill they got in the Countrey of the
Panias, whith this ntn. they lived in friendship maney years, inhabiting
the Same neighbourhood untill that people waged war, They moved up near
the watersoons & winataree where they now live in peace with those
nations, the mandans Specke a language peculial to themselves
they can rase about 350 men, the Winatarees about 80 and the Big bellies
about 600 or 650 men. the mandans and Seauex have the Same word for
water-The Big bellies Winitarees & ravin Indians Speake nearly the
Same language and the presumption is they were origionally the Same nation
The Ravin Indians have 400 Lodges & about 1200 men, & follow the
Buffalow, or hunt for their Subsistance in the plains & on the Court
not & Rock Mountains, & are at war with the Sioux Snake Indians
The Big bellies & Watersoons are at war with the Snake Indians &
Seauex, and were at war with the Ricares untill we made peace a fiew days
passd.The Mandans are at War with all who make war on them, at
present with the Seauex only, and wish to be at peace with all nations,
Seldom the agressors-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
12th November, Monday 1804. A very cold night. Early this morning the Big White, principal Chief of the lower Village of the Mandans, came down. He packed about 100 pounds of fine meat on his squaw for us. We made some small presents to the squaw and child, and gave a small ax with which she was much pleased. 3 men sick with the ____. Several. Wind changeable, very cold evening, freezing all day. Some ice on the edges of the river.
Swans passing to the south. The hunters we sent down the river to hunt have not returned.
The interpreter says that the Mandan nation, as their old men say, came out of a small lake where they had gardens. Many years ago they lived in several villages on the Missouri low down. The smallpox destroyed the greater part of the nation and reduced them to one large village and some small ones. All nations before this malady were afraid of them. After they were reduced, the Sioux and other Indians waged war and killed a great many, and they moved up the Missouri. Those Indians still continued to wage war, and they moved still higher, until they got into the country of the Panias (Pawnees). With this nation they lived in friendship many years, inhabiting the same neighborhood, until that people waged war. They moved up near the Watersoons and Winatarees, where they now live in peace with those nations. The Mandans speak a language peculiar to themselves.
They can raise about 350 men, the Winatarees about 80, and the Big Bellies about 600 or 650 men. The Mandans and Sioux have the same word for water. The Big Bellies, Winitarees, and Ravin (Raven) Indians speak nearly the same language, and the presumption is they were originally the same nation.
The Ravin Indians have 400 lodges and about 1,200 men, and follow the buffalo, or hunt for their subsistence on the plains and on the Court not (Côte Noir) and Rock (Rocky) Mountains. They are at war with the Sioux and Snake Indians.
The Big Bellies and Watersoons are at war with the Snake Indians and Sioux, and were at war with the Ricares (Arikaras) until we made peace a few days past. The Mandans are at war with all who make war on them; at present with the Sioux only, and wish to be at peace with all nations. They are seldom the aggressors.
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