Clark: November 18, 1804
On a cold, windy Sunday, Black Cat, chief of the Mandans, visited the expedition and asked many questions about their customs. He explained that his nation had held a council the previous day and decided to tolerate ongoing insults from the Assiniboine and Cree until they could verify whether the Americans were trustworthy, since a previous trader named Mr. Evans had deceived them with broken promises of guns and ammunition. The captains urged the Mandans to remain peaceful and assured them that reliable trade would eventually come up the Missouri, though setting it up would take time.
18th Novr. Sunday 1804 a Cold morning Some wind the Black Cat, Chief of
the Mandans Came to See us, he made Great inquiries respecting our
fashions. he also Stated the Situation of their nation, he mentioned that
a Council had been held the day before and it was thought advisable to put
up with the resent insults of the Ossiniboins & Christonoes untill
they were Convinced that what had been told thim by us, Mr. Evins had
deceived them & we might also, he promised to return & furnish
them with guns & amunitiion, we advised them to remain at peace &
that they might depend upon Getting Supplies through the Channel of the
Missouri, but it requred time to put the trade in opperation. The
Assiniboins &c have the trade of those nations in their power and
treat them badly as the Soux does the Ricarees and they cannot resent for
fear of loseing their trade &.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
18th November, Sunday 1804. A cold morning with some wind. The Black Cat, Chief of the Mandans, came to see us. He made many inquiries about our customs. He also described the situation of his nation. He mentioned that a council had been held the day before, and it was thought advisable to put up with the recent insults of the Assiniboines and Cristinos (Crees) until they were convinced of what we had told them. Mr. Evans had deceived them, and we might do so as well; he had promised to return and furnish them with guns and ammunition. We advised them to remain at peace, and that they could depend upon getting supplies through the channel of the Missouri, but that it would require time to put the trade into operation.
The Assiniboines and others have the trade of these nations in their power and treat them badly, as the Sioux do the Arikaras, and they cannot resent it for fear of losing their trade.
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