Clark: November 6, 1804
At Fort Mandan, the previous night the guard woke Clark to observe an aurora borealis, which shifted in light streaks and floating columns across the northern sky. The morning began with dark clouds to the north, and by 8 a.m. a hard, cold northwest wind set in and blew all day. Joseph Gravelines, the Arikara interpreter, departed in a small pirogue with Paul Primeau, Lajeunesse, and two French boys, heading back to the Arikara nation and Illinois; Gravelines is to escort Arikara chiefs to Washington in the spring. Construction of cottonwood huts continued. Large flocks of geese flew south, signaling approaching ice.
6th of Nov. Mr. Gravolin our Ricara Interpreter & 2 of our french
hands & 2 boys Set out in a Canoe for the Ricaras Mr. ravellin is to
accompany the Ricaras Chiefs to the City of Washington in the Spring,
Great numbers of Geese pass to the South which is a certain approach of
ice
—
6th November Tuesday 1804 Fort Mandan last night late we wer awoke by the
Sergeant of the Guard to See a nothern light, which was light, not red,
and appeared to Darken and Some times nearly obscered, and open, many
times appeared in light Streeks, and at other times a great Space light
& containing floating Collomns which appeared opposite each other
& retreat leaveing the lighter Space at no time of the Same appearence
This morning I rose a Day light the Clouds to the North appeared black at
8 oClock the wind begun to blow hard from the N W. and Cold, and Continud
all Day Mr. Jo Gravilin our ricare interpeter Paul premor, Lajuness &
2 french Boys, who Came with us, Set out in a Small perogue, on their
return to the ricaree nation & the Illinois, Mr. Gravilin has
instructions to take on the recarees in the Spring &c.Continue
to build the huts, out of Cotton Timber, &c. this being the only
timber we have.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
6th of November. Mr. Gravolin, our Ricara (Arikara) Interpreter, and two of our French hands and two boys set out in a canoe for the Ricaras. Mr. Ravellin is to accompany the Ricara Chiefs to the City of Washington in the spring. Great numbers of geese are passing to the south, which is a certain sign of approaching ice.
6th November, Tuesday 1804, Fort Mandan. Late last night we were awakened by the Sergeant of the Guard to see a northern light. It was light, not red, and appeared to darken and sometimes nearly disappear, then open again. Many times it appeared in streaks of light, and at other times a great space of light containing floating columns that appeared opposite each other and then retreated, leaving the lighter space. At no time was it the same in appearance.
This morning I rose at daylight. The clouds to the north appeared black. At 8 o'clock the wind began to blow hard from the N.W. and cold, and continued all day. Mr. Jo Gravilin, our Ricara interpreter, Paul Premor, Lajuness, and two French boys who came with us set out in a small pirogue on their return to the Ricaree nation and to Illinois. Mr. Gravilin has instructions to bring the Ricarees in the spring, etc. We continue to build the huts out of cottonwood timber, etc., this being the only timber we have.
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