Clark: October 21, 1804
A bitterly cold night with strong northeast winds gave way to rain that froze on contact, then snow throughout the morning. The expedition passed the mouth of the Chiss-Cho-tar (Heart) River on the south side, where the Arikara chief Too ne (Whippoorwill) described a sacred stone the Mandans consulted for omens, and a lone oak in the prairie where Mandans pierced their skin and tied themselves to prove bravery. They passed an abandoned Mandan village and camped on snow-covered ground. Clark killed a fat buffalo that evening.
21t of October Sunday 1804 a verry Cold night wind hard from the N. E.
Some rain in the night which feesed as it fell, at Day began to Snow and
Continued all the fore part of the day, at 1/4 of a mile passed the Mouth
of Chess-che tar (or Heart) River L. S. 38 yards wide, this river heads
near Turtle mountain with Knife River on this River is a Smothe Stone
which the Indians have great fath in & Consult the Stone on all great
occasions which they Say Marks or Simblems are left on the Stone of what
is to take place &c. an old mandan Village above the mouth of this
Little River, I saw a Single tree in the open Plains which the Mandans
formerly paid great Devotion to run Cords thro their flesh & tie
themselves to the tree to make them brave, passed an old Village on a
Small run on the S S. one on the bank L. and Camped, I Killed a fat
Buffalow this eveningLittle gun all my hunting
—
21st October Sunday 1804 a verry Cold night wind hard from the N. E Some
rain in the night which frosed up it fell at Day light it began to Snow
and Continud all the fore part of the Day passed just above our Camp (1) a
Small river on the L. S. Called by the Indians Chiss-Cho-tar this river is
about 38 yards wide Containing a good Deel of water Some Distance up this
River is Situated a Stone which the Indians have great fath in & Say
they See painted on the Stone, “all the Calemites & good fortune to
hapin the nation & partes who visit it”a tree (an oak) which
Stands alone near this place about 2 miles off in the open prarie which
has with Stood the fire they pay Great respect to, make Holes and tie
Strings thro the Skins of their necks and around this tree to make them
brave (all this is the information of Too ne is a whipper will) the Chief
of the Ricares who accompanied us to the Mandins, at 2 miles (2) passed
the 2nd Villages of the Manden, which was in existance at the Same time
with the 1st this village is at the foot of a hill on the S. S. on a
butifull &extensive plainat this time Covered with Buffalowa
Cloudy afternoon, I killed a fine Buffalow, we Camped on the L. S. verry
Cold ground Covered with Snow. one orter KIM.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
21st of October Sunday 1804. A very cold night, wind hard from the N.E. Some rain in the night which froze as it fell. At day it began to snow and continued all the fore part of the day. At a quarter of a mile we passed the mouth of Chess-che-tar (or Heart) River on the L.S., 38 yards wide. This river heads near Turtle Mountain with Knife River. On this river is a smooth stone which the Indians have great faith in and consult on all great occasions, which they say marks or symbols are left on the stone of what is to take place, etc. There is an old Mandan village above the mouth of this little river. I saw a single tree in the open plains which the Mandans formerly paid great devotion to, running cords through their flesh and tying themselves to the tree to make them brave. Passed an old village on a small run on the S.S., one on the bank L., and camped. I killed a fat buffalo this evening. Little gun all my hunting.
21st October Sunday 1804. A very cold night, wind hard from the N.E. Some rain in the night which froze as it fell. At daylight it began to snow and continued all the fore part of the day. Passed just above our camp (1) a small river on the L.S. called by the Indians Chiss-Cho-tar. This river is about 38 yards wide, containing a good deal of water. Some distance up this river is situated a stone which the Indians have great faith in and say they see painted on the stone "all the calamities and good fortune to happen the nation and parties who visit it." A tree (an oak) which stands alone near this place about 2 miles off in the open prairie, which has withstood the fire, they pay great respect to, make holes and tie strings through the skins of their necks and around this tree to make them brave (all this is the information of Too ne is a whipper will), the chief of the Ricaras who accompanied us to the Mandans. At 2 miles (2) passed the 2nd village of the Mandan, which was in existence at the same time with the 1st. This village is at the foot of a hill on the S.S. on a beautiful and extensive plain, at this time covered with buffalo. A cloudy afternoon. I killed a fine buffalo. We camped on the L.S. Very cold, ground covered with snow. One otter. KIM.
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