Clark: October 24, 1804
On a cloudy day with light snow, the expedition traveled through attractive wooded country but saw no game, suggesting local Indians were hunting nearby. Clark's rheumatism in his neck improved somewhat. They passed an old Mahaha (Minitari) village abandoned 40 years earlier and an island formed by the river cutting through a point. There they encountered the grand chief of the Mandans hunting with five lodges. He greeted the accompanying Arikara chief cordially and shared a pipe. Captain Lewis visited the chief's lodges with an interpreter, then the party camped on the south side near another Mandan camp.
24th of October Cloudy Some little Snow (my Rhumetism Continue, not So bad
as the 2 last days,) a butufull Countrey on both Sides, bottoms covered
with wood, we See no game to day, passed an old village of a Band of Me ne
tarres Called Mah har ha where they lived 40 year ago on the L. S. Came
too on an Island Caused by the river cutting through a narrow point 7
years ago, on this Island we wer visited by the grand Chief of the mandans
a 2d Chief and Some other, who wer Camped on the Island, those Chief met
our Ricarra Chief with great Corduallity, & Smoked together Cap Lewis
Visited the Camps 5 Lodges, and proceeded on & Camped near a 2d Camp
of Mandans on the S. S. nearly opposit the old Ricara & Manden Village
which the Ricarras abandaned in the year 1789
[Clark, October 24, 1804]
24th October Wednesday 1804
Set out early a Cloudy day Some little Snow in the morning I am
Something better of the Rhumutim in my necka butifull Countrey on
both Sides of the river. The bottoms Covd. with wood, we have Seen no
game on the river to day a prof of the Indians hunting in the
neighbourhod (1) passed a Island on the S. S. made by the river Cutting
through a point, by which the river is Shortened Several mileson this
Isld. we Saw one of the Grand Chiefs of the Mandins, with five Lodges
hunting, this Cheif met the Chief of the Ricares who accompanied us
with great Cordiallity & Sermony Smoked the pipe & Capt. Lewis with the
Interpeter went with the Chiefs to his Lodges at 1 mile distant, after
his return we admited the Grand Chief & his brother for a few minits on
our boat. proceeded on a Short distance and Camped on the S. S. below
the old Village of the Mandins & ricares.Soon after our landg. 4
Mandins Came from a Camp above, the Ricares Chief went with them to
their Camp,
25th of October Thursday 1804.
a Gentle Breeze from the S. E by E passed an (1) old Village on a high
Plain where the Mandans onced lived & after they left the Village &
moved higher the Ricaras took possession & live until 1799 when they
abandoned it & flew from the just revenge of the Mandans, a verry
extensive Bottom above the Village above the Center of which (2) the
Mandans lived in the 2 villages on the L. 5., but little timber-
Several parties of Indians on each Side of the River going up. in view
in every directionswe are informed that the Sioux has latterly taken
horses from the Big Bellies or Minitaries and on their way homerwards
they fell in with the Assinniboins who killed them and took the horses
& a frenchman Menard who resided with the Mandan for 20 years past was
Killed a fiew days ago on his way from the Britishment astablishments
on the Assineboin River, 150 miles N. of this place to the mandans by
the assinniboin Indianswe were frequently Called to by parties of
Indians & requested to land & talk, passed a verry bad place & Camped
on a Point S S. opposit a high hill Several Indians visit us this
evening the Sun of the late great Chief of the Mandans who had 2 of his
fingers off and appeared to be pearced in maney places on inquiring the
reason, was informed that it was a testimony to their grief for
Deceased freinds, they frequently Cut off Sevral fingers & pierced
themselves in Different parts, a Mark of Savage effection, wind hard
from the S. W. verry Cold R Fields with a Rhumitisum in his Neck one
man R. in his hips my Self much better, Those Indians appear to have
Similar Customs with the Ricaras, their Dress the Same more mild in
their language & justures &c. &c.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
24th of October. Cloudy, with a little snow. (My rheumatism continues, but not as bad as the last two days.) A beautiful country on both sides, with bottoms covered in wood. We saw no game today. Passed an old village of a band of Minitaris (Minitarees) called Mahharha, where they lived 40 years ago, on the larboard side. Came to on an island caused by the river cutting through a narrow point 7 years ago. On this island we were visited by the grand chief of the Mandans, a second chief, and some others, who were camped on the island. These chiefs met our Ricara (Arikara) chief with great cordiality, and they smoked together. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) visited the camps of 5 lodges, and we proceeded on and camped near a second camp of Mandans on the starboard side, nearly opposite the old Ricara and Mandan village which the Ricaras abandoned in the year 1789.
[Clark, October 24, 1804]
24th October, Wednesday, 1804.
Set out early. A cloudy day with a little snow in the morning. I am somewhat better of the rheumatism in my neck. A beautiful country on both sides of the river. The bottoms are covered with wood. We have seen no game on the river today, a proof that the Indians are hunting in the neighborhood. (1) Passed an island on the starboard side made by the river cutting through a point, by which the river is shortened several miles. On this island we saw one of the grand chiefs of the Mandans, with five lodges, hunting. This chief met the chief of the Ricaras who accompanied us with great cordiality and ceremony, and smoked the pipe. Capt. Lewis, with the interpreter, went with the chiefs to his lodges, 1 mile distant. After his return, we admitted the grand chief and his brother for a few minutes onto our boat. Proceeded on a short distance and camped on the starboard side below the old village of the Mandans and Ricaras. Soon after our landing, 4 Mandans came from a camp above, and the Ricara chief went with them to their camp.
25th of October, Thursday, 1804.
A gentle breeze from the S.E. by E. Passed an (1) old village on a high plain where the Mandans once lived. After they left the village and moved higher up, the Ricaras took possession and lived there until 1799, when they abandoned it and fled from the just revenge of the Mandans. There is a very extensive bottom above the village, above the center of which (2) the Mandans lived in the two villages on the larboard side, but with little timber. Several parties of Indians were on each side of the river going up, in view in every direction. We are informed that the Sioux have lately taken horses from the Big Bellies (Minitaris), and on their way homeward they fell in with the Assiniboins, who killed them and took the horses. A Frenchman, Menard, who had resided with the Mandans for 20 years past, was killed a few days ago on his way from the British establishments on the Assiniboin River, 150 miles north of this place, to the Mandans, by the Assiniboin Indians. We were frequently called to by parties of Indians and requested to land and talk. Passed a very bad place and camped on a point on the starboard side, opposite a high hill. Several Indians visited us this evening. The son of the late great chief of the Mandans had 2 of his fingers off and appeared to be pierced in many places. On inquiring the reason, we were informed that it was a testimony of their grief for deceased friends; they frequently cut off several fingers and pierce themselves in different parts, a mark of savage affection. Wind hard from the S.W., very cold. R. Fields has rheumatism in his neck, and one man, R., has it in his hips. I myself am much better. These Indians appear to have customs similar to those of the Ricaras; their dress is the same, but they are more mild in their language and gestures, etc., etc.
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