Clark: October 28, 1804
Strong southwest winds prevented the planned council with the Mandan and Hidatsa (Gros Ventres) and Watersoon chiefs, as some could not cross the river. Instead, the captains distributed presents and entertained curious chiefs who marveled at the boat and at Clark's Black servant York. Lewis, Clark, and an interpreter walked about a mile and a half upriver scouting a site for a fort, finding a good location but only small timber. They consulted Black Cat, the Mandan grand chief, who named twelve other chiefs. Drouillard caught two beaver, women brought corn dishes, and the council was postponed to the next day.
28th of October 1804 the wind So hard from the S. W. We could not meet the
Indians in Councils, those who visited us we Sent to the nearest village,
Consulted the Black Cat M Chief about the Chiefs of the Different
Villages, who gave his Oppinion to us.
—
Sunday 28th of October 1804 a windey Day, fair and Clear many of the
Grosvantres (or Big Bellies) and Watersons Came to See us and hear the
Council the wind being So violently hard from the S. W. provented our
going into Councel, (indeed the Chiefs of the Manodans from the lower
Village Could not Cross, we made up the presents and entertained Several
of the Curious Cheifs whome, wished to See the Boat which was verry
Curious to them viewing it as great medison, as they also viewed my black
Servent The Black Cat Grand Chief of the Mandans, Capt Lewis & my Self
with an Interpeter walked up the river about 11/2 miles our views were to
examine the Situation & Timbers for a fort, we found the Situation
good but the Timber Scerce, or at least Small timbr Such as would answer
us-, we Cunsulted the Grand Chief in respect to the other Chiefs of the
Defferent Villages he gave the names of 12George Drewyer Cought 2
Beaver above our Camp last night, we had Several presents from the Woman
of Corn boild homney, Soft Corn &c. &c. I prosent ajar to the
Chiefs wife who recved it with much pleasure our men verry Chearfull this
eveningwe Sent the Cheifs of the Gross Vantres to Smoke a pipe with
the Grand Chef of the Mandins in his Village, & told them we would
Speek tomorrow.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
28th of October 1804. The wind blew so hard from the S.W. that we could not meet the Indians in council. Those who visited us we sent to the nearest village. We consulted the Black Cat, the chief, about the chiefs of the different villages, who gave his opinion to us.
Sunday, 28th of October 1804. A windy day, fair and clear. Many of the Grosvantres (or Big Bellies) and Watersons came to see us and hear the council. The wind being so violently hard from the S.W. prevented our going into council. (Indeed, the chiefs of the Mandans from the lower village could not cross.) We made up the presents and entertained several of the curious chiefs who wished to see the boat, which was very curious to them, as they viewed it as great medicine. They also viewed my black servant.
The Black Cat, grand chief of the Mandans, Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis), and myself, with an interpreter, walked up the river about 1 1/2 miles. Our purpose was to examine the situation and timber for a fort. We found the situation good, but the timber scarce, or at least small timber such as would answer our needs. We consulted the grand chief in respect to the other chiefs of the different villages, and he gave the names of 12.
George Drewyer (Drouillard) caught 2 beaver above our camp last night. We had several presents from the women of boiled hominy corn, soft corn, etc., etc. I presented a jar to the chief's wife, who received it with much pleasure. Our men were very cheerful this evening. We sent the chiefs of the Gros Ventres to smoke a pipe with the grand chief of the Mandans in his village, and told them we would speak tomorrow.
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