Clark: October 29, 1804

29th of October 1804. A fine morning. After breakfast we were visited by the old chief of the Big Bellies, or Me-ne-tar-res. This man has given his power to his son, who is now on a war party against the Snake Indians who inhabit the Rocky Mountains. The S.W. wind was very high. We met in council under an awning, with our sails stretched around to keep out as much wind as possible, and delivered a long speech similar to what had been said to the nations below. The old chief was restless before the speech was half ended, observing that his camp was exposed and that he could wait no longer, etc. At the conclusion of the speech we mentioned the Ricaras and requested them to make peace and smoke out of the sacred stem with their chief, whom I introduced and to whom I gave the pipe of peace to hand around. They all smoked eagerly out of the pipe held by the Ricara chief Ar-ke-tar-na-Shar. We mentioned our hands that were to be discharged here, also the robbery committed on the two Frenchmen below, and requested them to answer us tomorrow. We gave the chief small presents and a few presents for each village. We shot the air gun, which both surprised and astonished the natives, and they soon dispersed.

Our Ricara chief came and told me he wished to return to his nation tomorrow. I put him off and said we would send a talk by him after the chiefs had spoken to us. We gave a steel mill to the Mandans, which was very pleasing to them.

The chiefs who received medals today are as follows, viz: In council—

Mandan village Ma-too-ton-kai: 1st chief Sha-ha-ka (Big White), 2nd Ka-goh-ha-me (Little Crow).

2nd village Roop-tar-hee: 1st and grand chief Poss-cop-sa-he (Black Cat), 2nd chief Car-gar-no-mok-she (Raven Man Chief).

Mah-har-ha village: 1st chief Ta-tuck-co-pin-re-has (White Buffalo Skin Unfolded).

Little Menetarre village: 1st chief Omp-Se-ha-ra (Black Moccasin), 2nd chief Oh-hark (Little Fox).

The Grand Village of Menetarres: The One Eye is the principal chief, and he is out on a hunting party. We send by the Grape all the articles for this grand chief and all the village—whatever goods were intended for that village.

The prairie caught fire and went with such violence and speed as to catch a man and woman and burn them to death. Several escaped, among others a small boy who was saved by getting under a green buffalo skin. This boy was half white, and the Indians say all white flesh is medicine. They say the grass was not burnt where the boy sat, etc., etc. This fire passed us at 8 o'clock, and looked truly tremendous.

29th October, Monday 1804. A fair, fine morning. After breakfast we were visited by the old chief of the Big Bellies, or ____. This man was old and had transferred his power to his son, who was then out at war against the Snake Indians who inhabit the Rocky Mountains. At 10 o'clock the S.W. wind rose very high. We collected the chiefs and commenced a council under an awning, with our sails stretched around to keep out as much wind as possible. We delivered a long speech, the substance of which was similar to what we had delivered to the nations below. The old chief of the Gros Ventres was very restless before the speech was half ended, observing that he could not wait long, that his camp was exposed to the hostile Indians, etc., etc. He was rebuked by one of the chiefs for his uneasiness at such a time as the present. At the end of the speech we mentioned the Ricara who accompanied us, to make a firm peace; they all smoked with him. (I gave this chief a dollar of the American coin as a medal, with which he was much pleased.) In council we presented him with a certificate of his sincerity and good conduct, etc. We also spoke about the fur which was taken from two Frenchmen by a Mandan, and informed them of our intentions of sending back the French hands.

After the council we gave the presents with much ceremony, and put the medals on the chiefs we intended to make—viz., one for each town, to whom we gave coats, hats, and flags; one grand chief to each nation, to whom we gave medals with the President's likeness. In council we requested them to give us an answer tomorrow, or as soon as possible, to some points which required their deliberation. After the council was over we shot the air gun, which appeared to astonish the natives much. The greater part of them retired soon after.

The Ricara chief Ar-ke-tar-na-shar came to me this evening and told me that he wishes to return to his village and nation. I put him off, saying tomorrow we would have an answer to our talk to his satisfaction, and would send by him a string of wampum informing them of what had passed here. An iron or steel corn mill which we gave to the Mandans was very thankfully received.

The prairie was set on fire (or caught by accident) by a young man of the Mandans. The fire went with such velocity that it burnt to death a man and woman, who could not get to any place of safety. One man, a woman, and a child were much burnt, and several narrowly escaped the flames. A boy, half white, was saved unhurt in the midst of the flames. These ignorant people say this boy was saved by the great Spirit medicine because he was white. The cause of his being saved was a green buffalo skin that was thrown over him by his mother, who perhaps had more foresight for the protection of her son, and less for herself, than those who escaped the flames. The fire did not burn under the skin, leaving the grass round the boy. This fire passed our camp last about 8 o'clock P.M. It went with great rapidity and looked tremendous.

The following chiefs were made in council today:

Mar-too-ton-ha, or Lower Village of the Mandans: 1st chief Sha-ha-ka (Big White), 2nd Ka-goh-ha-mi (Little Raven).

Roop-tar-hee, or Second Village of the Mandans: 1st and grand chief Pass-cop-sa-he (Black Cat), 2nd chief Car-gar-no-mok-She (Raven Man Chief).

Mah-har-ha, 3rd Village: chief Ta-tuck-co-pin-re-ha (White Buffalo Robe Unfolded).

Me-ne-tar-re Me-te-har-tar: 1st chief Omp-se-ha-ra (Black Moccasins), 2nd Oh-harh (Little Fox).

We sent the presents intended for the grand chief of the Me-ne-tar-re, or Big Belly, and the presents, flag, and wampum by the old chief, and those intended for the chief of the Lower Village by a young chief.

The following chiefs were recommended in addition to those, viz.:

1st Village: Oh-hee-nar (Big Man), Chien Sho-ta-har-ro-ra.

2nd Village: Taw-nish-e-o (Bel-lar-sa-ra), Ar-rat-ta-na-mock-She (Wolf Man Chief).

3rd Village: Min-nis-Sur-ra-ree (Neighing Horse), Lo-tong-gar-ti-ha (Old Woman at a Distance).

4th Village: Mar-noh-tah (the Big Stealer), Man-se-rus-se (Tail of Calumet Bird).

5th Village: Ad-hako-ho-pin-nee (Little Wolf's Medicine), Ar-rat-toe-no-mook-gu (Man Wolf Chief, at war), Cal-tar-co-ta (Cherry Grows on a Bush), old chief and father to the above-mentioned chief; Maw-pah'-pir-re-cos-sa too. This chief is near this hunting, and a very considerable man.

To the 1st chiefs we gave a medal with the impression of the President of the U.S. To the 2nd chiefs, a medal of weaving and domestic animals. To the 3rd chiefs, a medal with the impression of a man sowing wheat.

4th Village: 1. Ea-pa-no-pa (Two-Tailed Calumet Bird), young chief. 2. War-he-ras-sa (the Red Shield), young chief of Big Belley-big town.