Clark: October 30, 1804
Many Mandan chiefs visited the expedition's camp. Two chiefs, including the principal man of the lower village, asked to hear the previous day's speech repeated, and a medal and flag were presented to Big White. Clark took eight men in a pirogue seven miles upriver to an island to scout a winter campsite, but found timber too far from the water. With ice approaching and locals warning of scarce wood and game upstream, the party decided to drop downriver to build a fort. The men danced in the evening, delighting the Indians. Wind from the southeast.
30th of October Tuesday 1804 many Indian Chief visit us today I went in th
Perogou to the Island 7 miles above to look out a proper place for to
winter, it being near the tim the ice begins to run at this place, and the
Countrey after a few leagues high is Said to be barron of timber, I found
no place Soutable, & we concluded to drop down to th next point below
& build a fort to winter in the Party Danced which Delited the
Indians.
—
30th October Tuesday 1804 Two Chiefs came to have Some talk one the
princapal of the lower Village the other the one who thought himself the
principal mane, & requested to hear Some of the Speech that was
Delivered yesterday they were gratified, and we put the medal on the neck
of the Big White to whome we had Sent Clothes yesterday & a flag,
those men did not return from hunting in time to join the Counell, they
were well pleased (2d of those is a Chien) I took 8 men in a Small perogue
and went up the river as far as the 1st Island about 7 miles to See if a
Situation Could be got on it for our Winter quarters, found the wood on
the Isd. as also on the pt. above So Distant from the water that, I did
not think that we Could get a good wintering ground there, and as all the
white men here informed us that wood was Sceres, as well as game above, we
Deturmined to drop down a fiew miles near wood and game on my return found
maney Inds. at our Camp, gave the party a dram, they Danced as is verry
Comn. in the evening which pleased the Savages much. Wind S. E
—
Mandans
Ka gar no mogh ge the 2d Chief of the 2d Village of Mandins Came the 30t
of Octr. and Spoke to us as follows. Viz
Will you be So good as to go to the Village the Grand Chief will Speek
& give Some Corn, if you will let Some men take bags it will be well.
I am going with, the Chief of the ricares to Smoke a pipe with that nationI
concluded to go down
Mockerson Indians
The principal Chief of the Wau to Soon Came and Spoke a fiew words on
Various Subjects not much to the purpose. we Smoked and after my Shooting
the air gun he departed, Those nations know nothing of reagular Councils,
and know not how to proceed in them, they are restless &c-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
30th of October Tuesday 1804 Many Indian chiefs visited us today. I went in the pirogue to the island 7 miles above to look out for a proper place to winter, it being near the time the ice begins to run at this place, and the country after a few leagues higher up is said to be barren of timber. I found no place suitable, and we concluded to drop down to the next point below and build a fort to winter in. The party danced, which delighted the Indians.
30th October Tuesday 1804 Two chiefs came to have some talk: one the principal of the lower village, and the other the one who thought himself the principal man. They requested to hear some of the speech that was delivered yesterday. They were gratified, and we put the medal on the neck of the Big White, to whom we had sent clothes yesterday and a flag. Those men did not return from hunting in time to join the council. They were well pleased. (The 2nd of these is a Cheyenne.)
I took 8 men in a small pirogue and went up the river as far as the 1st island, about 7 miles, to see if a situation could be got on it for our winter quarters. I found the wood on the island, as also on the point above, so distant from the water that I did not think we could get a good wintering ground there. And as all the white men here informed us that wood was scarce, as well as game above, we determined to drop down a few miles near wood and game. On my return I found many Indians at our camp. I gave the party a dram, and they danced, as is very common in the evening, which pleased the Savages much. Wind S. E.
Mandans
Ka gar no mogh ge, the 2nd Chief of the 2nd Village of the Mandans, came on the 30th of October and spoke to us as follows, viz:
"Will you be so good as to go to the village? The Grand Chief will speak and give some corn. If you will let some men take bags, it will be well. I am going with the chief of the Arikaras to smoke a pipe with that nation." I concluded to go down.
Moccasin Indians
The principal chief of the Wau to Soon came and spoke a few words on various subjects, not much to the purpose. We smoked, and after my shooting the air gun, he departed. These nations know nothing of regular councils, and know not how to proceed in them. They are restless, etc.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
