Clark: October 31, 1804

31st of October, Wednesday 1804. The main Chief of the Mandans sent two Chiefs to invite us to come to his Lodge and hear what he had to say. I, with two interpreters, walked down, and with great ceremony was seated on a robe by the side of the Chief. He threw a robe highly decorated over my shoulders, and after smoking a pipe with the old men in the circle, the Chief spoke. He believed all we had told him, and that peace would be general, which not only gave himself satisfaction but all his people. They now could hunt without fear, and their women could work in the fields without looking every moment for the enemy. As to the Ricaras, addressing himself to the Chief with me, "You know we do not wish war with your nation; you have brought it on yourselves. That man," pointing to the 2nd Chief, "and those two young warriors will go with you and smoke in the pipes of peace with the Ricaras. I will let you see, my father," addressing me, "that we wish to be at peace with all and do not make war upon any." He continued to speak in this style (refer to notes). He delivered two of the traps to me which had been taken from the Frenchmen, and gave me two bushels of corn. I answered the speech, which appeared to give general satisfaction, and returned to the boat. In the evening the Chief visited us dressed in his new suit, and stayed until late. The men danced until 10 o'clock, which was common with them. Wrote to the N. W. Company's agent on the Assiniboine River by a Mr. McCruckin.

31st of October, Wednesday 1804. A fine morning. The Chief of the Mandans sent a 2nd Chief to invite us to his Lodge to receive some corn and hear what he had to say. I walked down, and with great ceremony was seated on a robe by the side of the Chief. He threw a handsome robe over me, and after smoking the pipe with several old men around, the Chief spoke. He said he believed what we had told them, and that peace would be general, which not only gave him satisfaction but all his people. They now could hunt without fear, and their women could work in the fields without looking every moment for the enemy, and put off their moccasins at night. "As to the Rees, we will show you that we wish peace with all, and do not make war on any without cause. That Chief," pointing to the 2nd, "and some brave men will accompany the Ricara Chief now with you to his village and nation, to smoke with that people. When you came up, the Indians in the neighboring villages, as well as those out hunting when they heard of you, had great expectations of receiving presents. Those hunting immediately on hearing returned to the village, and all were disappointed, and some dissatisfied. As to myself, I was not much so, but my village was." He would go and see his great father, etc., etc.

He had put before me two of the steel traps which had been robbed from the French a short time ago, and about 12 bushels of corn which was brought and put before me by the women of the village. After the Chief finished and smoked in great ceremony, I answered the speech, which satisfied them very much, and returned to the boat. Met the principal Chief of the 3rd Village and the Little Crow, both of whom I invited into the cabin and smoked and talked with for about one hour. Soon after those Chiefs left us, the Grand Chief of the Mandans came, dressed in the clothes we had given him, with his two small sons, and requested to see the men dance, which they very readily gratified him in. The wind blew hard all the latter part of the day from the N. E. and continued all night to blow hard from that point. In the morning it shifted N. W. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) wrote to the N. W. Company's agent on the Assiniboine River, about north of this place.

Black Cat, or Pose-cop-sa-he, 1st Chief of the Mandans and 2nd Village:

"I believe what you have told us in council, and that peace will be general, which not only gives me pleasure, but satisfaction to all the nation. They now can hunt without fear, and our women can work in the fields without looking every moment for the enemy." As to the Ricaras, "we will show you that we wish peace with all, and do not make war on any without cause. That Chief," pointing to the 2nd of the village, "and some young men will accompany the Ricara Chief home to his nation to smoke with that people. When the Indians of the different villages heard of your coming up, they all came in from hunting to see; they expected great presents. They were disappointed, and some dissatisfied. As to myself, I am not much so, but my village are." He believed the road was open, and he would go and see his great father. He delivered up two traps which had been taken from the French, and gave me a robe and about 12 bushels of corn, and smoked, etc.

I answered the speech. It explained many parts which he could not understand of the speech of yesterday.