Clark: September 26, 1804

September 26, 1804 — First Account

Set out early and proceeded on the river, which was lined with Indians. We came to and anchored at the particular request of the Chiefs, to let their women and boys see the boat, and to allow them to show us some friendship. Great numbers of men, women, and children were on the bank viewing us. These people are spritely, with small legs, and are ill-looking — particularly the men. They grease and blacken themselves when they dress, make use of hawk's feathers about their heads, cover themselves with a robe, and each carries a polecat skin to hold their smoking materials. They are fond of dress and badly armed. Their women appear very well, with fine teeth and high cheeks. They dress in skin petticoats and a robe with the flesh side out and the hairy ends turned back over their shoulders, and they look well. They do all the laborious work, and I may say they are perfect slaves to their husbands, who frequently have several wives.

Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and 5 men went on shore with the Chiefs, who appeared to wish to become friendly. They requested us to remain one night and see them dance, etc. In the evening I walked on shore and saw several Mahar (Omaha) women and boys in a lodge, and was told they were prisoners lately taken in a battle in which the Sioux killed a number and took 48 prisoners. I advised the Chiefs to make peace with that nation and give up the prisoners, if they intended to follow the words of their great father. They promised that they would do so. I was in several lodges neatly formed; those lodges are about 15 to 20 feet in diameter, stretched on poles like a sugar loaf, and made of dressed buffalo skins.

About 5 o'clock I was approached by 10 well-dressed young men with a neat buffalo robe, which they set down before me and requested me to get in. They carried me to their council tents, which were formed in a 3/4 circle, and set me down between 2 chiefs, where about 70 men were seated in a circle. In front of the chief, a 6-foot square was cleared, and the pipe of peace was raised on forks and sticks, under which was scattered swan's down. The flag of Spain and the one we gave them yesterday were displayed. A large fire was made on which a dog was cooked, and in the center was about 400 lbs. of buffalo meat which they gave us. Soon after I took my seat, the young men went to the boat and brought Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) in the same way, placing him by me. Soon after, an old man rose and spoke, approving what we had done and requesting us to take pity on them, etc. We answered. They form their camp in a circle.

The great chief then rose in great state and spoke to the same purpose, and with solemnity took up the pipe of peace and pointed it to the heavens, the four quarters, and the earth. He made some demonstration and presented the stem to us to smoke. After smoking and a short harangue to his people, we were requested to take the meat, and the flesh of the dog given us to eat. We smoked until dark, at which time all was cleared away and a large fire made in the center. Several men with tambourines highly decorated with deer and antelope hoofs to make them rattle, assembled and began to sing and beat. The women came forward highly decorated with the scalps and trophies of war of their fathers, husbands, and relations, and danced the war dance, which they performed with great cheerfulness until 12 o'clock, when we informed the chief we intended to return on board. (They offered us women, which we did not accept.) 4 chiefs accompanied us to the boat and stayed all night.

These people have a description of men which they call Soldiers; those men attend to the policing of the band and correct all vices. I saw one today whip 2 squaws who appeared to have fallen out. When the soldier approached, all appeared to give way and flee. At night they keep 4 or 5 men at different distances walking around their camp, singing the occurrences of the night. All in spirits this evening. Wind hard from the S.E.

I saw 25 squaws and boys taken 13 days ago in a battle with the Mahars (Omahas), in which they destroyed 40 lodges, killed 75 men and boys, and took 48 prisoners, which they promised us should be delivered to Mr. Durion, now with the Yankton _____. We gave our Mahar interpreter a few awls, etc., to give those wretched prisoners. I saw hominy made of ground potatoes, and a spoon made from the horn of the bighorn animal which will hold 2 quarts.

September 26, 1804 — Second Account (Bad Humored Island)

26th Septr. (Sept.) 1804, Bad Humored Island. Wednesday, 26th of September, 1804. Set out early, proceeded on, and came to by the wish of the chiefs, to let their squaws and boys see the boat and allow them to treat us well. A great number of men, women, and children were on the banks viewing us. These people show great anxiety. They appear spritely, generally ill-looking and not well made; their legs and arms are generally small. They grease and blacken themselves with coal when they dress, and make use of a hawk's feather about their heads. The men wear a robe and each carries a polecat skin, to hold their bois roulé for smoking. They are fond of dress and show, and are badly armed with fusees, etc. The squaws are cheerful, fine-looking women, not handsome, with high cheeks, dressed in skins — a petticoat and robe which folds back over the shoulder, with long wool. They do all the laborious work, and I may say are perfect slaves to the men, as are all squaws of nations much at war, or where the women are more numerous than the men.

After coming to, Capt. Lewis and 5 men went on shore with the chiefs, who appeared disposed to make up and be friendly. After Captain Lewis had been on shore about 3 hours, I became uneasy for fear of some deception, and sent a sergeant to see him and learn of his treatment, which he reported was friendly, and they were preparing for a dance this evening.

They made frequent solicitations for us to remain one night only and let them show their good disposition towards us. We determined to remain. After the return of Capt. Lewis, I went on shore. I saw several Maha (Omaha) prisoners and spoke to the chiefs that it was necessary to give those prisoners up and become good friends with the Mahars (Omahas) if they wished to follow the advice of their Great Father. I was in several lodges neatly formed, as before mentioned in regard to the Bauruly tribe. I was met by about 10 well-dressed young men, who took me up in a robe highly decorated and set me down by the side of their chief on a dressed robe in a large council house. This house formed a 3/4 circle of skins well dressed and sewn together. Under this shelter about 70 men sat forming a circle. In front of the chiefs, a place 6 feet in diameter was cleared, and the pipe of peace was raised on sticks, under which there was swan's down scattered, with two pipes on each side of the circle. The flags of Spain (2) and the flag we gave them were in front of the grand chief. A large fire was near, in which provisions were cooking, and in the center was about 400 lbs. of excellent buffalo beef as a present for us.

Soon after they set me down, the men went for Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis), brought him in the same way, and placed him also by the chief. In a few minutes an old man rose and spoke, approving what we had done and informing us of their situation, requesting us to take pity on them, etc., which was answered. The great chief then rose with great state to the same purpose, as far as we could learn. Then with great solemnity he took up the pipe of peace. When the principal chiefs spoke with the pipe of peace, he took in one hand some of the most delicate parts of the dog which was prepared for the feast, and made a sacrifice to the flag. After pointing it to the heavens, the four quarters of the globe, and the earth, he lit it and presented the stem to us to smoke. After a smoke had taken place, and a short harangue to his people, we were requested to take the meal put before us — the dog which they had been cooking, and pemmican, and ground potato in several platters. Pemmican is buffalo meat dried or baked, pounded, and mixed with grease. Raw dog the Sioux think a great dish, used on festivals. We ate little of the dog; the pemmican and potato were good. We smoked for an hour. After dark, all was cleared away and a large fire made in the center. About 10 musicians played on tambourines, long sticks with deer and goats' hoofs tied so as to make a jingling noise, and many others of a similar kind. Those men began to sing and beat on the tambourine. The women came forward highly decorated in their way, with the scalps and trophies of war of their fathers, husbands, brothers, or near connections, and proceeded to dance the war dance, which they performed with great cheerfulness until 12 o'clock, when we informed the chiefs that they were fatigued, etc. They then retired, and we, accompanied by 4 chiefs, returned to our boat. They stayed with us all night.

These people have some brave men whom they make use of as soldiers. Those men attend to the policing of the village and correct all errors. I saw one of them today whip 2 squaws who appeared to have fallen out; when he approached, all about appeared to flee with great terror. At night they keep 2, 3, 4, or 5 men at different distances walking around camp, singing the occurrences of the night. All the men on board, 100 paces from shore. Wind from the S.E., moderate. One man very sick on board with a dangerous abscess on his hip. All in spirits this evening.

In this tribe I saw 25 squaws and boys taken 13 days ago in a battle with the Mahars (Omahas). In this battle they destroyed 40 lodges, killed 75 men and some boys and children, and took 48 prisoners — women and boys — which they promised both Capt. Lewis and myself shall be delivered up to Mr. Durion at the tribe. These are a wretched and dejected-looking people. The squaws appear low and coarse, but this is an unfavorable time to judge of them. We gave our Mahar interpreter some few articles to give those squaws in his name, such as awls, needles, etc.

I saw and ate pemmican, the dog, and ground potato made into a kind of hominy, which I thought but little inferior. I also saw a spoon made of the horn of an animal of the sheep kind; the spoon will hold 2 quarts.