Clark: September 30, 1804

30th of September, Sunday 1804. We had not proceeded far before we discovered an Indian running after us. He requested to go with us to the Ricaras, but we refused to take him. I discovered at a great distance a great number of men, women, and children descending a hill toward the river above, which the Chief with us told us was the other band. Some rain and hard wind. At about 10 o'clock we anchored opposite the camps of this band and told them we took them by the hand, and sent to each Chief a carrot of tobacco and some to the principal men. We further said that after staying with the band below 2 days to see them, we had been badly treated and should not land again, as we had not time to delay. We referred them to Mr. Durion for a full account of us, and an explanation of what had been said. They appeared anxious for us to eat with them and observed that they were friendly. We apologized and proceeded on under a double-reefed sail. The Chief on board threw out to those that ran up small pieces of tobacco and told them to go back and open their ears. We saw a great number of white gulls. Refreshed the party with whiskey. In the evening we saw 2 Indians at a distance. The boat turned by accident and was nearly filling, and rocked very much, alarming the Indian Chief on board, who ran and hid himself. We landed, and the Indian expressed a wish to return. We gave him a blanket, knife, and some tobacco, and advised him to keep his men away. We camped on a sand bar. Very cold and windy.

30th of September, Sunday 1804. Set out this morning early. Had not proceeded far before we discovered an Indian running after us. He came up with us at 7 o'clock and requested to come on board and go up to the Ricaras. We refused to take any of that band on board; if he chose to proceed on shore, it was very well. Soon after, I discovered on the hills at a great distance great numbers of Indians which appeared to be making to the river above us. We proceeded on under a double-reefed sail, and some rain. At 9 o'clock we observed a large band of Indians, the same which I had before seen on the hills, encamping on the bank on the larboard side. We came to on a sand bar, had breakfast, and proceeded on, and cast the anchor opposite their lodges at about 100 yards distance. We informed the Indians, which we found to be a part of the band we had before seen, that we took them by the hand, and sent to each Chief a carrot of tobacco. As we had been treated badly by some of the band below, after staying 2 days for them, we could not delay any time, and referred them to Mr. Duron (Durion) for a full account of us and to hear our talk sent by him to the Tetons. They were very solicitous for us to land and eat with them, saying that they were friendly, etc. We apologized and proceeded on. Sent the pirogue to shore above with the tobacco and delivered it to a soldier of the Chief with us. Several of them ran up the river. The Chief on board threw them out a small twist of tobacco and told them to go back and open their ears. They received the tobacco and returned to their lodges. We saw great numbers of white gulls. This day is cloudy and rainy. Refreshed the men with a glass of whiskey after breakfast.

About 6 miles above, we saw 2 Indians who came to the bank and looked at us for about half an hour, then went over the hills to the southwest. We proceeded on under a very stiff breeze from the south. The stern of the boat got fast on a log, and the boat turned and was very near filling before we got her righted, the waves being very high. The Chief on board was so frightened at the motion of the boat, which in its rocking caused several loose articles to fall on the deck from the lockers, that he ran off and hid himself. We landed; he got his gun and informed us he wished to return, that all things were clear for us to go on, and we would not see any more Tetons, etc. We repeated to him what had been said before and advised him to keep his men away. Gave him a blanket, a knife, and some tobacco, smoked a pipe, and he set out. We also set sail and came to at a sand bar, and camped. A very cold evening; all on our guard.