Rapid descent of Missouri, 70-80 miles/day — John Ordway: August 30, 1806

usal ab* 9 A. M. we halted and killed one buffaloe and 2 deer,
the buffaloe verry pleanty. procd on Some distance further
halted and killed two Elk and gathered a quantity of fine plumbs,
then procd on. three of our hunters Stayed back with a Small
canoe to try and kill Some black taild deer, about oClock P. M.
we discovred a number of Indians on the hills on the North Side,
and Soon gathered about two hundred on the Shore besides Some
boys and young men they were in a body and had a great num-
ber of horses we landed on the opposite side of the river, the
Savages hooping and fired & we answered them by fireing our
blunderbusses and small arms 2 rounds, we concluded to wait
here for the hunters to come up. a number of Indians Set to
V Swimingthe river to us but Cap1 Clark took three men in a Small
canoe [and] met them on a Sand bar which happened to be near
our side one of our men Spoke to them in panie [Pawnee] tongue
and told them that we could not Speak their Language but Soon
found that they were the Same band of Tetons that held our boat
as we passed up the river Cap* Clark told them and Signed to
them that they were bad Indians and treated the White people
bad and they might keep from us for we would have nothing
to Say to them nor Suffer them to come to our canoes, they
then Signed to the rest of the nation to keep back and Cap4 Clark
returnd the most of the Indians returned to the nation 2 or
three Stayed on the bar a while and Signed that they were friends
to us and wished to have us come over to their Side but we Signed
to them to keep off and to go back that we would not hear them
1806] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 395
&C. they then all returned to the band and called over to us.
Mre Jessom could understand Some words they said and [s]he
heared them Say that if we came on their Side of the river they
would kill us & that we were good for to kill &C. at length the
Savages or the main body of them went their way our hunters
came up had killed three black taild deer, we then set out and
procd on several Indians remaining on Shore called to us and
Signed and beckned to us to come to Shore but we passed them
Safe and procd on untill dark and Camped on a large sand bar two
Sentinels placed to guard the Camp.