Rapid descent of Missouri, 70-80 miles/day — John Ordway: August 30, 1806
The party traveled downriver, hunting successfully and killing a buffalo, two deer, two elk, and three black-tailed deer, while also gathering plums. In the afternoon, around 200 Teton Sioux gathered on the north shore with many horses. The expedition landed on the opposite side and exchanged shouts and warning gunfire. Captain Clark met a few who swam toward them on a sandbar, recognizing them as the same hostile band encountered on the upriver journey. He refused contact and warned them off. After the hunters rejoined, the group continued and camped on a sandbar with sentinels posted.
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.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
As usual about 9 A.M. we halted and killed one buffalo and 2 deer, the buffalo were very plentiful. Proceeded on some distance further, halted and killed two elk and gathered a quantity of fine plums, then proceeded on. Three of our hunters stayed back with a small canoe to try and kill some black-tailed deer. About o'clock P.M. we discovered a number of Indians on the hills on the north side, and soon about two hundred gathered on the shore besides some boys and young men. They were in a body and had a great number of horses. We landed on the opposite side of the river. The natives whooping and fired, and we answered them by firing our blunderbusses and small arms 2 rounds. We concluded to wait here for the hunters to come up.
A number of Indians set to swimming the river to us, but Capt Clark (Capt. 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 the 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. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) told them and signed to them that they were bad Indians and treated the white people badly, 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 Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) returned. 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, etc.
They then all returned to the band and called over to us. Mr Jessom (Mr. Jusseaume) could understand some words they said, and he heard them say that if we came on their side of the river they would kill us, and that we were good for to kill, etc. At length the natives, or the main body of them, went their way. Our hunters came up, had killed three black-tailed deer. We then set out and proceeded on. Several Indians remaining on shore called to us and signed and beckoned to us to come to shore, but we passed them safe and proceeded on until dark and camped on a large sand bar. Two sentinels placed to guard the camp.
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