Fort Mandan, North Dakota — John Ordway: December 15, 1804
On a cold and stormy day, members of the expedition visited the first and second Mandan villages to trade for corn, which the Mandans stored in pits in front of their lodges. Despite the weather, several chiefs and warriors were outside playing a sliding game involving clay-stone rings and four-foot sticks on a smooth track laid out between the head chief's and second chief's lodges. The villagers fed the visitors generously in every lodge and were very friendly. Captain Clark returned to the fort with the hunters, having killed no buffalo since the herds had moved back to the prairies.
of the party went up to the Is* & 2 villages of the Mandans.
traded for a little corn &.C. they had all their corn in holes
made in the Ground close in front of their lodges, although the
day was cold & Stormy we Saw Several of the chiefs and warrie[r]s
were out at a play which they call [blank in Ms.]1 they had
feattish rings made out of clay Stone & two men had Sticks ab*
4 feet long with 2 Short peaces across the fore end of it, and
neathing on the other end, in Such a manner that they would Slide
Some distance they had a place fixed across their green from the
head chiefs house across ab* 50 v* to the 2 chiefs lodge, which
was Smothe as a house flour they had a Battery fixed for the
rings to Stop against, two men would run at a time with Each a
Stick & one carried a ring, they run ab* half way and then Slide
their Sticks after the ring, they had marks made for the Game but
I do not understand how they count the game, they gave us
different kinds of victules & made us eat in everry lodge that we
went in. they were verry friendly we returned to the fort. Cap*
Clark had returned with the hunters, had not killed any Buffaloe
for they are all back in the praries.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Some of the party went up to the 1st and 2nd villages of the Mandans. We traded for a little corn, etc. They had all their corn in holes made in the ground close in front of their lodges. Although the day was cold and stormy, we saw several of the chiefs and warriors out at a game which they call [blank in Ms.]. They had flattish rings made out of clay stone, and two men had sticks about 4 feet long with 2 short pieces across the front end of it, and nothing on the other end, in such a manner that they would slide some distance.
They had a place fixed across their green from the head chief's house across about 50 yards to the 2nd chief's lodge, which was as smooth as a house floor. They had a barrier fixed for the rings to stop against. Two men would run at a time, each with a stick, and one carried a ring. They run about halfway and then slide their sticks after the ring. They had marks made for the game, but I do not understand how they count the game.
They gave us different kinds of food and made us eat in every lodge that we went in. They were very friendly. We returned to the fort. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) had returned with the hunters, had not killed any buffalo, for they are all back in the prairies.
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