Fort Mandan, North Dakota — John Ordway: December 15, 1804

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.