Arikara villages near present-day Mobridge — John Ordway: October 11, 1804
Wind blew from the northwest. Party members learned that a chief had capsized his skin canoe returning home, losing all the goods given to him by the expedition. At 11 a.m., Indians came to camp with corn, beans, and dried squash; the captains presented a steel mill, which delighted them. The chief asked for peace with the Mandan nation. Setting off at 1 p.m., the party reached the second Arikara village by 4 p.m. Lewis and Clark took an observation, astonishing the villagers, then visited the town. An axe was stolen that evening.
from the N. W. Some of the party down at the village below
this last night they informed us that one of the chiefs lost all
the good[s] he Recd from us in the River, Going home, the Skin
cannoe got over Set [and] turned everry thing out of it he
Grieved himself considerable about his loss &. C. at 11 oClock
the Indians assembled at our camp Brought us Some corn &
Beans dryed Squasshes &. C. we Gave them a Steel Mill which
they were verry much pleased with, the chiefs made a Short
Speech & told us that he was verry Glad to See us & that we
must pass where we pleased & none of his nation would attempt
to hold our cable &. C. he also desired that we Would Speak a
good word for them to the Mandan nation for they wished to
make pease with them about 1 oClock we Set off. proceeded on
passed a creek on s. s. & a Timbred Bottom. Sailed on at 4 oC.
arived at the 2nd R.Ree village on the Bank of the River S. Side1
a handsome place a high Smoth prarie. a Timbred Bottom of [on]
the opposite Shore a large Sand beach makes out from the vile
they had their coulours or flags hoisted that we Gave them, &
all assd on a Sand bar below the ville Cap* Lewis & Clark took
an observation which made them amazed at the instrument
went up to the vnT took Several of the party with them, they
all returned in the evening.2 found that the two upper villages
were near each other & built nearly alike, their is no wood near
these 2 villages, they cross the River for the Greater part of
their wood to a Timbred Bottom on N. S. opisite their villages
&. C. in the evening our cooks took the Best axe we had on
Shore for to cut Some wood & it was Stole by Some of those
Indians.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
The wind was from the northwest. Some of the party went down to the village below last night. They informed us that one of the chiefs lost all the goods he received from us in the river while going home. The skin canoe overturned and dumped everything out of it. He grieved considerably about his loss, etc.
At 11 o'clock the Indians assembled at our camp and brought us some corn, beans, dried squashes, etc. We gave them a steel mill, with which they were very much pleased. The chief made a short speech and told us that he was very glad to see us, and that we could pass wherever we pleased, and none of his nation would attempt to hold our cable, etc. He also desired that we would speak a good word for them to the Mandan nation, for they wished to make peace with them.
About 1 o'clock we set off and proceeded on. We passed a creek on the south side and a timbered bottom. We sailed on, and at 4 o'clock arrived at the 2nd Arikara (Ree) village on the bank of the river on the south side, a handsome place on a high smooth prairie. There was a timbered bottom on the opposite shore, and a large sand beach extends out from the village. They had hoisted the colors or flags that we had given them, and all assembled on a sandbar below the village. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and Clark took an observation, which amazed them at the instrument. They went up to the village and took several of the party with them. They all returned in the evening.
We found that the two upper villages were near each other and built nearly alike. There is no wood near these two villages; they cross the river for the greater part of their wood to a timbered bottom on the north side opposite their villages, etc. In the evening our cooks took the best axe we had on shore to cut some wood, and it was stolen by some of those Indians.
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