Arikara villages near present-day Mobridge — John Ordway: October 11, 1804

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.