Building Fort Mandan — John Ordway: October 28, 1804

hold a counsel the wind blew verry high from the N. W. So the
Indians did not assemble, but the prinsible men of the tribe called
the Big Belley3 came down to this village in order to be at the
counsel, the form of these Savages burrying their dead is after
they have disceased they fix a Scaffel on raised 4 forks ab’ 8 or 10
feet from the Ground they lye the dead body on the Sd Scaffel
Roped up in a Buffalow Robe, a little distance from their villages,
their villages are close compact & picketed in. when any of them
loose a partickulor friend or relation they morn and cry for Some
time after.