Building Fort Mandan — John Ordway: October 28, 1804
Strong northwest winds prevented the planned council from taking place, as the Indians did not assemble. However, the principal men of the Big Belly tribe traveled down to this village to attend the council. Ordway also recorded observations of local burial customs: the deceased are wrapped in a buffalo robe and placed on a scaffold raised about eight to ten feet on forks, set a short distance from the villages. The villages themselves are tightly compact and picketed, and mourners grieve loudly for some time after losing a friend or relative.
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.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We were to hold a council, but the wind blew very high from the N.W., so the Indians did not assemble. However, the principal men of the tribe called the Big Belley came down to this village in order to be at the council.
The way these Savages bury their dead is as follows: after they have deceased, they fix a scaffold raised on 4 forks about 8 or 10 feet from the ground. They lay the dead body on the said scaffold, wrapped up in a Buffalo robe, a little distance from their villages. Their villages are close, compact, and picketed in. When any of them lose a particular friend or relation, they mourn and cry for some time after.
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