Lewis: February 7, 1805
A fair, warmer morning at Fort Mandan, with the thermometer at 18° above zero and a southeast wind. Native visitors continued to come to the fort. The sergeant of the guard reported that the Indian wives of the interpreters had been unbarring the gate at night to let in Indian visitors. In response, Lewis ordered a lock placed on the gate and prohibited any Indians not attached to the garrison from staying overnight or entering between sunset and sunrise.
7th February Thursday 1805. This morning was fair Thermometer at 18° above
naught much warmer than it has been for some days; wind S. E. continue to
be visited by the natives. The Sergt. of the guard reported that the
Indian women (wives to our interpreters) were in the habit of unbaring the
fort gate at any time of night and admitting their Indian visitors, I
therefore directed a lock to be put to the gate and ordered that no Indian
but those attatched to the garrison should be permitted to remain all
night within the fort or admitted during the period which the gate had
been previously ordered to be kept shut which was from sunset untill
sunrise.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
7th February, Thursday, 1805. This morning was fair. The thermometer read 18° above zero, much warmer than it has been for some days. The wind was from the southeast. We continue to be visited by the natives. The Sergeant of the guard reported that the Indian women (wives of our interpreters) were in the habit of unbarring the fort gate at any time of night and admitting their Indian visitors. I therefore directed that a lock be put on the gate, and ordered that no Indian, except those attached to the garrison, should be permitted to remain all night within the fort, or be admitted during the period when the gate had previously been ordered to be kept shut, which was from sunset until sunrise.
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