Patrick Gass: August 30, 1804
Around nine o'clock, a group of Indians crossed the river to the expedition's camp. Four musicians moved through the camp singing, after which a council was held. Captains Lewis and Clark designated five of the men as chiefs and distributed small presents. At dark, Lewis provided a grained deer skin to stretch over a half keg as a drum. The group gathered around fires, with ten or twelve serving as musicians using the drum and rattles of dried skin filled with beads or pebbles, while twenty or thirty young men and boys danced through the night. No women attended.
nine o’clock the Indians came over the river. Four of them,
who were musicians went backwards and forwards, through
and round our camp, singing and making a noise. After that
ceremony was over they all sat in council. Captain Lewis and
Captain Clarke made five of them chiefs, and gave them some
small presents. At dark Captain Lewis gave them a grained
deer skin to stretch over a half keg for a drum. When that
was ready they all assembled round some fires made for the
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 25
purpose: two of them beat on the drum, and some of the
rest had little bags of undressed skins dried, with beads or
small pebbles in them, with which they make a noise. These
are their instruments of music. Ten or twelve acted as musi-
cians, while twenty or thirty young men and boys engaged in
the dance, which was continued during the night. No Squaws
made their appearance among this party.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
At nine o'clock the Indians came over the river. Four of them, who were musicians, went back and forth, through and around our camp, singing and making noise. After that ceremony was over, they all sat in council. Captain Lewis and Captain Clarke (Clark) made five of them chiefs and gave them some small presents. At dark Captain Lewis gave them a grained deer skin to stretch over a half keg for a drum.
When that was ready, they all gathered around some fires made for the purpose. Two of them beat on the drum, and some of the rest had little bags of undressed dried skins, with beads or small pebbles in them, which they used to make a noise. These are their instruments of music. Ten or twelve acted as musicians, while twenty or thirty young men and boys took part in the dance, which continued through the night. No Squaws appeared among this party.
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