Fort Mandan, North Dakota — Patrick Gass: November 25, 1804
Around 50 anticipated Native visitors arrived at 10 o'clock, and the captains designated three as chiefs and distributed gifts. Five came aboard for about three hours. When Captain Clark went ashore by pirogue, the Indians tried to detain the boat, claiming poverty and wanting to keep it. Clark insisted on returning, and when they boasted of having soldiers, he warned that his men carried enough medicine to kill twenty such nations in a day. They backed down, asking only that the party stop so women and children could see the boat. Four Indians boarded as the group moved a mile upriver and anchored at an island, where the visitors stayed the night.
who were expected to arrive, and at 10 o’clock they came,
about 50 in number. The commanding officers made three of
them chiefs and gave them some presents. Five of them came
on board and remained about three hours. Captain Clarke
and some of our men in a periogue went on shore with them ;
but the Indians did not seem disposed to permit their return.
They said they were poor and wished to keep the periogue
with them. Captain Clarke insisted on coming to the boat;
but they refused to let him, and said they had soldiers as well
as he had. He told them his soldiers were good, and that he
had more medicine on board his boat than would kill twenty
such nations in one day. After this they did not threaten any
more, and said they only wanted us to stop at their lodge,
that the women and children might see the boat. Four of
them came aboard, when we proceeded on a mile, and cast
anchor at the point of an island in the middle of the river.
The Indians remained with us all night.
38 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
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who were expected to arrive, and at 10 o'clock they came, about 50 in number. The commanding officers made three of them chiefs and gave them some presents. Five of them came on board and remained about three hours. Captain Clarke (Captain Clark) and some of our men went on shore with them in a pirogue; but the Indians did not seem willing to allow them to return. They said they were poor and wished to keep the pirogue with them. Captain Clarke insisted on coming back to the boat; but they refused to let him, and said they had soldiers as well as he had. He told them his soldiers were good, and that he had more medicine on board his boat than would kill twenty such nations in one day. After this they did not threaten any more, and said they only wanted us to stop at their lodge so that the women and children might see the boat. Four of them came aboard, and we then proceeded on a mile and cast anchor at the point of an island in the middle of the river. The Indians remained with us all night.
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