Fort Mandan, North Dakota — Patrick Gass: November 25, 1804

Patrick Gass · Fort Mandan, North Dakota · Thwaites Vol. Gass 1807 First Edition

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