Missouri River near Cheyenne River — Patrick Gass: October 2, 1804
An English-speaking visitor came aboard and predicted the party would meet no more Indians until reaching the Arikara (Rees) nation. The expedition passed black bluffs and timbered bottoms along the river. Around 2 o'clock, Indians appeared on the northern hills and one fired a gun, prompting the crew to prepare for possible attack. After speaking with him, they learned he belonged to the Yankton band of 20 lodges, and noted they had already met two of its chiefs. They camped on a sandbar mid-river.
came on board, who could speak English. He mentioned it
as his opinion, that we should see no more Indians, until we
should arrive at the nation of Rees. We passed a range of
black bluffs on the north side and a large bottom on the
south, where there was some timber on the bank of the river.
About 2 o’clock we discovered some Indians on the hills on
the north side, and one of them came down to the bank and
fired a gun; the object or intention we did not well under-
stand, but were ready to meet an attack. We passed black
bluffs on the south side, an island covered with timber, and a
44. GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
handsome bottom on the north side. We halted and spoke
to the Indian, who said he belonged to the Jonkta or Barba-
role band, and that there were 20 lodges of them. We told
him we had seen two of their chiefs, and given them a flag and
medal. We passed a creek on the south side, and encamped
on a sand bar in the middle of the river.
IW ednesday 3rd. The morning was cloudy, and some rain
fell. The land is high on both sides of the river. About 12
o’clock the wind began to blow so hard down the stream, that
we were unable to proceed, and we halted under some high
bluffs, where drift wood was plenty. At 3 we continued our
voyage; passed a long range of dark coloured bluffs on the
south side and bottom, with some timber, on the north. We
encamped on the south side.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
came on board, who could speak English. He stated his opinion that we would see no more Indians until we arrived at the nation of the Rees. We passed a range of black bluffs on the north side and a large bottom on the south, where there was some timber on the bank of the river. About 2 o'clock we noticed some Indians on the hills on the north side, and one of them came down to the bank and fired a gun. We did not really understand his object or intention, but were ready to meet an attack. We passed black bluffs on the south side, an island covered with timber, and a handsome bottom on the north side. We halted and spoke to the Indian, who said he belonged to the Jonkta or Barbarole band, and that there were 20 lodges of them. We told him we had seen two of their chiefs, and given them a flag and medal. We passed a creek on the south side, and camped on a sand bar in the middle of the river.
Wednesday 3rd. The morning was cloudy, and some rain fell. The land is high on both sides of the river. About 12 o'clock the wind began to blow so hard down the stream that we were unable to proceed, and we halted under some high bluffs, where driftwood was plentiful. At 3 we continued our voyage; passed a long range of dark colored bluffs on the south side and a bottom, with some timber, on the north. We camped on the south side.
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