Building Fort Mandan — Patrick Gass: October 29, 1804
Leading men from the Mandan villages, the Watasoons, Sioux, and one representative from the Gros Ventres gathered for a council with the expedition. The meeting opened at 11 o'clock with a shot fired from the bow piece, after which the commanding officers greeted the chiefs. Captain Lewis spoke through an interpreter and presented each chief with a suit of clothes along with goods for their villages, including a suit sent to the absent Gros Ventres chief. The council ended at three with another gunshot, leaving all parties satisfied. Lewis also gifted the Mandans an iron corn mill, which delighted them.
principal men came from each village of the Mandans, from
the Watasoons, Sioux, and one from the Grossventers; and
all sat in council together. At 11 o’clock, when the Council
met, a shot was fired from our bow piece, and the command-
ing officers took the chiefs by the hand. Captain Lewis,
through an interpreter, delivered a speech; gave a suit of
clothes to each of the chiefs and some articles for their vil-
lages. He also sent a suit to the chief of the Grossventers.
At three o’clock another gun was fired at the breaking up of
the council, and they all appeared satisfied. Captain Lewis
gave an iron mill to the Mandan nation to grind their corn,
with which they were highly pleased.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Principal men came from each village of the Mandans, from the Watasoons, Sioux, and one from the Grossventers; and all sat in council together. At 11 o'clock, when the council met, a shot was fired from our bow piece, and the commanding officers took the chiefs by the hand. Captain Lewis (Capt. Lewis), through an interpreter, delivered a speech; gave a suit of clothes to each of the chiefs and some articles for their villages. He also sent a suit to the chief of the Grossventers.
At three o'clock another gun was fired at the breaking up of the council, and they all appeared satisfied. Captain Lewis gave an iron mill to the Mandan nation to grind their corn, with which they were highly pleased.
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