[Clark, December 3, 1804]
3rd December Monday 1804. a fine morning the after part of
the day Cold & windey the wind from the N W. The Father of
the Mandan who was killed Came and made us a present of Some
Dried Simnens & a little pemicon, we made him Some Small
preasents for which he was much pleased
[Clark, December 4, 1804]
4th of December Tuesday 1804 a Cloudy raw Day wind from the
N. W. the Black Cat and two young Chiefs Visit us and as
usial Stay all Day the river rise one inch finish the main
bastion, our interpetr. we discover to be assumeing and
discontent'd
[Clark, December 5, 1804]
5th December Wednesday 1804 a Cold raw morning wind from the
S. E. Some Snow, two of the N W. Companey Came to See us, to
let us Know they intended to Set out for the establishment
on the osinniboin River in two Days-& their party would
Consist of 5 men, Several Indians also visited us one
brought Pumpkins or Simmins as a preasent a little Snow fell
in the evening at which time the wind Shifted round to N. E.
[Clark, December 6, 1804]
Fort Mandan 6th of December Thursday 1804 The wind blew
violently hard from the N, N W. with Some Snow the air Keen
and Cold. The Thermometer at 8 oClock A, M, Stood at 10 dgs.
above o- at 9 oClock a man & his Squar Came down with Some
meat for the inturpeter his dress was a par mockersons of
Buffalow Skin Pr. Legins of Goat Skin & a Buffalow robe, 14
ring of Brass on his fingers, this metel the Mandans ar
verry fond off- Cold after noon river rise 11/2 Inch to day
[Clark, December 7, 1804]
at Fort mandan 7th of December 1804, we were informed by a
Chief that great numbers of Buffalow were on the hills near
us Cap Lewis with a party went out & Killed 11three in view
of our fort, The weather so excesive Cold & wolves plenty,
we only saved 5 of them, I with a party turned on the 8th
out and found the Buffalow at 7 ms. distant Killed 8 & a
Deer, I returned with 2 Cows leaving men with remaining
meat- Several men badly frost bit- The Themormeter Stood
this morning at 44 d. below Breizing.
Capt Lewis went out 9th & Stayed all night out Killed 9
buffalowmaney of the Buffalow Killed were So meager that
they not fit for use Collected by the ade of Some horses the
best of the meat in fact all we could Save from wolves & I
went on a hunting party the 14 & 15 of Decr.- much Snow
verry cold 52° below freesinge. N W. & H Bay Clerks Visit us
the 16th also Mr Hainey, Cold Tem. 74° below freesing
I visit the Mandans on the 1s of January Capt Lewis the 2nd
[Clark, December 7, 1804]
7th of December Friday 1804 a verry Cold day wind from the N
W. the Big White Grand Chief of the 1s Village, Came and
informed us that a large Drove of Buffalow was near and his
people was wating for us to join them in a Chase Capt. Lewis
took 15 men & went out joined the Indians, who were at the
time he got up, Killing the Buffalows on Horseback with
arrows which they done with great dexterity, his party
killed 14 Buffalow, five of which we got to the fort by the
assistance of a horse in addition to what the men Packed on
their backs- one Cow was killed on the ice after drawing her
out of a vacancey in the ice in which She had fallen, and
Butchered her at the fort- those we did not get in was taken
by the indians under a Custon which is established amongst
them i e. any person Seeing a buffalow lying without an
arrow Sticking in him, or Some purticular mark takes
possesion, many times (as I am told) a hunter who Kills
maney Buffalow in a chase only Gets a part of one, all meat
which is left out all night falls to the Wolves which are in
great numbers, always in the Buffalows- the river Closed
opposit the fort last night 11/2 inches thick The
Thermometer Stood this morning at 1 d. below o-three men
frost bit badly to day
[Clark, December 8, 1804]
8th December Satturday 1804 a verry Cold morning, the
Thermometer Stood at 12 d. below 0 which is 42 d. below the
freesing point, wind from the N W I with 15 men turned out
Indians joined us on horseback, shot with arrows rode along
side of buffaloel and killed 8 buffalow & one Deer, one Cow
and Calf was brought in, two Cows which I killed at 7 miles
Dst. I left 2 men to Skin & Keep off the wolves, and brought
in one Cow & a calf, in the evening on my return to the fort
Saw great numbers of Buffalow Comeing into the Bottoms on
both Sides of the river This day being Cold Several men
returned a little frost bit; one of men with his feet badly
frost bit my Servents feet also frosted & his P-s a little,
I feel a little fatigued haveing run after the Buffalow all
day in Snow many Places 10 inches Deep, Generally 6 or 8,
two men hurt their hips verry much in Slipping down- The
Indians kill great numbers of Buffalow to day- 2 reflectings
Suns to day
[Clark, December 9, 1804]
9th December Sunday 1804 The Thermometer Stood this morning
at 7° above 0, wind from the E. Capt Lewis took 18 men & 4
horses and went out Send in the meet killed yesterday and
kill more, the Sun Shown to day Clear, both interpeters went
to the Villages to day at 12 oClock two Chiefs Came loaded
with meat one with a dog & Slay also loaded with meat, Capt.
Lewis Sent in 4 Hors's loaded with meat, he continued at the
hunting Camp near which they killed 9 buffalow.
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The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806