[Clark, October 22, 1804]
22nd of October 1804 last night at about 1 oClock I was
violently attacked with Rhumetism in my neck, which was so
violently I could not move, Cap L. applied a hot Stone raped
in flannel which gave temperry ease, we passed a War party
of Tetons on their way as we Supposed to the Mandans of 12
men on the L. S. we gave them nothing and refused to put
them across the river, passed 2 old Villages at the mouth of
a large Creek L. S and a Small Island at the head of which
is a bad place, an old Village on the S. S. and the upper of
the 6 Villages the Mandans occupied about 25 years ago this
village was entirely cut off by the Sioux & one of the
others nearly, the Small Pox distroyed great Numbers
[Clark, October 22, 1804]
22nd October Monday 1804 last night at 1 oClock I was
violently and Suddinly attacked with the Rhumitism in the
neck which was So violent I could not move Capt. applied a
hot Stone raped in flannel, which gave me some temporry
ease,-. we Set out early, the morning Cold at 7 oClock we
Came too at a Camp of Teton Seaux on the L. S. those people
12 in number were naikd and had the appearanc of war, we
have every reason to believ that they are going or have been
to Steel horses from the Mandins, they tell two Stories, we
gave them nothing after takeing brackfast proceeded on- my
Neck is yet verry painfull at times Spasms.
Camped on the L Side, passed an Island Situated on the L.
Side at the head of which & Mandans village S. S. we passd a
bad place- The hunters killed a buffalow bull, they Say out
of about 300 buffalow which they Saw, they did not See one
Cow. Great Deel of Beaver Sign. Several Cought every night.
[Clark, October 23, 1804]
23rd of October 1804 Some Snow, passed 5 Lodges fortified
the place the two french men were robed Those are the
hunting Camps of the mandans, who has latterly left them. we
camped on the L. S.
[Clark, October 23, 1804]
23rd of October Tuesday 1804 a cloudy morning Some Snow Set
out early pass five Lodges which was Diserted, the fires yet
burning we Suppose those were the Indians who robed the 2
french Trappers a fiew days ago those 2 men are now with us
going up with a view to get their property from the Indians
thro us. cold & Cloudy camped on The L. S. of the river
[Clark, October 24, 1804]
24th of October Cloudy Some little Snow (my Rhumetism
Continue, not So bad as the 2 last days,) a butufull
Countrey on both Sides, bottoms covered with wood, we See no
game to day, passed an old village of a Band of Me ne tarres
Called Mah har ha where they lived 40 year ago on the L. S.
Came too on an Island Caused by the river cutting through a
narrow point 7 years ago, on this Island we wer visited by
the grand Chief of the mandans a 2d Chief and Some other,
who wer Camped on the Island, those Chief met our Ricarra
Chief with great Corduallity, & Smoked together Cap Lewis
Visited the Camps 5 Lodges, and proceeded on & Camped near a
2d Camp of Mandans on the S. S. nearly opposit the old
Ricara & Manden Village which the Ricarras abandaned in the
year 1789
[Clark, October 24, 1804]
24th October Wednesday 1804 Set out early a Cloudy day Some
little Snow in the morning I am Something better of the
Rhumutim in my neck- a butifull Countrey on both Sides of
the river. The bottoms Covd. with wood, we have Seen no game
on the river to day a prof of the Indians hunting in the
neighbourhod (1) passed a Island on the S. S. made by the
river Cutting through a point, by which the river is
Shortened Several miles- on this Isld. we Saw one of the
Grand Chiefs of the Mandins, with five Lodges hunting, this
Cheif met the Chief of the Ricares who accompanied us with
great Cordiallity & Sermony Smoked the pipe & Capt. Lewis
with the Interpeter went with the Chiefs to his Lodges at 1
mile distant, after his return we admited the Grand Chief &
his brother for a few minits on our boat. proceeded on a
Short distance and Camped on the S. S. below the old Village
of the Mandins & ricares.- Soon after our landg. 4 Mandins
Came from a Camp above, the Ricares Chief went with them to
their Camp, 25th of October Thursday 1804. a Gentle Breeze
from the S. E by E passed an (1) old Village on a high Plain
where the Mandans onced lived & after they left the Village
& moved higher the Ricaras took possession & live until 1799
when they abandoned it & flew from the just revenge of the
Mandans, a verry extensive Bottom above the Village above
the Center of which (2) the Mandans lived in the 2 villages
on the L. 5., but little timber-Several parties of Indians
on each Side of the River going up. in view in every
directions- we are informed that the Sioux has latterly
taken horses from the Big Bellies or Minitaries and on their
way homerwards they fell in with the Assinniboins who killed
them and took the horses & a frenchman Menard who resided
with the Mandan for 20 years past was Killed a fiew days ago
on his way from the Britishment astablishments on the
Assineboin River, 150 miles N. of this place to the mandans
by the assinniboin Indians- we were frequently Called to by
parties of Indians & requested to land & talk, passed a
verry bad place & Camped on a Point S S. opposit a high hill
Several Indians visit us this evening the Sun of the late
great Chief of the Mandans who had 2 of his fingers off and
appeared to be pearced in maney places on inquiring the
reason, was informed that it was a testimony to their grief
for Deceased freinds, they frequently Cut off Sevral fingers
& pierced themselves in Different parts, a Mark of Savage
effection, wind hard from the S. W. verry Cold R Fields with
a Rhumitisum in his Neck one man R. in his hips my Self much
better, Those Indians appear to have Similar Customs with
the Ricaras, their Dress the Same more mild in their
language & justures &c. &c.
[Clark, October 25, 1804]
25th of October Thursday 1804 a Cold morning Set out early
under a gentle Breeze from the S. E. by E proceeded on,
passed (1) the 3rd old Village of the Mandans which has been
Desd. for many years, This village was Situated on an
eminance of about 40 foot above the water on the L. S. back
for Several miles is a butifull plain (2) at a Short
distance above this old village on a Continuation of the
Same eminance was Situated the which have been avacuated
only Six years, above this village a large and extensive
bottom for Several miles in which the Squars raised ther
Corn, but little timber near the villages, on the S. S.
below is a point of excellent timber, and in the point
Several miles above is fine timber, Several parties of
Mandins rode to the river on the S. S. to view us indeed
they are continuelly in Sight Satisying their Curiossities
as to our apperance &c. we are told that the Seaux has
latterly fallen in with & Stole the horses of the Big belley,
on their way home they fell in with the Ossiniboin who
killed them and took the horses- a frenchman has latterly
been killed by the Indians on the Track to the tradeing
establishment on the Ossinebine R. in the North of this
place (or British fort) This frenchman has lived many years
with the Mandins- we were frequently called on to land &
talk to parties of the Mandins on the Shore, wind Shifted to
the S. W at about 11 oClock and blew hard untill 3 OCk.
clouded up river full of Sand bars & we are at a great loss
to find the Channel of the river, frequently run on the Sand
bars which Detain us much passed a verry bad riffle of rocks
in the evining by takeing the L. S. of a Sand bar and Camped
on a Sand point on the S. S. opposit a high hill on the L.
S. Several Indians Come to See us this evening, amongst
others the Sun of the late great Cheif of the Mandins, this
man has his two little fingers off-; on inqureing the Cause,
was told it was Customary for this nation to Show their
greaf by Some testimony of pain, and that it was not
uncommon for them to take off 2 Smaller fingers of the hand
and Some times more with ther marks of Savage effection
The wind blew verry hard this evening from the S. W. verry
Cold
R. Fields with the rhumitim in his neck, P. Crusat with the
Same Complaint in his Legs- the party other wise is well, as
to my Self I feel but Slight Simptoms of that disorder at
this time,
[Clark, October 26, 1804]
26th of October 1804 wind from the S. E we Set the Ricara
Chief on Shore with Some Mandans, many on each Side veiwing
of us, we took in 2 Chiefs (Coal and Big Man) and halted a
feiw minits at their Camps, on the L. S. fortified in their
way, here we Saw a trader from the Ossinniboin River Called
McCracken, this man arrived 9 day ago with goods to trade
for horses & Roabs one other man with him- we Camped on the
L. Side a Short distanc below the r st rnandan village on
the L. S. many men women & Children flocked down to See us-
Capt Lewis walked to the Village with the Chief and
interpeters, my Rheumitism increasing prevented me from
going also, and we had Deturmined that both would not leave
the boat at the Same time untill we Knew the Desposition of
the Nativs, Some Chieef visited me & I Smoked with them-
they appeared delighted with the Steel Mill which we were
obliged to use, also with my black Servent, Capt Lewis
returned late
[Clark, October 26, 1804]
26th of October Friday 1804 Set out early wind from the S W
proceeded on Saw numbers of the Mandins on Shore, we Set the
Ricare Chief on Shore, and we proceeded on to the Camp of
two of their Grand Chiefs where we delayed a fiew minits,
with the Chiefs and proceeded on takeing two of their Chiefs
on board & Some of the heavy articles of his house hole,
Such as earthen pots & Corn, proceeded on, at this Camp Saw
a McCracken Englishmon from the N. W Company this mana Came
nine Days ago to trade for horses & Buffalo robes,- one
other man Came with him. the Indians Continued on the banks
all day- but little wood on this part of the river, many
Sand bars and bad places, water much devided between them
for the 26th. Octr. we came too and Camped on the L. S.
about 1/2 a mile below the ist. Manddin Town on the L. S.
Soon after our arrival many men womin & Children flocked
down to See us, Capt Lewis walked to the village with the
principal Chiefs and our interpters, my rhumatic Complaint
increasing I could not go- if I was well only one would have
left the Boat & party untill we new the Disposition of the
Inds. I Smoked with the Cheifs who Came after. Those people
apd much pleased with the Corn mill which we were obliged to
use, & was fixed in the boat.
[Clark, October 27, 1804]
27th of October Satturday 1804 we Set out early and Came too
at the village on the L. S. where we delayed a few minits, I
walked to a Chiefs Logg & Smoked with them, but Could not
eat, which did displease them a little, here I met with a
Mr. Jessomme, who lived in this nation 13 years, I got him
to interpet & he proceedd on with us we proceeded on to a
Centeral point opposit the Knife River, & formed a Camp on
the S. S. above the 2d Mandan village & opsd. the Mah-har-ha
village- and raised a flag Staff- Capt Lewis & the
Intepeters walked down to the 2d Village of Mandans, &
returned in about an hour, we Sent 3 Carrotes of tobacco to
the other villages & enviting them to come down and Council
with us tomorrow,- we endeaver to precure Some Knowledge of
the principal Chiefs of the Different nations &.- well to
give my ideas as to the impression thais man makes on me is
a Cunin artfull an insoncear - he tels me he was once empld.
by my brother in the Illinois & of his description I conceve
as a Spye upon the British of Michillinicknac & St Joseph,s
we think he may be made use full to us & do employ him as an
interpeter- no. of Indians bring their wives &c. to the
campes of our party on Shore &c.
[Clark, October 27, 1804]
27th of October Satturday 1804 we Set out arly Came too at
this Village on the L. S. this village is Situated on an
eminance of about 50 feet above the Water in a handson Plain
it Containes houses in a kind of Picket work. the houses are
round and Verry large Containing Several families, as also
their horses which is tied on one Side of the enterance, a
Discription of those houses will be given hereafter, I
walked up & Smoked a pipe with the Cheifs of this Village
they were anxious that I would Stay and eat with them, my
indisposition provented my eating which displeased them,
untill a full explination took place, I returned to the boat
and Sent 2 Carrots of Tobacco for them to Smoke, and
proceeded on, passed the 2d Village and Camped opsd. the
Village of the Weter Soon or ah wah bar ways which is
Situated on an eminance in a plain on the L. S. this Village
is Small and Contains but fiew inhabitents. above this
village & also above the Knife river on the Same Side of the
Missouri the Big bellies Towns are Situated a further
Discription will be given here after as also of the Town of
Mandans on this Side of the river i e S. Side
a fine worm Day we met with a french man by the name of
jassamme which we imploy as an interpeter This man has a
wife & Children in the Village- Great numbers on both Sides
flocked down to the bank to view us as wee passed.
Capt. Lewis with the Interpetr. walked down to the village
below our Camp After delaying one hour he returned and
informed me the Indians had returned to their village &c.,
&c., we Sent three Carrots of Tobacco by three young men, to
the three Villages above inviting them to come Down &
Council with us tomorrow. many Indians Came to view us Some
Stayed all night in the Camp of our party- we procured Some
information of Mr. Jessomme of the Chiefs of the Different
Nations
[Clark, October 28, 1804]
28th of October 1804 the wind So hard from the S. W. We
could not meet the Indians in Councils, those who visited us
we Sent to the nearest village, Consulted the Black Cat M
Chief about the Chiefs of the Different Villages, who gave
his Oppinion to us.
[Clark, October 28, 1804]
Sunday 28th of October 1804 a windey Day, fair and Clear
many of the Grosvantres (or Big Bellies) and Watersons Came
to See us and hear the Council the wind being So violently
hard from the S. W. provented our going into Councel,
(indeed the Chiefs of the Manodans from the lower Village
Could not Cross, we made up the presents and entertained
Several of the Curious Cheifs whome, wished to See the Boat
which was verry Curious to them viewing it as great medison,
as they also viewed my black Servent The Black Cat Grand
Chief of the Mandans, Capt Lewis & my Self with an
Interpeter walked up the river about 11/2 miles our views
were to examine the Situation & Timbers for a fort, we found
the Situation good but the Timber Scerce, or at least Small
timbr Such as would answer us-, we Cunsulted the Grand Chief
in respect to the other Chiefs of the Defferent Villages he
gave the names of 12- George Drewyer Cought 2 Beaver above
our Camp last night, we had Several presents from the Woman
of Corn boild homney, Soft Corn &c. &c. I prosent ajar to
the Chiefs wife who recved it with much pleasure our men
verry Chearfull this evening- we Sent the Cheifs of the
Gross Vantres to Smoke a pipe with the Grand Chef of the
Mandins in his Village, & told them we would Speek tomorrow.
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The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806