Sunday. 28th of October 1804—
a windey Day, fair and clear many of the Grosvantres (or
Big Bellies) and Watersones Came to See
us and hear the
Council the wind being So violently hard from the S.W.
provented our going into Council, (indeed the Chiefs of the
Mandans
from the lower village Could not Cross, we made
up the presents and
entertained Several of the Curious Chiefs
whome, wished to see the Boat
which was verry curious to
them viewing it as great medison, (whatever is mysterious or
unintelligible is called great
medicine) as they also Viewed my
black Servent The Black Cat Grand
Chief of the Mandans,
Capt Lewis & myself with an
Interpeter walked up the river
about
1 1/2 miles our views were to examine the Situation &
Timber for a
fort, we found the Situation good but the
Timber scerce, or at least Small
timber such as would (
not)
answer us, We cunsulted
the Grand Chief in respect to the
other Chiefs of the Different 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
boil'd
homney, Soft Corn &c. &c. I prosent a jar (
earth-thern
jar glazed) to the Chiefs wife who receved it with much
pleasure. our men verry chearfull this evening. We Sent
the Chiefs
of the Gross Vantres to Smoke a a pipe with the
Grand Chef of the Mandans
in his Village, & told them we
would Speek tomorrow.
