6th.. November Tuesday 1804 Fort
Mandan—
last night late we wer awoke by the Sergeant of
the Guard
to See a Nothern light, which was light, (but) not red, and appeared
to Darken and Some times nearly obscured, and open, (divided about 20 degrees above horizon—various shapes
—considerable
space) many
times appeared in light Streeks, and at
other times a great Space light
& containing floating collomns
which appeared to approach each other
& retreat leaveing the
lighter space at no time of the Same
appearance
This Morning I rose a[t] Day light the Clouds to the
North appeared black at 8 oClock the [wind] began to blow
hard from
the N. W. and Cold, and Continued all Day Mr.
Jo
Gravelin our ricare interpeter Paul premor, Laguness,
[Lajeunesse]
& 2 french Boys, who Came
with us, Set out in a Small
perogue, on their return to the recare nation
& the Illinois,
Mr. Gravelin has instructions to
take on the recares in the
Spring &c. Continue to build the huts, out
of Cotton Timber,
&c. this being the only timber we
have,
