2nd. Chief Ricarey[3]
My Father, I am glad to see this is a fine Day to here [hear] the good
Councils & talk good talk. I am glad to See you & that your intentions
are to open the road for all We See that our Grand [great] father has
sent you to open the roads we See it Our Grand father by sending
you means to take pity on us Our Grand father has sent you with
tobacco to make peace with all nations, we think [we are] The first
nation who has recommended the road to be clear and open. You
come here & have Directed all nations which you have met to open
& clear the road. If you come to see the Water & roads to clear them
as clear as possible You just now come to see us, & we wish you to
tell our Grand fa
r that we wish the road to be kept clear & open I
expect the Chief in the next Town will tell you the same to move on
& open the road I think when you have saw the nation below the[y]
wish you to open the road, or something to that amount When you
pass'd the Souix they told you the same I expect. We See you here
to day we are pore our women have no strouds
[4]
& knives to Cut
their meats take pitty on us when you return You Come here &
Derect us to stay at home & not to go to war, we shall do so, we
hope you will when you get to the
Mandins you will tell them the same
& cleer the road, no one Dar to stop you, you go when you please,
you tell us to go down, we will go and see our grand father & here
& receve his gifts, and think fully that our nation will be covered after
our return, our people will look for us with the same impatience that
our Grand father looks for your return, to Give him. If I am going
to See my grand father many bad nations on the road, I am not afraid
to Die for the good of my people (all Cried around him.) The Chief
By me will go to the Mandans & hear what they will Say. (we agreed)
The verry moment we Set out to go down we will send out my Brother
to bring all the Nation in the open prarie to see me part on this great
mission to see my Great father Our people hunters shall be glad to
here of your being here & they will all come to see as you Cannot
stay they must wate for your return to see you. We are pore take
pity on our wants.
The road is for you all to go on who do you think will injure a
white man when they come to exchange for our Roabes & Beaver
After you set out many nations in the open plains may come to make
war against us, we wish you to stop their guns & prevent it if possible.
(Finished)
