University of Virginia Library

27th.. of October Satturday 1804, Mandans.—

WE Set out arly came too at the Village on the L.S.
this village is situated on an eminance of about 50
feet above the Water in a handsom plain it containes
[blank space in MS.] houses[1] 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 Description of those houses will be given
hereafter, I walked up & Smoked a pipe with the Chiefs of
the Village they were anxious that I would stay and eat
with them, my indisposition provented my eating which displeased
them, untill a full explenation 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[2] [or Ah wah har ways] which is
Situated on an eminance in a plain on the L.S. this Village
is Small and Contains but fiew inhabitents.[3] above this Village
also above the Knife river on the Same Side of the
Missouri the Big bellies Towns are Situated a further Description

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a fine warm Day we met with a frenchman by the name of
Jessomme[4] 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 we passed. Cap.t
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 twists [carrots] of Tobacco[5] by three young men, to the
three villages above enviting 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

Course Distance 27th