29th; October Monday 1804.—
a fair fine morning after Brackfast we were visited by the
old
Cheaf of the Big bellies or [blank space in MS.] this
man was old and had transfired his power to his Sun, who was
then
out at War against the Snake Indians who inhabit the
Rockey
Mountains.[6]
at 10 oClock the S.W. wind rose verry
high, we Collected the Chiefs and
Commenced a Councel
ounder a orning, and our Sales Stretched around to
keep out
as much wind as possible, we delivered a long Speech the
Substance of which [was] Similer to what we had Delivered to
the
nations below. the old Chief of the Grosvanters was
verry restless before
the Speech was half ended observed that
he Could not wait long that his
Camp was exposed to the
hostile Indians, &c. &c. he was rebuked by
one of the Chiefs
for his uneasiness at Such a time as the present, we at
the
end of the Speech mentioned the Recare who
accompanied us
to make a firm Peace, they all Smoked with him (I gave
this Cheaf a Dollar of the American Coin as a Meadel with
which he
was much pleased) In Councel we prosented him
with a certificate of his sin[c]errity and good
Conduct &c.
We also Spoke about the fur which was taken from 2 frenchmen
by a Mandan, and inform
d of our intentions of Sending
back the french hands.
after the Council we gave the presents
with much serimoney, and put the
Meadels on the Chiefs we
intended to make viz. one for each Town to whome
we gave
coats hats & flags, one Grand Chief to each nation to whome
we gave meadels with the presidents likeness in Council we
requested
them to give us an answer tomorrow or as Soon as
possible to Some Points
which required their Deliberation.
after the Council was over we Shot the
air gun which appeared
to astonish the nativs much, the greater part then
retired
Soon after.
The Recare Cheaf Ar-ke-tar-na-shar came to me this evening
and tells me that he wishes to return to his
Village &
nation, I put him off Saying tomorrow we would have an
answer to our talk to the Satisfaction & send by him a String
of
Wompom informing what had passed here. a Iron or
Steel Corn Mill which we
gave to the Mandins,[7]
was verry
thankfully receved. The Prarie was Set
on fire (or cought by
accident) by a young man of the Mandins, the fire
went with
such velocity that it burnt to death a man & woman, who
Could not get to any place of Safty, one man a woman &
Child
much burnt and Several narrowly escaped the flame. a
boy half white was
saved unhurt in the midst of the flaim,
Those ignerent people say this boy
was Saved by the Great
Medison Speret because he was white. The couse of
his being
Saved was a Green buffalow Skin was thrown over him by his
mother who perhaps had more fore Sight for the pertection of
her
Son, and [l]ess for herself than those who escaped the
flame, the Fire did
not burn under the Skin leaveing the
grass round the boy. This fire passed
our Camp last [night]
about 8 oClock P.M. it went with great rapitidity
and looked
Tremendious
The
following Chiefs were made in Council to day
We Sent the presents
intended for the Grand Chief of the
Mi-ne-tar-re or
Big Belley, and the presents flag and Wompom
by the old Chief and those
intended for the Chief of the Lower
Village by a young Chief.
The
following Chiefs were recommended in addition to
those viz.—
4th.
Village
Mar-noh-tah. the big Steeler out at
war (who was then out at war &
was killed afd.)
Mar-se-rus-se
—tale of Callumet bird
Ea pa no pa
—Two taled Calumet bird young Chief
War ke
ras sa The red Shield young Chief of Big belley—big
town
5th.
Village
Shà-hakó ho pin nee
—Little Wolfs Medison
Ar-rat-toé-no-mook-ge—man wolf Chief (at war)
Cal-tar-co ta
—cherry (grows (growing) on a bush) old Chief and
father to the above mentd. chief
Mau-pah′-pir-re-cos-sa too
—This chief is near this hunting and a
verry considerable man[10]
To the 1st.
Chiefs we gave a Medal with the Impn. of the President
of the U. S.
To the 2d. Chiefs a Medel of
weaveing & Domestic animals.
To the 3rd. Chiefs a
Medel with the impression of a man Sowing
Wheat.
