University of Virginia Library

Chapter VI

AMONG THE MANDANS

VI. Clark's Journal, December 28, 1804—February 2, 1805; February 13—March 21, 1805
Entries by Lewis, February 3–13 and March 16

[Clark:]

28th. of December Friday 1804—

BLEW verry hard last night, the frost fell like a Shower
of Snow, nothing remarkable to day, the Snow
Drifting from one bottom to another and from the
leavel plains into the hollows &c.

29th. December Satturday 1804—

The frost fell last night nearly a ¼ of an inch Deep and
Continud to fall untill the Sun was of Some hite, the Murcury
Stood this Morning at 9°. below 0 which is not considered
Cold, as the Changes take place gradually without long intermisions
a number of Indians here

30th.. December Sunday 1804—

Cold the Termtr. at 20° below 0 a number of Indians here
to day they are much Supprised at the Bellows one Deer
Killed

31st.. of December Monday 1804 Fort Mandan—

a fine Day Some wind last night which Mixed the Snow
and Sand in the bead of the river, which has the appearance
of hillocks of Sand on the ice, which is also Covered with
Sand & Snow, the frost which falls in the night, Continues
on the earth & old Snow &c. &c. a number of indians here
every Day our blakSmith Mending their axes hoes &c. &c.
for which the Squars bring Corn for payment. [1]

Fort Mandan on the NE bank of the Missouries 1600 Miles up Tuesday
January the 1st. 1805.—

The Day was ushered in by the Descharge of two Cannon,
we Suffered 16 men with their Musick to visit the 1st. Village
for the purpose of Danceing, by as they Said the perticular
request of the Chiefs of that Village, about 11 oClock I with
an inturpeter & two men walked up to the Village, (my views
were to alay Some little Miss understanding which had taken
place thro jelloucy and mortification as to our treatment
towards them I found them much pleased at the Danceing
of our men,[2] I ordered my black Servent to Dance which
amused the Croud Verry much, and Somewhat astonished
them, that So large a man should be active &c. &c. I went
into the lodges of all the men of note. except two, whome I
heard had made Some expressions not favourable towards us,
in Compareing us with the traders from the north,—those
Chiefs observed (to us that) what they Sayed was in just (in
jest) & laftur. just as I was about to return, the 2d. Chief
a(nd) the Black man, also a Chief returnd from a Mission on
which they had been Sent to meet a large party (150) of Gross
Ventres [3] who were on their way down from their Camps 10
Miles above to revenge on the Shoe tribe an injury which they
had received by a Shoe man Steeling a Gross Ventres Girl,
those Chiefs gave the pipe [and] turned the party back, after
Delivering up the Girl, which the Shoe Chief had taken and
given to them for that purpose." I returned in the evening,

at night the party except 6 returned, with 3 robes, an[d] 13
Strings of Corn which the indians had given them, The Day
was worm, Themtr 34° above 0, Some fiew Drops of rain
about Sunset, at Dark it began to Snow, and Snowed the
greater part of the night, (the temptr. for Snow is about 0)
The Black Cat with his family visited us to day and brought a
little meet

2nd. of January Wednesdey 1805 —

a Snowey morning, a party of Men go to Dance at the
2nd. Village to Dance, Capt Lewis & the interptr Visit the 2d.
Village, and return in the evening, Some Snow to Day Verry
cold in the evening[4]

3rd.. of January Thursday 1805—

Some Snow to day, 8 men go to hunt the buffalow, killed
a hare & wolf Several Indians visit us to day & a Gross
Ventre came after his wife, who had been much abused, &
came here for Protection.

4th.. of January Friday 1805 Fort Mandan—

a worm Snowey Morning, the Thermtr. at 28°. above 0,
Cloudy, Sent out 3 Men to hunt down the river, Several
Indians Came to day, the little Crow, who has proved friendly
Came, we gave him a handkerchf & 2 files, in the evening
the weather became cold and windey, wind from the NW. I
am Verry unwell the after part of the Daye

5th. of January Satturday 1805 —

a cold day Some Snow, Several Indians visit us with their
axes to get them mended, I imploy my Self Drawing a Connection
of the Countrey [5] from what information I have rec[e]ved.

a Buffalow Dance (or Medeson) (Medecine) for 3
nights passed in the 1st. Village, a curious Custom the old
men arrange themselves in a circle & after Smoke[ing] a pipe
which is handed them by a young man, Dress[ed] up for the
purpose, the young men who have their wives back of the
Circle go [each] to one of the old men with a whining tone
and request the old man to take his wife (who presents [herself]
necked except a robe) and—(or Sleep with her) the
Girl then takes the Old Man (who verry often can scarcely
walk) and leades him to a convenient place for the business,
after which they return to the lodge; if the old man (or a
white man) returns to the lodge without gratifying the Man &
his wife, he offers her again and again; it is often the Case that
after the 2d. time without Kissing the Husband throws a new
robe over the old man &c. and begs him not to dispise him
& his wife (We Sent a man to this Medisan Dance last
night, they gave him 4 Girls) all this is to cause the buffalow
to Come near So that they may Kill them[6]

6th.. of January Sunday 1805 —

a Cold day but fiew indians to day I am ingaved
[engaged] as yesterday

7th, of January Monday 1805 —

a verry cold Clear Day. The Themtr. Stood at 22°. below
0 Wind NW., the river fell 1 inch Several indians returned
from hunting, one of them the Big White Chief of the
Lower Mandan Village, Dined with us, and gave me a Scetch
of the Countrey as far as the high Mountains, & on the South
Side of the River Rejone,[7] he Says that the river rejone
recvees (receives) 6 Small rivers on the S. Side, & that the
Countrey is verry hilley and the greater part Covered with
timber Great numbers of beaver &c. the 3 men returned
from hunting, they killd., 4 Deer & 2 Wolves, Saw Buffalow a
long ways off. I continue to Draw a connected plott from the

information of Traders, Indians & my own observation &
ideas. from the best information, the Great falls is about
(800) miles nearly West, [8]

8th.. of January Tuesday 1805 —

a cold Day but fiew indians at the fort to day wind from
the N.W. one man at the Village [9]

9th.. of January Wednesday 1805

a Cold Day Themometer at 21°. below 0, great numbers
of indians go to kill Cows,[10] (Cp. Clark accd. them with 3 or 4 men
killed a number of cows near the fort.) the little Crow Brackft.
with us, Several Indians Call at the Fort nearly frosed, one
man reported that he had Sent his Son a Small boy to the
fort about 3 oClock, & was much distressed at not finding him
here, the after part of this day verry Cold, and wind keen

10th.. of January Thursday 1805

last night was excessively Cold the Murkery this morning
Stood at 40°. below 0 which is 72°. below the freesing point,
we had one man out last night, who returned about 8 oClock
this morning. The Indians of the lower Villege turned out
to hunt for a man & a boy who had not returnd from the hunt
of yesterday, and borrow'd a Slay to bring them in expecting
to find them frosed to death[11] about 10 oClock the boy about

13 years of age Came to the fort with his feet frosed and had
layed out last night without fire with only a Buffalow Robe to
Cover him, the Dress which he wore was a pr. of Cabra
(antelope) Legins, which is verry thin and mockersons we had
his feet put in cold water and they are Comeing too. Soon
after the arrival of the Boy, a Man Came in who had also
Stayed out without fire, and verry thinly Clothed, this man
was not the least injured. Customs & the habits of those
people has anured [them] to bare more Cold than I thought
it possible for man to endure. Sent out 3 men to hunt Elk
below about 7 miles

11th.. January Friday 1805

Verry Cold, Send out 3 men to join 3 now below & hunt,
Pose-cop se ha or Black Cat. came to See us and Stay all night

Sho ta har ro ra or Coal also stayd all night, the inturpiter
oldst wife Sick, Some of our Men go to See a War Medeson
made at the Village on the opposit Side of the river, this is a
[blank in MS.]

12th. of January Satturday 1805

a verry Cold Day three of our hunters J & R Fields withe
2 Elk on a Slay Sent one more hunter out.

13th.. of January Sunday 1805

a Cold Clear Day (great number of Indians move Down the
River to hunt) those people Kill a Number of Buffalow near
their Villages and Save a great perpotion of the Meat, theer
Custom of makeing this article of life General (see note) (common)
leaves them more than half of their time without meat [12] Their
Corn & Beans &c they keep for the Summer, and as a reserve
in Case of an attack from the Soues, [of] which they are always
in dread, and Sildom go far to hunt except in large parties,
about ½ the Mandans nation passed this to day to hunt on

the river below, they will Stay out some Days, Mr. Chabonee
(our inturpeter) and one man that accompanied him to Some
loges of the Menatarrees near the Turtle Hill [13] returned, both
frosed in their faces. Chaboneu informs that the Clerk of the
Hudson Bay Co. with the Me ne tar res has been Speaking
Some fiew expressns unfavourable towards us, and that it is Said
the NW Co: intends building a fort at the Mene tar rés. he
Saw the grand Chief of the Big bellies who Spoke Slightly of
the Americans, Saying if we would give our great flag to him
he would Come to See us.

14th. of January 1805 Monday

This morning early a number of indians men women children
Dogs &c. &c. passed down on the ice to joine those that passed
yesterday, we Sent Sergt Pryor and five men with those indians
to hunt (Several men with the Venereal cought from the Mandan
women) one of our hunters Sent out Several days [ago]
arived & informs that one Man (Whitehouse) is frost bit and
Can't walk home.

15th.. January Tuesday 1805 Fort Mandan

between 12 & 3 oClock this Morning we had a total eclips
of the Moon, a part of the observations necessary for our purpose
in this eclips we got which is

at 12 h–57 m–54 s Total Darkness of the Moon

at –1 –44 –00 End of total Darkness of The moon

at 2 – 39 – 10 End of the eclips.

This morning not so Cold as yesterday Wind from the
S.E. wind choped around to the N. W. Still temperate four
Considerate [considerable—Ed.] men of the Menetarre Came
to See us We Smoked in the pipe, many Mands. present also,
we Showed (attentions) to those men who had been impressed
with an unfavourable oppinion of us (which satisfied them).

16th. January Wednesday 1805

about thirty Mandans came to the fort to day, 6 chiefs.
those Me-ne-ta-rees told them they were liars, had told them
if they Came to the fort the whites men would kill them, they
had been with them all night, Smoked in the pipe and have
been treated well and the whites had danced for them, observeing
the Mandans were bad and ought to hide themselves. one
of the 1st. War Chiefs of the big bell[i]es nation Came to see us
to day with one man and his Squar to wate on him (requested
that she might be used for the night) (his wife handsome) We
Shot the Air gun, and gave two Shots with the Cannon which
pleased them verry much, the little Crow 2d. Chf of the lower
Village Came & brought us Corn &c. 4 men of ours who
had been hunting returned one frost'd

This War Chief gave us a Chart in his Way of the Missourie,
he informed us of his intentions of going to War in the Spring
against the Snake Indians we advised him to look back at the
number of Nations who had been distroyed by War, and reflect
upon what he was about to do, observing if he wished the hapiness
of his nation, he would be at peace with all, by that by
being at peace and haveing plenty of goods amongst them & a
free intercourse with those defenceless nations, they would get
on easy tirms a greater Number of horses, and that Nation
would increas, if he went to War against those Defenceless
people, he would displease his great father, and he would not
receive that pertection & care from him as other nations who
listened to his word. This Chief who is a young man 26 yr. old
replied that if his going to war against the Snake indians would
be displeasing to us he would not go, he had horses enough.

We observed that what we had said was the words of his
great father, and what we had Spoken to all the Nations which
we Saw on our passage up, they all promis to open their ears,
and we do not know as yet if any of them has Shut them (we
are doubtfull of the Soues) if they do not attend to what we
have told them their great father will open their ears. This
Chief Said that he would advise all his nation to stay at home
untill we Saw the Snake Indians & Knew if they would be
friendly, he himself would attend to what we had told him.

17th.. January Thursday 1805

a verry Windey morning hard from the North Thermomiter
at 0, Several Indians here to day

18th.. January Friday 1805

a fine worm morning, Mr. La Rock a[nd] Mc.Kinzey Came
down to See us with them Several of the Grosse Ventres.

19th.. January Satturday 1805.

a fine Day Messrs. Le rock & Mc.Kinzey returned home,
Sent three horses down to our hunting Camp for the meet
they had killed, Jussomes Squar, left him and went to the
Village

20th..—

a Cold fair day Several Indians at the fort to day a
Missunderstanding took place between the two inturpeters on
account of their squars, one of the Squars of Shabowner
Squars being Sick, I ordered my Servent to give her Some
froot Stewed and tee at dift times which was the cause of the
missundstd.[14]

21st Monday January 1805

a number of Indians here to day a fine day nothing
remarkable one ban [man] verry bad with the pox.

22nd.. January 1805 Tuesday

a find warm Day attempted to Cut the Boat & perogues
out of the Ice, found water at about 8 inches under the 1st.
Ice, the next thickness about 3 feet

23rd January 1805 Wednesday

A Cold Day Snow fell 4 Inches deep, the accurancies
(accurrencies) of this day is as is common

24th January Thursday 1805

a fine day, our inturpeters appear to understand each other
better than a fiew days past. Sent out Several hunters, they
returned without killing any thing, Cut Coal wood.[15]

25th.. of January 1805 Friday

we are informed of the arrival of a Band of assniboins at
the Villages with the Grand Chief of those Tribes Call[ed] the
(Fee de petite veau) (Fils de Petit veau) to trade, one of our
interpeters & one man Set out to the Big Belley Camp opposit
the Island, men employ'd in Cutting the Boat out of the ice,
and Collecting Coal wood.

26th.. of January Satturday 1805

a verry fine worm Day Several Indians Dine with us and
are much Pleased. one man taken violently Bad with the
Plurisie, Bleed & apply those remedies Common to that disorder.

27th. of January Sunday 1805

a fine day, attempt to Cut our Boat and Canoos out of
the Ice, a deficuelt Task I fear as we find water between the
Ice, I bleed the man with the Plurisy to day & Swet him,
Capt. Lewis took off the Toes of one foot of the Boy who got
frost bit Some time ago, Shabonoe our interpeter returned,
& informed that the Assiniboins had returned to their Camps,
& brought 3 horses of Mr. Larock's to Stay here for fear of
their being Stolen by the Assiniboins who are great rogues.[16]
cut off the boy['s] toes.

28th. January Monday 1805

attempt to Cut through the ice to get our Boat and Canoo
out without Suckcess, Several Indians here
wishing to get War hatchets Made the man
Sick yesterday is getting well Mr. Jessome our
interpiter was taken verry unwell this evening worm day

29th.. January Tuesday 1805

Gave Jassome a Dost of Salts We Send & Collect Stones
and put them on a large log heap to heet them with a view of
worming water in the Boat and by that means, Sepperate her
from the Ice, our attempt appears to be defeated by the
Stones all breaking & flying to peaces in the fire, a fine worm
Day, we are now burning a large Coal pit, to mend the
indians hatchets, & make them war axes, the only means by
which we precure Corn from them.

30th.. January Wednesday 1805

a fine morning. clouded up at 9 oClock, Mr. La Rocke
paid us a Visit, & we gave him an answer respecting the request
he made when last here of accompanying us on our Journey
&c. (refused)

31st. January Thursday 1805

Snowed last night, wind high from the NW. Sawed off the
boys toes Sent 5 men down the river to hunt with 2 horses,
our interpeter something better, George Drewyer taken with
the Pleurisy last evening Bled & gave him Some Sage tea, this
morning he is much better. Cold disagreeable Day

1st.. of February Friday 1805

a cold windey Day our hunters returnd. haveing killed only
one Deer, a War Chief of the Me ne tar ras came with some
Corn requested to have a War hatchet made, & requested to
be allowed to go to War against the Soues & Recarres who
had Killed a mandan Some time past. We refused, and gave
reassons, which he verry readily assented to, and promised to
open his ears to all We Said this Man is young and named
(Seeing Snake)-Mar-book, She-ah-O-ke-ah. this mans Woman
Set out & he prosued her, in the evening

2nd.. of February Satturday 1805

a fine Day, one Deer killed our interpeter Still unwell,
one of the wives of the Big belley interpetr Sick. Mr. Larocke
leave us to day (this man is a Clerk to the NW. Company, &
verry anxious to accompany us)

[Lewis:]

3rd of February Sunday 1805.[17]

a fine day; the blacksmith again commences his opperations.
we were visited by but few of the natives today. the
situation of our boat and perogues is now allarming, they are
firmly inclosed in the Ice and almost covered with snow— the
ice which incloses them lyes in several stratas of unequal thicknesses
which are seperated by streams of water. this [is]
peculiarly unfortunate because so soon as we cut through the
first strata of ice the water rushes up and rises as high as the
upper surface of the ice and thus creates such a debth of water
as renders it impracticable to cut away the lower strata which
appears firmly attatched to, and confining the bottom of the
vessels. the instruments we have hitherto used has been the
ax only, with which, we have made several attempts that
proved unsuccessfull from the cause above mentioned. we
then determined to attempt freeing them from the ice by
means of boiling water which we purposed heating in the
vessels by means of hot stones, but this expedient proved also
fruitless, as every species of stone which we could procure in
the neighbourhood partook so much of the calcarious genus
that they burst into small particles on being exposed to the
heat of the fire. we now determined as the dernier resort to
prepare a parsel of Iron spikes and attatch them to the end of
small poles of convenient length and endeavour by means
of them to free the vessels from the ice. we have already
prepared a large rope of Elk-skin and a windless by means of
which we have no doubt of being able to draw the boat on the
bank provided we can free [it] from the ice.

4th. February, Monday 1805.

This morning fair tho' could the thermometer stood at
18°. below Naught, wind from N.W. Capt Clark set out
with a hunting party consisting of sixteen of our command

and two frenchmen who together with two others, have established
a small hut and resided this winter within the vicinity
of Fort Mandane under our protection. visited by many of
the natives today. our stock of meat which we had procured
in the Months of November & December is now nearly exhausted;
a supply of this articles is at this moment peculiarly
interesting as well for our immediate consumption, as that we
may have time before the approach of the warm season to
prepare the meat for our voyage in the spring of the year.
Capt. Clark therefore determined to continue his rout down
the river even as far as the River bullet[18] unless he should find
a plenty of game nearer. the men transported their baggage
on a couple of small wooden Slays drawn by themselves, and
took with them 3 pack horses which we had agreed should be
returned with a load of meat to fort mandane as soon as they
could procure it. no buffaloe have made their appearance in
our neighbourhood for some weeks (time shorter); and I am
informed that our Indian neighbours suffer extreemly at this
moment for the article of flesh. Shields killed two deer this
evening, both very lean—one a large buck, he had shed his
horns.

5th. February Tuesday 1805. —

Pleasent morning wind from N.W. fair; visited by many
of the natives who brought a considerable quanty of corn in
payment for the work which the blacksmith had done for
them they are pecu[1]arly attatched to a battle ax formed in
a very inconvenient manner in my opinion. it is fabricated
of iron only, the blade is extreemly thin, from 7 to nine
inches in length and from 4 ¾, to 6 Inches on it's edge, from
whence the sides proceed nearly in a straight line to the eye
where it's width is generally not more than an inch. the eye
is round & about one inch in diameter, the handle seldom
more than fourteen inches in length, the whole weighing about
one pound the great length of the blade of this ax, added to
the small size of the handle renders a stroke uncertain and

easily avoided, while the shortness of the handel must render a
blow much less forceable if even well directed, and still more
inconvenient as they uniformly use this instrument in action
on horseback. The oalder fassion is still more inconvenient,
it is somewhat in the form of the blade of an Espantoon[19]
but is attatchd. to a helve of the dementions before discribed
the blade is sometimes by way of ornament purforated
with two three or more small circular
holes the following is the general figure it is
from 12 to 15 inces in length

6th. February Wednesday 1805.

Fair morning Wind from N.W. had a sley prepared against
the return of the horses which Capt Clark had promised to
send back as soon as he should be able to procure a load of
meat. visited by many of the natives among others the Big
white, the Coal, big-man, hairy horn and the black man, I
smoked with them, after which they retired, a deportment not
common, for they usually pester us with their good company
the ballance of the day after once being introduced to our
apartment. Shields killed three antelopes this evening. the
blacksmiths take a considerable quantity of corn today in payment
for their labour. the blacksmith's have proved a happy
reso[r]ce to us in our present situation as I believe it would
have been difficult to have devised any other method to have
procured corn from the natives. the Indians are extravegantly
fond of sheet iron of which they form arrow-points and manufacter
into instruments for scraping and dressing their buffaloe
robes. I permited the blacksmith to dispose of a part of a
sheet iron callaboos (camboose,[20] stove) which had been nearly
birnt out on our passage up the river, and for each piece about
four inches square he obtained from seven to eight gallons of
corn from the natives who appeared extreemly pleased with
the exchange

7th. February Thursday 1805.

This morning was fair Thermometer at 18°. above naught
much warmer than it has been for some days; wind S.E. continue
to be visited by the natives. The Sergt. of the guard
reported that the Indian women (wives to our interpreters)
were in the habit of unbaring the fort gate at any time of night
and admitting their Indian visitors, I therefore directed a
lock to be put to the gate and ordered that no Indian but
those attatched to the garrison should be permitted to remain
all night within the fort or admitted during the period which
the gate had been previously ordered to be kept shut, which
was from sunset untill sunrise.

8th. February Friday 1805.

This morning was fair wind S.E. the weather still warm and
pleasent. visited by the black-Cat the principal chief of the
Roop-tar-he, or upper mandane village. this man possesses
more integrety, firmness, inteligence and perspicuety of mind
than any indian I have met with in this quarter, and I think
with a little management he may be made a usefull agent in
furthering the views of our government. The black Cat presented
me with a bow and apologized for not having completed
the shield he had promised alledging that the weather had been
too could to permit his making it, I gave him som small shot
6 fishing-hooks and 2 yards of ribbon his squaw also presented
me with 2 pair of mockersons for which in return I
gave a small lookingglass and a couple of nedles. the chief
dined with me and left me in the evening. he informed me
that his people suffered very much for the article of meat, and
that he had not himself tasted any for several days.

9th. February Saturday 1805.

The morning fair and pleasent, wind from S.E. visited by
Mr. McKinzey one of the N.W. Company's clerks. this evening
a man by the name of Howard whom I had given permission
to go [to] the Mandane vilage returned after the gate was
shut and reather than call to the guard to have it opened
scaled the works an indian who was looking on shortly after

followed his example. I convinced the Indian of the impropryety
of his conduct, and explained to him the risk he had
run of being severely treated, the fellow appeared much
allarmed, I gave him a small piece of tobacco and sent him
away Howard I had comitted to the care of the guard with a
determineation to have him tryed by a Court-martial for this
offence. this man is an old soldier which still hightens this
offince.

10th February Sunday 1805.

This Morning was Cloudy after a slight Snow which fell in
the course of the night the wind blue very hard from N.W.
altho' the thermometer stood at 18°. above naught the violence
of the wind caused a degree of could that was much more unpleasent
than that of yesterday when thermometer stood at 10°.
only above the same point. Mr. Mc.Kinzey left me this morning.
Charbono returned with one of the Frenchmen, and
informed me that he had left the three Horses and two men
with the meat which Capt. Clark had sent at some distance
below on the river he told me that the horses were heavy
loaded and that not being shod it was impossible for horses to
travel on the ice. I determined to send down some men with
two small slays for the meat and accordingly I gave orders that
they should set out early the next morning. two men were
also sent to conduct the horses by way of the plain.

11th. February Monday 1805.

The party that were ordered last evening set out early this
morning, the weather was fair and could wind N.W. about
five Oclock this evening one of the wives of Charbono was
delivered of a fine boy.[21] it is worthy of remark that this was
the first child which this woman had boarn, and as is common
in such cases her labour was tedious and the pain violent;
Mr. Jessome informed me that he had freequently admininstered
a small portion of the rattle of the rattle-snake, which he

assured me had never failed to produce the desired effect, that
of hastening the birth of the child; having the rattle of a
snake by me I gave it to him and he administered two rings
of it to the woman broken in small pieces with the fingers and
added to a small quantity of water. Whether this medicine
was truly the cause or not I shall not undertake to determine,
but I was informed that she had not taken it more than ten
minutes before she brought forth perhaps this remedy may
be worthy of future experiments, but I must confess that I
want faith as to it's efficacy.

12th. February Tuesday 1805.

The morning was fair tho' could, thermometer at 14°. below
naught wind S.E. ordered the Blacksmith to shoe the horses
and some others to prepare some gears in order to send them
down with three slays to join the hunting party and transport
the meat which they may have procured to this place the
men whom I had sent for the meat left by Charbono did not
return untill 4 OClock this evening. Drewyer arrived with
the horses about the same time, the horses appeared much
fatieged I directed some meal brands [bran] given them
moisened with a little water but to my astonishment found
that they would not eat it but prefered the bark of the cotton
wood which forms the principall article of food usually given
them by their Indian masters in the winter season; for this
purpose they cause the tree to be felled by their women and
the horses feed on the boughs and bark of their tender
branches. the Indians in our neighbourhood are freequently
pilfered of their horses by the Recares, Souixs and Assinniboins
and therefore make it an invariable rule to put their
horses in their lodges at night. in this situation the only food
of the horse consists of a few sticks of the cottonwood from
the size of a man's finger to that of his arm. the Indians are
invariably severe riders, and frequently have occasion for many
days together through the whole course of the day to employ
their horses in pursueing the Buffaloe or transporting meat to
their vilages during which time they are seldom suffered to
tast food; at night the Horse returned to his stall where his

food is what seems to me a scanty allowance of wood. under
these circumstances it would seem that their horses could not
long exist or at least could not retain their flesh and strength,
but the contrary is the fact, this valuable anamall under all
those disadvantages is seldom seen meager or unfit for service.
A little after dark this evening Capt. Clark arrived with the
hunting party since they set out they have killed forty Deer,
three buffaloe bulls, & sixteen Elk, most of them were so
meager that they were unfit for uce, particularly the Buffaloe
and male Elk the wolves also which are here extreemly
numerous helped themselves to a considerable proportion of
the hunt. if an anamal is killed and lyes only one night
exposed to the wolves it is almost invariably devoured by
them.

13th. February Wednesday 1805.

The morning cloudy thermometer 2°. below naught wind
from S.E. visited by the Black-Cat gave him a battle ax with
which he appeared much gratifyed.

[Clark:]

I[22] returned last Night from a hunting party much fatigued,
haveing walked 30 miles on the ice and through Points of
wood land in which the Snow was nearly Knee Deep

The 1st. day [Feb 4] I left the fort proceeded on the ice to
new Mandan Island, 22 miles & camped, killed nothing, &
nothing to eat,

The 2d. day—the morning verry Cold & Windey. I broke
thro the ice and got my feet and legs wet, Sent out 4 hunters
thro' a point to kill a Deer & cook it by the time the party
should get up, those hunters killed a Deer & 2 Buffalow
Bulls the Buffalow too Meagur to eat, we eate the Deer &
proceeded on to an old Indian Lodge, Sent out the hunters
& they brought in three lean Deer, which we made use of for
food, walking on uneaven ice has blistered the bottoms of my
feat, and walking is painfull to me.

3rd. day—cold morning the after part of the Day worm,
Camped on a Sand point near the mouth of a Creek on the
SW. Side We Call hunting Creek, I turned out with the
hunters I killed 2 Deer the hunters killed an Elk, Buffalow
Bull, & 5 Deer. all Meager

4th. Day—hunted the two bottoms near the Camp Killed
9 Elk, 18 Deer, brought to camp all the meat fit to eate, &
had the bones taken out. every man ingaged either in hunting
or Collecting & packing the meat to Camp

5th. Day—Despatched one of the party our interpeter & 2
french men with the 3 horses loaded with the best of the meat
to the fort 44 miles Distant, the remaining meat I had packed
on the 2 Slays & drawn down to the next point about 3 miles
below, at this place I had all the meat collected which was
killed yesterday & had escaped the Wolves, Ravin & Magpie;
(which are verry noumerous about this place) and put into a
close pen made of logs to secure it from the wolves & birds &
proceeded on to a large bottom nearly opposit the Chisscheter
(heart) River, in this bottom we found but little game, Great
No. of Wolves, on the hills Saw Several parsels of Buffalow.
Camped. I killed a Buck

6th. Day—The Buffalow Seen last night provd to be Bulls.
lean & unfit for to make use of as food, the Distance from
Camp being nearly 60 miles and the packing of meat that distance
attended with much dificuelty Deturmined me to return
and hunt the points above, we Set out on our return and
halted at an old Indian lodge 40 miles below Fort Mandan
Killed 3 Elk, & 2 Deer.

7th. Day—a cold Day wind blew hard from the N.W. J
Fields got one of his ears frosed deturmined to lay by and
hunt to day Killed an Elk & 6 deer, all that was fit for us
[of] this meat I had Boned and put into a Close pen made of
logs.

8th. Day—the air keen halted at the old Camp we staye
in on the 2d night after we left the Fort, expecting to meat the
horses at this Place, killed 3 Deer, Several men being nearly
out of Mockersons, & the horses not returning deturmined me
to return to the Fort on tomorrow.

9th. day.—Set out early, Saw great numbers of Grouse feeding
on the young Willows, on the Sand bars, one man I sent
in persute of a gangue of Elk Killed three near the old Ricara
Village, and joined at the fort, Sent him back to secure the
meat, one man with him. The ice on the Parts of the river
which was verry rough, as I went down, was Smoothe on my
return, This is owing to the rise and fall of the water, which
takes place every day or two, and Caused by partial thaws, and
obstructions in the passage of the water thro the Ice, which
frequently attaches itself to the bottom, the water when riseing
forses its way thro the cracks & air holes above the old ice,
& in one night becomes a Smothe Surface of ice 4 to 6 Inchs
thick, the River falls & the ice Sink in places with the water
and attaches itself to the bottom, and when it again rises to its
former hite, frequently leavs a Valley of Several feet to Supply
with water to bring it on a leavel Surfice. The water of the
Missouri at this time is Clear with little tingue.

I saw Several old Villages near the Chisscheter River on
enquirey found they were Mandan Villages destroyed by the
Sous & Small Pox, they [were] noumerous and lived in 6 (9)
Villages near that place.

14th.. of February Thursday 1805.

The Snow fell 3 inches Deep last Night, a fine morning,
Despatched George Drewyer & 3 men, with two Slays drawn
by 3 horses for the Meat left below.

15th.. of February Friday 1805

at 10 oClock P M. last night the men that [were] despatched
yesterday for the Meat, returned and informed us that as they
were on their march down at the distance of about 24 miles
below the Fort (G. Drewyer Frasure, S Gutterage, & Newmon[23]
with a broken Gun). about 105 Indians which they took to be
Soues rushed on them and cut their horses from the Slays, two
of which they carried off in great hast, the 3rd. horse was given
up to the party by the intersetion of an Indian who assumd.

Some authority on the occasion, probably more thro fear of
himself or Some of the Indians being killed by our men who
were not disposed to be Robed of all they had tamely, they
also forced 2 of the mens knives & a tamahauk, the man
obliged them to return the tamahawk [, but] the knives they
ran off with

We dispatched two men to inform the Mandans, and if any
of them chose to pursue those robers, to come down in the
morning, and join Capt Lewis who intended to Set out with a
party of men Verry early, by 12 oClock the Chief of the 2nd.
Village Big White came down, and Soon after one other Chief
and Several men. The Chief observed that all the young men
of the 2 Villages were out hunting, and but verry fiew guns
were left, Capt. Lewis Set out at Sunrise with 24 men, to
meet those Soues &c. Several Indians accompanied him Some
with Bows & arrows Some with Spears & Battle axes, 2 with
fuzees (fusils).[24] the morning fine The Thermometer Stood
at 16°. below 0, Nought, visited by 2 of the Big Bellies this
evening, one Chief of the Mandans returned from Capt
Lewises Party nearly blind, this Complaint is as I am informd.
Common at this Season of the year and caused by the reflection
of the Sun on the ice & Snow, it is cured by "jentilley swetting
the part affected, by throwing Snow on a hot Stone."

a Verry Cold part of the night one man Killed a verry
large Red Fox to day.

16th.. of February Saturday 1805

a fine morning, visited by but fiew Indians to day, at
Dusk two of the Indians who wint down with Capt. Lewis
returned, Soon after two others and one man (Howard) with
his feet frosted, and informed that the Inds. who Commited the
roberry of the 2 horses was So far a head that they could not
be overtaken, they left a number of pars of Mockersons
which, the Mandans knew to be Soues Mockersons, This
war party camped verry near the last Camp I made when on
my hunting party, where they left Some Corn, as a deception,
with a view to induce a belief that they were Ricarras.

Capt Lewis & party proceeded on down the meat I left at
my last Camp was taken.

17th.. of February Sunday 1805

this morning worm & a little Cloudy, the Coal & his Son
visited me to day with a about 30lb. of dri[e]d Buffalow meat,
& Some Tallow Mr. Mc. Kinsey one of the NW. Compys.
Clerks visited me (one of the ho[r]ses the Sous robed a fiew
Days past. belonged to this man) The after part of the day
fair.

18th.. of February Monday 1805

a cloudy morning Some Snow, Several Indians here to day
Mr. Mc Kinsey leave me, the after part of the day fine I am
much engaged makeing a descriptive List of the Rivers from
Information[25] our Store of Meat is out to day.

19th.. of February Tuesday 1805

a fine Day visited by Several of the Mandans to day,
our Smiths are much engaged mending and makeing Axes for
the Indians for which we get Corn

20th. February Wednesday 1805

a Butifull Day, visited by the Little raven verry early this
mornning I am informed of the Death of an old man whome
I saw in the Mandan Village this man, informed me that he
"was 120 winters old, he requested his grand Children to
Dress him after Death & Set him on a Stone on a hill with his
face towards his old Village or Down the river, that he might
go Streight to his brother at their old village under ground"[26]
I observed Several Mandans verry old chiefly men[27]

21st.. February Thursday 1805

a Delightfull Day put out our Clothes to Sun. Visited by
the big White & Big Man they informed me that Several
men of their nation was gone to Consult their Medison Stone
about 3 day march to the South West to know what was to be
the result of the ensuing year. They have great confidence in
this stone, and say that it informs them of every thing which
is to happen, & visit it everry Spring & Sometimes in the
Summer. "They haveing arrived at the Stone give it smoke
and proceed to the Wood at Some distance to Sleep the next
morning return to the Stone, and find marks white & raised
on the stone representing the peece or War which they are to
meet with, and other changes, which they are to meet" This
Stone has a leavel Surface of about 20 feet in Surcumfrance,
thick and porus," and no doubt has Some mineral quallites
effected by the Sun.[28]

The Big Bellies have a Stone to which they ascribe nearly
the Same Virtues

Capt Lewis returned with 2 Slays loaded with meat, after
finding that he could not overtake the Soues War party, (who
had in their way distroyed all the meat at one Deposit which I
had made & Burnt the Lodges) deturmined to proceed on to
the lower Deposit which he found had not been observed by
the Soues he hunted two day Killed 36 Deer & 14 Elk,
Several of them so meager, that they were unfit for use, the
meet which he killed and that in the lower Deposit amounting
to about 3000lb.. was brought up on two Slays one Drawn by
16 men had about 2400lb. on it

22nd.. of February Friday 1805.

a Cloudy morning, about 12 oClock it began to rain, and
Continud for a fiew minite, and turned to Snow, and Continud

Snowing for about one hour, and Cleared away fair
The two hunters left below arrived, they killed two Elk, and
hung them up out of reach of the Wolves. The Coal a
Ricara who is a considarable Chief of the Mandans Visited
us to day, and maney others of the three nations in our
neighbourhood.

23rd. of February 1805 Satturday

All hands employed in Cutting the Perogues Loose from
the ice, which was nearly even with their top; we found great
dificuelty in effecting this work owing to the Different devisions
of Ice & water. after Cutting as much as we Could with
axes, we had all the Iron we Could get, & some axes put on
long poles and picked through the ice, under the first water,
which was not more the [than] 6 or 8 inches Deep, we disengaged
one Perogue, and nearly disengaged the 2nd. in Course
of this day which has been worm & pleasent vis'ed by a No
of Indians, Jessomme & familey went to the Shoe Indians
Villag to day

The father of the Boy whose feet were frosed near this place,
and nearly Cured by us, took him home in a Slay.

24th. February Sunday 1805

The Day fine, we Commenced very early to day the Cutting
loose the boat which was more dificuelt than the Perogus
with great exertions and with the assistance of Great prises we
lousened her, and turned the Second perogue upon the ice,
ready to Draw out, in lousening the boat from the ice Some
of the Corking drew out which Caused her to Leake for a fiew
minits untill we Descovered the Leake & Stoped it. Jessomme
our interpeter & familey returned from the Villages Several
Indians visit us to day

25th.. of February Monday 1805

We fixed a Windlass and Drew up the two Perogues on the
upper bank, and attempted the Boat, but the Roap, which we
hade made of Elk skins proved too weak & broke Several
times. night Comeing on obliged us to leave her in a Situation

but little advanced. We were visited by the Black mockerson
Chief of the little Village of the Big Bellies, the Chief of the
Shoe Inds. and a number of others those Chiefs gave us Some
meat which they packed on their wives, and one requested a
ax to be made for his Sun, Mr. (Root) Bunch, one of the under
traders for the hudsons Bay Company. one of the Big Bellies
asked leave for himself & his two wives to Stay all night, which
was granted, also two Boys Stayed all night, one the Sun of
the Black Cat.

The Day has been exceedingly pleasent

26th February Tuesday 1805

a fine Day Commenced verry early in makeing preparations
for drawing up the Boat on the bank, at Sunset by
Repeated exertions the whole day, we accomplished this
troublesom task, just as we were fixed for hauling the Boat,
the ice gave way near us for about 100 yds in length. a number
of Indians here to day to See the Boat rise on the Bank.

27th.. of February Wednesday 1805

a find day, preparing the Tools to make perogues all day.
a fiew Indians Visit us to day, one the largest Indian I ever
Saw, & as large a man as ever I saw, I commence a Map of
the Countrey on the Missouries & its water &c. &c.—

28th.. of February Thursday 1805

a fine morning two men of the NW Compy arrive with letters
and Sackacomah,[29] also a Root and top of a plant, presented by
Mr. Haney, for the Cure of Mad Dogs Snakes &c. and to be
found & used as follows viz: "this root is found on the high
lands and asent of hills, the way of useing it is to scarify the
part when bitten to chu or pound an inch or more if the root
is Small, and applying it to the bitten part renewing it twice

Day. the bitten person is not to chaw nor Swallow any of the
Root for it might have contrary effect."[30]

Sent out 16 men to make four Perogus those men returned
in the evening and informed that they found trees they
thought would answer.

Mr. Gravelin two frenchmen & two Inds. arrive from the
Ricara Nation with Letters from Mr. Anty Tabeaux, informing
us of the peeceable dispositions of that nation towards the
Mandans & Me ne ta rees & their avowed intentions of pursueing
our councils & advice, they express a wish to visit the
Mandans, & [to] know if it will be agreeable to them to admit
the Recaras to Settle near them and join them against their
Common Enemey the Soues We mentioned this to the mandans,
who observed they had always wished to be at peace and
good neighbours with the Ricaras, and it is also the Sentiments
of all the Big bellies, & Shoe nations

Mr. Gravelen informs that the Sisetoons and the 3 upper
bands of the Tetons, with the Yanktons of the North intend to
come to war in a Short time against the nations in this quarter,
& will kill everry white man they See. Mr. T. also informs
that Mr. Cameron[31] of St Peters has put arms into the hands of
the Soues to revenge the death of 3 of his men killed by the
Chipaways latterley, and that the Band of tetons which we
Saw is desposed to doe as we have advised them, thro the
influence of their Chief the Black Buffalow.

Mr. Gravelen further informs that the Party which Robed
us of the 2 horses laterly were all Sieoux 106 in number, they
Called at the Recaras on their return, the Recares being despleased
at their Conduct would not give them any thing to
eate, that being the greatest insult they Could peaceably offer
them, and upbraded them.

March 1st. Friday 1805

a fine Day I am ingaged in Copying a Map,[32] men building
perogus, makeing Ropes, Burning Coal, Hanging up meat
& makeing battle axes for Corn

2nd. of March 1805 Satturday—

a fine Day the river brake up in places all engaged about
Something Mr. LaRocque a Clerk of the NW Company visit
us, he has latterley returned from the Establishments on the
Assinniboin River, with Merchindize to tarade with Indians.
Mr. L informs us the N.W. & XY[33] Companies have joined,
& the head of the N.W, Co. is Dead Mr. Mc. Tavish of Montreal,
visited by the Coal & Several Indians.

3rd.. of March Sunday 1805

a fine Day Wind from the NW, a large flock of Ducks
pass up the River visited by the black Cat, Chief of the
Mandans 2d. Chief and a Big Belley, they Stayed but a Short
time we informed those Chiefs of the news rec[e]ved from the
Recaras, all hands employd.

4th. March Monday 1805 Fort Mandan

a cloudy morning wind from the NW the after part of the
day Clear, visited by the Black Cat & Big white, who
brought a Small present of meat, an Engage of the NW Co:
Came for a horse, and requested in the name of the woman of
the principal of his Department some Silk of three Colours,
which we furnished. The Assinniboins who visited the
Mandans a fiew days ago, returned and attempted to take
horses of the Minetarees & were fired on by them.

5th. March Tuesday 1805

A fine Day, Thermometer at 40° above 0. Several Indians
Visit us to day one frenchman Cross to join a Indian, the
two to pass through by Land to the Ricaras with a Letter to
Mr. Tabbow

6th.. of March Wednesday 1805

a cloudy morning & Smokey all Day from the burning of
the plains, which was set on fire by the Minetarries for an
early crop of Grass, as an enducement for the Buffalow to feed
on, the horses which was Stolen Some time ago by the Assinniboins
from the Menetarries were returned yesterday. Visited
by Oh-harh or the Little fox 2d. Chief of the lower Village of
the Me ne tar rees. one man Shannon Cut his foot with the
ads [adze] in working at the perogue, George & Gravelene
go to the Village, the river rise a little to day.

7th.. of March Thursday 1805

a little cloudy and windey, NE. the Coal Visited us with a
Sick child, to whome I gave Some of rushes[34] pills. Shabounar
returned this evening from the Gross Ventres & informed that
all the nation had returned from the hunting—he (our Menetarre
interpeter) had received a present from Mr. Chaboillez of
the N.W. Company of the following articles 3 Brace [35] of Cloth
1 Brace of Scarlet a par Corduroy overalls 1 Vests 1 Brace Blu
Cloth, 1 Brace red or Scorlet with 3 bars, 200 balls & Powder,
2 brac[e]s Tobacco, 3 Knives.

8th.. of March Friday 1805

a fair Morning cold and windey, wind from the East,
visited by the Greesey head & a Ricara to day, those men
gave Some account of the Indians near the rockey Mountains

a young Indian (Minetarre) same nation & different village,

Stole the Doughter of the Black man (Mandan), he went
to his village took his horse & returned & took away his
doughter [36]

9th.. of March Satturday 1805

a Cloudy Cold and windey morning wind from the North.
I walked up to See the Party that is makeing Perogues, about
5 miles above this, the wind hard and Cold on my way up I
met the (The Borgne) Main Chief of the Ma ne tar res, with
four Indians on their way to see us, (see note of 9 March after
10th Mar 1805), I requested him to proceed on to the fort,
where he would find Capt. Lewis I should be there myself in
corse of a fiew hours, Sent the interpiter back with him
and proceeded on myself to the Canoes found them nearly
fin[i]shed, the timber verry bad (Qu x), after visiting all the
perogues where I found a number of Indians, I wind [went]
to the upper mandan Village & Smoked a pipe (the greatest
mark of friendship and attention) with the Chief and returned.
on my return found the Manetarree Chief about Setting out
on his return to his Village, having recived of Captain M.
Lewis a Medel Gorget armban[d]s, a Flag Shirt, scarlet &c.
&c. &c. for which he was much pleased, those things were
given in place of Sundery articles Sent to him which he Sais he
did not receive, 2 guns were fired for this Great man. [37]

10th.. of March Sunday 1805.

a cold winday Day, we are visited by the Black Mockersons,
Chief of the 2d. Minetarre Village and the Chief of the
Shoeman Village (Shoe or Mocassin Tr:) or Mah hâ ha V.
(Wattassoans) those Chiefs Stayed all day and the latter all
night, and gave us man[y] Strang[e] accounts of his nation &c.

this Little tribe or band of Me ne tar rees (call themselves Ah-nah-hâ-way
or people whose Village is on the Hill. (Insert
this Ahnahaway is the nation Mahhaha the village) this little
nation formerley lived about 30 miles below this, but beeing
oppressed by the Assinniboins & Sous were Compelled to
move near (5 miles) the Menetarees, where, the Assinniboins
killed the most of them, those remaining built a village verry
near to the Menetarries at the mouth of Knife R where they
now live, and Can raise about 50 men, they are intermixed
with the Mandans & Menatarries. the Mandans formerly
lived in 6 (nine) large Villages at and above the mouth of Chischeter
or Heart River four (Six) Villages on the West Side (of
the Missouri) & two (three) on the East one of those Villages
on the East Side of the Missouri & the larges[t] was entirely
Cut off by the Seaux & the greater part of the other and the
Small Pox reduced the others.

11th. of March Monday 1805

A Cloudy Cold windey day, Some Snow in the latter part
of the day, we deturmin to have two other Perogus made for
to transport our Provisions &c.

We have every reason to believe that our Menetarre interpeter
(whome we intended to take with his wife, as an interpeter
through his wife to the Snake Indians of which nation
She is) has been Corrupted by the [blank in MS] Company
&c. Some explenation has taken place which Clearly proves
to us the fact, we give him to night to reflect and deturmin
whether or not he intends to go with us under the regulations
Stated.

12th..

a fine day Some Snow last night our Interpeter Shabonah,
deturmins on not proceeding with us as an interpeter under
the terms mentioned yesterday, he will not agree to work let
our Situation be what it may nor Stand a guard, and if miffed
with any man he wishes to return when he pleases, also have
the disposal of as much provisions as he Chuses to Carry in
admissable and we Suffer him to be off the engagement which
was only virbal Wind NW

13th.. of March Wednesday 1805

a fine day visited by Mr. Mc. Kinzey one of the Clerks of
the NW. Companey, the river riseing a little. Maney Inds.
here to day all anxiety for war axes the Smiths have not an
hour of Idle time to Spear wind SW.

14th.. March Thursday 1805.—

a fine day Set all hands to Shelling Corn &c. Mr. Mc. Kinsey
leave us to day Many Indians as usial. wind west river
Still riseing.

15th.. of March Friday 1805—

a fine day I put out all the goods, & Parch[ed] meal
Clothing &c to Sun, a number of Indians here to day they
make maney remarks respecting our goods &c. Set Some
men about Hulling Corn &c.

16th.. of March Satturday 1805 —

a cloudy day wind from the S.E. one Indian much displeased
with white-house for Strikeing his hand when eating,
with a Spoon for behaving badly. Mr. Garrow show's us the
way the recaras made their large Beeds.

[Lewis:][38]

Mr. Garrow a Frenchman who has lived many years with
the Ricares & Mandans shewed us the process used by those
Indians to make beads. the discovery of this art these nations
are said to have derived from the Snake Indians who have
been taken prisoners by the Ricaras. the art is kept a secret
by the Indians among themselves and is yet known to but few
of them. the Prosess is as follows.—Take glass of as many
different colours as you think proper, then pound it as fine as
possible, puting each colour in a seperate vessel. wash the
pounded Glass in severtal waters throwing off the water at

each washing, continue this opperation as long as the pounded
glass stains or colours the water which is poured off and the
residuum is then prepared for uce. you then provide an
earthen pot of convenient size say of three gallons which will
stand the fire; a platter also of the same material sufficiently
small to be admitted in the mouth of the pot or jar. the pot
has a nitch in it's edge through which to watch the beads when
in blast. You then provide some well seasoned clay with a
proportion of sand sufficient to prevent it's becoming very
hard when exposed to the heat. this clay must be tempered
with water untill it is about the consistency of common doe.
of this clay you then prepare, a sufficient number of little
sticks of the size you wish the hole through the bead, which
you do by roling the clay on the palm of the hand with your
finger. this done put those sticks of clay on the platter and
expose them to a red heat for a few minutes when you take
them off and suffer them to cool. the pot is also heated to
cles [cleanse] it perfectly of any filth it may contain. small
balls of clay are also mad[e] of about an ounce weight which
serve each as a pedestal for a bead. these while soft ar destributed
over the face of the platter at su[c]h distance from
each other as to prevent the beads from touching. some little
wooden paddles are now provided from three to four inches in
length sharpened or brought to a point at the extremity of the
handle. with this paddle you place in the palm of the hand
as much of the wet pounded glass as is necessary to make the
bead of the size you wish it. it is then arranged with the
paddle in an oblong from [from], laying one of those little
stick of clay crosswise over it; the pounded glass by means of
the paddle is then roped in cilindrical form arround the stick
of clay and gently roled by motion of the hand backwards an
forwards untill you get it as regular and smooth as you conveniently
can. if you wish to introduce any other colour you
now purforate the surface of the bead with the pointed end of
your little paddle and fill up the cavity with other pounded
glass of the colour you wish forming the whole as regular as
you can. a hole is now made in the center of the little pedestals
of clay with the handle of your shovel sufficiently large
to admit the end of the stick of clay arround which the bead is
formed. the beads are then arranged perpendicularly on their
pedestals and little distance above them supported by the little
sticks of clay to which they are attatched in the manner before
mentioned. thus arranged the platter is deposited on burning
coals or hot embers and the pot reversed with the apparture in
its edge turned towards covers the whole. dry wood pretty
much doated (doughted)[39] is then plased arron [around] the pot
in sush manner as compleatly to cover it [It] is then set on
fire and the opperator must shortly after begin to watch his
beads through the apparture of the pot le[s]t they should be
distroyed by being over heated. he suffers the beads to
acquire a deepred heat from which when it passes in a small
degree to a pailer or whitish red, or he discovers that the beads
begin to become pointed at their upper extremities he removes
the fire from about the pot and suffers the whole to cool gradually.
the pot is then removed and the beads taken out. the
clay which fills the hollow of the beads is picked out with an
awl or nedle. the bead is then fit for uce. The Indians are
extreemly fond of the large beads formed by this process.
they use them as pendants to their years, or hair and sometimes
wear them about their necks.[40]

[Clark:]

17th.. of March Sunday—

a windey Day attempted to air our goods &c. Mr.
Chabonah Sent a frenchman of our party [to say] that he
was Sorry for the foolish part he had acted and if we pleased
he would accompany us agreeabley to the terms we had perposed
and doe every thing we wished him to doe &c. &c. he

had requested me Some thro our French inturpeter two days
ago to excuse his Simplicity and take him into the cirvice,
after he had taken his things across the River we called him in
and Spoke to him on the Subject, he agreed to our tirms and
we agreed that he might go on with us &c. &c. but fiew
Indians here to day, the river riseing a little and Severall
places open.

18th. of March 1805—

a Cold Cloudy Day wind from the N. I pack up all the
Merchendize into 8 packs equally divided So as to have Something
of every thing in each Canoe & perogue I am informed
of a Party of Christanoes & Assinniboins being killed by the
Sioux, 50 in Number near the Establishments on the Assinniboin
R. a fiew days ago (the effect of Mr. Cammerons revenge
on the Chipaways for killing 3 of his men) Mr. Tousent
Chabono [Toussaint Charboneau], Enlisted as Interpreter this
evening, I am not well to day,

19th.. of March 1805 —

Cold windey Day Cloudy Some little Snow last night
visited to Day by the big white & Little Crow, also a man &
his wife with a Sick Child, I administer for the child We are
told that two parties are gone to war from the Big bellies and
one other party going to war Shortly.

20th. March Wednesday 1805.

I with all the men which could be Speared from the Fort
went to Canoes, there I found a number of Indians, the
men carried 4 to the River about 1 ½ miles thro' the Bottom,
I visited the Chief of the Mandans in the Course of the Day
and Smoked a pipe with himself and Several old men. Cloudy
wind hard from N.

21th.. March Thursday 1805—

a Cloudy Day Some Snow, the men Carried the remaining
Canoes to the River, and all except 3 left to take care & complete
the Canoes returned to the fort with their baggage, on
my return to day to the Fort I came on the points of the high
hills, Saw an emence quantity of Pumice Stone on the Sides
& foot of the hills and emence beds of Pumice Stone near the
Tops of the[m], with evident marks of the Hills haveing once
been on fire, I Collected Some [of] the different [sorts] i.e.
Stone Pumice Stone & a hard earth, and put them into a
furnace, the hard earth melted and glazed the others two and
the hard Clay became a pumice Stone Glazed. I collected
Some plants &c.