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NAVIGATING NARRATIVES

September 26, 1804

Clark A Set out early and proceeded on. The river lined with Indians. Came too and anchored by the particular request of the chiefs to let their women and boys see the boat, and suffer them to show us some friendship. Great members of men, women and children on the bank viewing us. Those people are spritely, small legs, ill-looking set, men particularly. They grease and black themselves when they dress, make use of hawks' feathers about their heads, cover with a robe, each a polecat skin to hold their smokables, fond of dress, badly armed. Their women appear very well, fine teeth, high cheeks, dress in skin petticoats and a robe with the flesh side out and hairy ends turned back over their shoulders and look well. They do all the laborious work, and I may say are perfect slaves to their husbands who frequently have several wives. Captain Lewis and 5 men went on shore with the chiefs, who appeared to wish to become friendly. They requested us to remain one night and see them dance etc. In the evening I walked on shore and saw several Omaha women and boys in a lodge and was told they were prisoners lately taken in a battle in which they killed a number and took 48 prisoners. I advised the chiefs to make peace with that nation and give up the prisoners, if they intended to follow the words of their Great Father. They promised that they would do so. I was in several lodges neatly formed, those lodges are about 15 to 20 feet diameter, stretched on poles like a sugar loaf, made of buffalo skins dressed. ¶ About 5 o'clock I was approached by 10 well dressed young men with a neat buffalo robe which they set down before me and requested me to get in. They carried me to their council tents forming ¾ circle and set me down between 2 chiefs where about 70 men were seated in a circle in front of the chief. 6 feet square was cleared and the pipe of peace raised on forks and sticks, under which was swans down scattered. The flags of Spain the one we gave them yesterday was displayed. A large fire was made on which a dog was cooked, and in the center about 400 weight of buffalo meat which they gave us. Soon after I took my seat the young men went to the boat and brought Captain Lewis in the same way and placed him by me. Soon after an old man rose and spoke approving what we had done, requesting us to take pity on them etc. Answered. They form their camp in a circle. ¶ The great chief then rose in great state and spoke to the same purpose and with solemnity took up the pipe of peace and pointed it to the heavens, the 4 quarters and the earth, he made some divination, and presented the stem to us to smoke. After smoking and a short harangue to his people we were requested to take the meat, and the flesh of the dog given us to eat. We smoked until dark, at which time all was cleared away and a large fire made in the center. Several men with tambourines highly decorated with deer & antelope hoofs to make them rattle, assembled and began to sing and beat. The women came forward highly decorated with the scalps and trophies of war of their fathers, husbands and relations, and danced the war dance, which they done with great cheerfulness until 12 o'clock, when we informed the chief we intended return on bord, (they offered us women, which we did not except). 4 Chiefs accompanied us to the boat and stayed all night. Those people have a description of men which they call soldiers, those men attend to the police of the band, correct all vices etc. I Saw one today whip 2 squaws who appeared to have fallen out. When the soldier approached, all appeared give way and flee. At night they keep 4 or 5 men at different distances walking around their camp singing the occurrences of the night. All in spirits this evening. Wind hard from the southeast. ¶ I saw 25 squaws and boys taken 13 days ago in a battle with the Omahas in which they destroyed 40 lodges, killed 75 men and boys, and took 48 prisoners which they promised us should be delivered to Mr. Dorion, now with the Yankton tribe. We gave our Omaha interpreter a few awls etc. to give those wretched prisoners. I saw hominy of ground potatoes, a spoon of the Big Horn animal which will hold 2 quarts.

Clark B Set out early proceeded on and came to by the wish of the chiefs for to let their squaws and boys see the boat and suffer them to treat us well. Great number of men, women and children on the banks viewing us. These people show great anxiety. They appear spritely, generally ill looking and not well made, their legs and arms small. Generally they grease and black themselves with coal when they dress, make use of a hawk's feather about their heads. The men a robe and each a polecat's skins, for to hold their stems for smoking. Fond of dress and show. Badly armed with fuses etc. The squaws are cheerful fine-looking women, not handsome. High cheeks dressed in skins, a petticoat, and robe which folds back over their shoulder, with long wool. Do all their laborious work and I may say perfect slaves to the men, as all squaws of nations much at war, or where the women are more numerous than the men. After coming too, Captain Lewis and 5 men went on shore with the chiefs, who appeared disposed to make up and be friendly. After Captain Lewis had been on shore about 3 hours, I became uneasy for fear of some deception and sent a sergeant to see him and know his treatment, which he reported was friendly and they were preparing for a dance this evening. ¶ They made frequent solicitation for us to remain one night only and let them show their good disposition towards us. We determined to remain. After the return of Captain Lewis, I went on shore. I saw several Omaha prisoners and spoke to the chiefs: It was necessary to give those prisoners up and become good friends with the Omahas if they wished to follow the advice of their Great Father. I was in several lodges neatly formed as before mentioned as to the Brule tribe. I was met by about 10 well dressed young men who took me up in a robe, highly decorated, and set me down by the side of their chief on a dressed robe in a large council house. This house formed a ¾ circle of skins well dressed and sown together. Under this shelter about 70 men sat, forming a circle in front of the Chiefs. A place of 6 feet diameter was cleared and the pipe of peace raised on sticks under which there was swan's down scattered. On each side of the circle, two pipes, the flags of Spain 2 and the flag we gave them in front of the grand chief. A large fire was near in which provisions were cooking. In the center, about 400 weight of excellent buffalo meat as a present for us. ¶ Soon after they set me down, the men went for Captain Lewis, brought him in the same way and placed him also by the chief. In a few minutes an old man rose and spoke approving what we had done and informing us of their situation, requesting us to take pity on them etc. which was answered. The great chief then rose with great state to the same purpose as far as we could learn and then with great solemnity took up the pipe of peace. When the principal chiefs spoke with the pipe of peace, he took in one hand some of the most delicate parts of the dog which was prepared for the feast and made a sacrifice to the flag, and after pointing it to the heavens, the 4 quarters of the globe, and the earth, lit it and presented the stem to us to smoke. After a smoke had taken place, and a short harangue to his people, we were requested to take the meal. We smoked for an hour. Dark and all was cleared away. A large fire made in the center. About 10 musicians playing on tambourines, long sticks with deer and goats hoofs tied so as to make a jingling noise, and many others of a similar kind. Those men began to sing and beat on the tambourine. The women came forward highly decorated in their way, with the scalps and trophies of war of their fathers, husbands, brothers, or near connection and proceeded to dance the war dance which they done with great cheerfulness until 12 o'clock when we informed the chiefs that they were fatigued etc. They then retired and we, accompanied by 4 chiefs, returned to our boat. They stayed with us all night. Those people have some brave men which they make use of as soldiers. Those men attend to the policing of the village, correcting all errors. I saw one of them today whip 2 squaws who appeared to have fallen out. When he approached, all about appeared to flee with great sorrow. At night thy keep two, 3, 4, or 5 men at different distances walking around camp singing the occurrences of the night. ¶ All the men on board 100 paces from shore. Wind from the southeast moderate. One man very sick on board with a dangerous abscess on his hip. All in spirits this evening. ¶ In this tribe I saw 25 squaws and boys taken 13 days ago in a battle with the Omahas. In this battle they destroyed 40 lodges, killed 75 men and some boys and children, and took 48 prisoners—women and boys—which they promised both Captain Lewis and myself shall be delivered up to Mr. Dorian at the Brule tribe. Those are a wretched and dejected looking people. The squaws appear low and course, but this is an unfavorable time to judge of them. ¶ We gave our Omaha interpreter some few articles to give those squaws in his name, such as awls, needles etc. ¶ I saw and ate pemmican—the dog, ground potato, made into a kind of hominy, which I thought but little inferior. I also saw a spoon made of a horn of an animal of the sheep kind. The spoon will hold 2 quarts.

Gass We set out early and proceeded on four miles. The bank of the river on the south side was covered all the way with Indians; and at 10 o'clock we met the whole band and anchored about 100 yards from the shore. Captain Lewis, the chiefs, and some men went on shore. The Indians were peaceable and kind. After some time, Captain Lewis returned on board, and Captain Clark went on shore. When the Indians saw him coming, they met him with a buffalo robe, spread it out and made him get into it, and then eight of them carried him to the council house. About an hour after some of them came for Captain Lewis, and he landed and eight of them carried him to the council house in the same manner they had carried Captain Clark. They killed several dogs for our people to feast on and spent the greater part of the day in eating and smoking. At night the women assembled and danced till 11 o'clock. Then the officers came on board with two chiefs, who continued with us until the morning.

Ordway A clear and pleasant morning. We set off early. Proceeded on 4 or 5 miles. The Indians strung along the shore the most of the way. We then halted and anchored out 100 yards from shore. Captain Lewis went out with the chiefs to where they had fixed their lodge in the neatest manner near the river. And their whole lodge had assembled, brought with them their horses, women, and children. Some of their women are very handsome and friendly. The number of Indians at this lodge of the Teton tribe is between 2 and 300. They had been lately at war with the Omahas and have sixty-five of the scalps and 25 prisoners, squaws of the Omaha nation which they had with them. They told us that they had 23 squaws prisoners more at a lodge above this. Their lodge is very handsome in a circle and about 100 cabins in number and all white, made of buffalo hides dressed white. One large one in the center, the lodge for the war dances. They gave Captain Lewis some fine soup made of what they call white apples. They sent all the party some fat buffalo meat cooked and some dried and pounded fine the marrow of the buffalo bones, mixed together, which eat very well. Captain Clark went out with some of them, and they made great preparations for a dance this evening. They sent for Captain Lewis to come and see them. He went over to the shore. They spread a buffalo robe dressed white on the ground for him to get on. As soon as he landed he sat on it. Eight of the savages carried him to the lodge which is a great mark of friendship. They killed several dogs and cooked them in a decent manner to treat our people with. In the evening the 2 Captains, myself, and a number more of the party went to their village to see them dance. They had a fire in the center of their lodge. The band formed a line which were the men. The squaws formed on each side of the fire and danced and sang as the drum and other rattles etc. were playing. They danced to the center until they met, then the rattles shook and the whoop was given, then the squaws all fell back to their places. When the men's music ceased, the women's voice sounded one part of the tune delightful. Then the other music would commence again. Our Captains gave them some tobacco to smoke during the dance. One of the warriors thought he had not received a small piece of the last tobacco they had. He got mad and broke one of their drums, heaved 2 in the fire and left the line. Some of the rest took them out. They then took a buffalo robe and held up in their hands and beat on it and continued on their dance till late in night. The chiefs came on and slept with us in a friendly manner.

Whitehouse A We set off early. Proceeded on 4 miles. All the way on the south shore was covered with savages. At 10 o'clock we came to where the whole band had formed a circle of their lodges and pitched in the best order possible. We anchored out about 100 yards from shore. Captain Lewis, the 4 chiefs, and 4 or 5 men went on shore. The natives appeared peaceable and kind. Captain Lewis came on board and Captain Clark went out. When the Indians saw the officers coming they spread a buffalo robe on the ground and they set down on it, then it was taken up by 4 warriors and carried to the grand chiefs lodge. They killed several fat dogs which they call the best meat that ever was. At night the women assembled and danced until 11 o'clock at night. Then our officers came on board and 2 chiefs with them.

Whitehouse B We set out early this morning, and proceeded on four miles. As we passed along, the south shore was covered with Indians. At 10 o'clock we came to where the whole band of these savages had their lodges. They were placed in the form of a circle and pitched in the best order possible. We anchored our boat and pirogues 100 yards from the shore. ¶ Captain Lewis, the four Indian chiefs that had stayed aboard of our boat, and five of our men shortly after went ashore in one of the pirogues. The Indians met them and behaved very peaceable and kind to them. In a short time Captain Lewis returned with the men on board. Captain Lewis and Captain Clark in about an hour, went on shore again. When the Indians perceived our officers coming they spread a buffalo robe on the ground and our officers, at landing, set down on it. The robe was then taken hold of by four of their warriors and they were carried to the grand chief's lodge where they remained till an entertainment was prepared for them. This consisted of several of their fattest dogs which the Indians had killed and which they roasted, esteeming dog's flesh as the best of meat, which they had served up to our captains and their warriors and chiefs. As soon as night had set in the Indian women assembled and commenced dancing, which lasted 'till about eleven o'clock P. M. (at night,) when our captains came on board, and brought two of their chiefs with them.