Clark: August 22, 1806

Friday 22nd August 1806. rained all the last night every person and all
our bedding wet, the Morning cloudy, at 8 A M. I was requested to go to
the Chiefs, I walkd up and he informed me that he Should not go down but
would Stay and take Care of the village and prevent the young men from
doing rong and Spoke much to the Same porpt of the Grey Eyes, the 2d Chief
Spoke to the Same and all they Said was only a repitition of what they had
Said before. the Chief gave me some Soft Corn and the 2d Chief Some
Tobacco Seedthe Interpreter Garrow informed me that he had been
Speeking to the Chiefs & warriers this morning and assured me that
they had no intention of going down untill the return of the Cheif who
went down last Spring was a year. I told the Cheifs to attend to what we
had Said to them, that in a Short time they would find our words tru and
Councils good. they promised to attend Strictly to what had been Said to
them, and observed that they must trade with the Sieoux one more time to
get guns and powder; that they had no guns or powder and had more horses
than they had use for, after they got guns and powder that they would
never again have any thing to do with them &c. &c. I returned the
Canoes & derected the men to prepare to Set out. Some Chyennes from
two Lodges on the Main S E. Shore Came and Smoked with me and at 11 A. M
we Set out haveing parted with those people who appeared to be Sorry to
part with us. at this nation we found a french man by the name of Rokey
who was one of our Engagees as high as the Mandans this man had Spend all
his wages, and requested to return with uswe agreed to give him a passage
down. I directed 2 guns to be fired. we proceeded on passed the Marapa and
the We ter hoo Rivers, and landed to dry our bedding and robes &c
which were all wet. here we delayed untill 6 P M. and dryed our things
which were much Spoiled.

I derected 5 of the hunters to proceed on to Grouse Island a fiew miles
below and hunt on that island untill we arived, we proceded on to the main
N E Shore below the Island and encamped, the hunters joined us without any
thing. they Saw no game on the island. we made only 17 Miles to day. below
the ricaras the river widens and the Sand bars are emencely noumerous much
less timber in the bottoms than above

The Chyenne’s are portly Indians much the complections of the Mandans
& ricaras high Cheeks, Streight limbed & high noses the men are
large, their dress in Sumner is Simpelly a roab of a light buffalow Skin
with or without the hair and a Breach clout & mockerson Some ware
leagins and mockersons, their ornaments are but fiew and those are
composed principally of Such articles as they precure from other indians
Such as blue beeds, Shell, red paint rings of brass broaches &c. they
also ware Bears Claws about their necks, Strips of otter Skin (which they
as well as the ricaras are excessively fond of) around their neck falling
back behind. their ears are cut at the lower part, but fiew of them were
ornements in them, their hair is generally Cut in the forehead above their
eyes and Small ornimented plats in front of each Sholder the remainder of
the hair is either twisted in with horse or buffalow hair divided into two
plats over the Sholder or what is most common flow’s back, Their women are
homely, corse feetured wide mouthes they ware Simpially a leathe habit
made in a plain form of two pieces of equal length and equal weadth, which
is sewen together with Sinues from the tail to about half way from the hip
to the arm, a String fastens the 2 pieces together over the Sholders
leaveng a flap or lapells which fall over near half way ther body both
before and behind. those dresses usially fall as low as mid leg, they are
frequently ornemented with beeds and Shells & Elk tuskes of which all
Indians are very fond of. those dresses are als frequently Printed in
various regular figures with hot sticks which are rubed on the leather
with Such velosity as to nearly burn it this is very handsom. they were
their hair flowing and are excessively fond of ornamenting their ears with
blue beedsthis nation peacbly disposed they may be estimated at
from 350 to 400 men inhabetig from 130 to 150 Lodges, they are rich in
horses & Dogs, the dogs Carry a great preportion of their light
baggage. they Confess to be at war with no nation except the Sieoux with
whome they have ever since their remembranc been on a difencive war, with
the Bands of Sieoux. as I was about to leave the Cheifs of the Chyennes
lodge he requested me to Send Some traders to them, that their country was
full of beaver and they would then be encouraged to Kill beaver, but now
they had no use for them as they could get nothing for their skins and did
not know well, how to catch beaver. if the white people would come amongst
them they would become acquainted and the white people would learn them
how to take the beaver-. I promised the Nation that I would inform their
Great father the President of the U States, and he would have them
Supplied with goods, and mentioned in what manner they would be Supplied
&c. &c.

I am happy to have it in my power to Say that my worthy friend Capt Lewis
is recovering fast, he walked a little to day for the first time. I have
discontinud the tent in the hole the ball came out

I have before mentioned that the Mandans Maharhas Menetarras &
Ricarras, keep their horses in the Lodge with themselves at night.