Clark: December 7, 1804
at Fort mandan 7th of December 1804, we were informed by a Chief that
great numbers of Buffalow were on the hills near us Cap Lewis with a party
went out & Killed 11three in view of our fort, The weather so excesive
Cold & wolves plenty, we only saved 5 of them, I with a party turned
on the 8th out and found the Buffalow at 7 ms. distant Killed 8 & a
Deer, I returned with 2 Cows leaving men with remaining meatSeveral
men badly frost bitThe Themormeter Stood this morning at 44 d.
below Breizing.
Capt Lewis went out 9th & Stayed all night out Killed 9 buffalowmaney
of the Buffalow Killed were So meager that they not fit for use Collected
by the ade of Some horses the best of the meat in fact all we could Save
from wolves & I went on a hunting party the 14 & 15 of Decr.much
Snow verry cold 52° below freesinge. N W. & H Bay Clerks Visit us the
16th also Mr Hainey, Cold Tem. 74° below freesing
I visit the Mandans on the 1s of January Capt Lewis the 2nd
—
7th of December Friday 1804 a verry Cold day wind from the N W. the Big
White Grand Chief of the 1s Village, Came and informed us that a large
Drove of Buffalow was near and his people was wating for us to join them
in a Chase Capt. Lewis took 15 men & went out joined the Indians, who
were at the time he got up, Killing the Buffalows on Horseback with arrows
which they done with great dexterity, his party killed 14 Buffalow, five
of which we got to the fort by the assistance of a horse in addition to
what the men Packed on their backsone Cow was killed on the ice
after drawing her out of a vacancey in the ice in which She had fallen,
and Butchered her at the fortthose we did not get in was taken by
the indians under a Custon which is established amongst them i e. any
person Seeing a buffalow lying without an arrow Sticking in him, or Some
purticular mark takes possesion, many times (as I am told) a hunter who
Kills maney Buffalow in a chase only Gets a part of one, all meat which is
left out all night falls to the Wolves which are in great numbers, always
in the Buffalowsthe river Closed opposit the fort last night 11/2
inches thick The Thermometer Stood this morning at 1 d. below o- three men
frost bit badly to day
