Clark: October 25, 1804

25th of October Thursday 1804 a Cold morning Set out early under a gentle
Breeze from the S. E. by E proceeded on, passed (1) the 3rd old Village of
the Mandans which has been Desd. for many years, This village was Situated
on an eminance of about 40 foot above the water on the L. S. back for
Several miles is a butifull plain (2) at a Short distance above this old
village on a Continuation of the Same eminance was Situated the which have
been avacuated only Six years, above this village a large and extensive
bottom for Several miles in which the Squars raised ther Corn, but little
timber near the villages, on the S. S. below is a point of excellent
timber, and in the point Several miles above is fine timber, Several
parties of Mandins rode to the river on the S. S. to view us indeed they
are continuelly in Sight Satisying their Curiossities as to our apperance
&c. we are told that the Seaux has latterly fallen in with & Stole
the horses of the Big belley, on their way home they fell in with the
Ossiniboin who killed them and took the horsesa frenchman has
latterly been killed by the Indians on the Track to the tradeing
establishment on the Ossinebine R. in the North of this place (or British
fort) This frenchman has lived many years with the Mandinswe were
frequently called on to land & talk to parties of the Mandins on the
Shore, wind Shifted to the S. W at about 11 oClock and blew hard untill 3
OCk. clouded up river full of Sand bars & we are at a great loss to
find the Channel of the river, frequently run on the Sand bars which
Detain us much passed a verry bad riffle of rocks in the evining by
takeing the L. S. of a Sand bar and Camped on a Sand point on the S. S.
opposit a high hill on the L. S. Several Indians Come to See us this
evening, amongst others the Sun of the late great Cheif of the Mandins,
this man has his two little fingers off-; on inqureing the Cause, was told
it was Customary for this nation to Show their greaf by Some testimony of
pain, and that it was not uncommon for them to take off 2 Smaller fingers
of the hand and Some times more with ther marks of Savage effection

The wind blew verry hard this evening from the S. W. verry Cold

R. Fields with the rhumitim in his neck, P. Crusat with the Same Complaint
in his Legsthe party other wise is well, as to my Self I feel but
Slight Simptoms of that disorder at this time,