Clark: October 27, 1804

27th of October Satturday 1804 we Set out early and Came too at the
village on the L. S. where we delayed a few minits, I walked to a Chiefs
Logg & Smoked with them, but Could not eat, which did displease them a
little, here I met with a Mr. Jessomme, who lived in this nation 13 years,
I got him to interpet & he proceedd on with us we proceeded on to a
Centeral point opposit the Knife River, & formed a Camp on the S. S.
above the 2d Mandan village & opsd. the Mah-har-ha villageand
raised a flag StaffCapt Lewis & the Intepeters walked down to
the 2d Village of Mandans, & returned in about an hour, we Sent 3
Carrotes of tobacco to the other villages & enviting them to come down
and Council with us tomorrow,we endeaver to precure Some Knowledge
of the principal Chiefs of the Different nations &.well to give
my ideas as to the impression thais man makes on me is a Cunin artfull an
insoncearhe tels me he was once empld. by my brother in the
Illinois & of his description I conceve as a Spye upon the British of
Michillinicknac & St Joseph,s we think he may be made use full to us
& do employ him as an interpeterno. of Indians bring their
wives &c. to the campes of our party on Shore &c.

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27th of October Satturday 1804 we Set out arly Came too at this Village on
the L. S. this village is Situated on an eminance of about 50 feet above
the Water in a handson Plain it Containes houses in a kind of Picket work.
the houses are round and Verry large Containing Several families, as also
their horses which is tied on one Side of the enterance, a Discription of
those houses will be given hereafter, I walked up & Smoked a pipe with
the Cheifs of this Village they were anxious that I would Stay and eat
with them, my indisposition provented my eating which displeased them,
untill a full explination took place, I returned to the boat and Sent 2
Carrots of Tobacco for them to Smoke, and proceeded on, passed the 2d
Village and Camped opsd. the Village of the Weter Soon or ah wah bar ways
which is Situated on an eminance in a plain on the L. S. this Village is
Small and Contains but fiew inhabitents. above this village & also
above the Knife river on the Same Side of the Missouri the Big bellies
Towns are Situated a further Discription will be given here after as also
of the Town of Mandans on this Side of the river i e S. Side

a fine worm Day we met with a french man by the name of jassamme which we
imploy as an interpeter This man has a wife & Children in the VillageGreat
numbers on both Sides flocked down to the bank to view us as wee passed.

Capt. Lewis with the Interpetr. walked down to the village below our Camp
After delaying one hour he returned and informed me the Indians had
returned to their village &c., &c., we Sent three Carrots of
Tobacco by three young men, to the three Villages above inviting them to
come Down & Council with us tomorrow. many Indians Came to view us
Some Stayed all night in the Camp of our partywe procured Some
information of Mr. Jessomme of the Chiefs of the Different Nations