Clark: October 29, 1804

29th of October 1804 a fine morning after Brackfast we were Visited by the
Old Chief of the Big Bellies or me ne tar res, this Man has Given his
power to his Son who is now on a war party against the Snake Indians who
inhabit the Rockey Mountains, the S W wind verry highwe met in
Council under an orning and our Sales Stretched round to keep out as much
wind as possible & Delivered a long Speach Similar to what had been
Said to the nations below, the old Chief was restless before the Speech
was half ended, observed his Camp was exposed & could wait no longer
&c. at the Conclusion of the Speach we mentioned the Ricaras &
requested them to make a peace & Smoke out of the Sacred Stem with
their Chief which I intreduced and gave him the pipe of peace to hand
around, they all Smoked with eagerness out of the pipe held by the Ricara
Chief Ar-ke-tar-na-Shar we mentioned our hands that were to be discharged
here, also the roberrey commited on th 2 french men below, & requested
them to answere us tomorrow, gave the Chief Small preasents and a fiew
presents for each village Shot the air gun which both Surprised and
astonished the nativs, and Soon dispersed

our Ricara Chief Came told me he wished to return to his nation tomorrow I
put him off & Said we would Send a talk by him after the Chiefs had
Spoken to uswe gave a Steel mill to the mandans which was verry
pleasing to them

The Chief who recved Medals to Day are as follows viz-in Council

is Mandan village Ma-too-ton kai s Chief Sha-ha-ka Big White 2nd
Ka-goh-ha-me little Crows

2 do village Roop tar-hee

1 s & grand Chief Poss-cop-sa-he Black Cat

2d Chief Car-gar-no-mok-she raven man Chief

Mah har-ha village

is Chief Ta-tuck-co pin re has, white Buffalow Skin unfolded

Little Menetarre village

is Chief Omp-Se-ha-ra Black mockerson. 2d Chief Oh-hark little Fox.

The Grand village of Manetarres, The One Eye is the principal Chief and he
is out on a hunting party. we Send by the Grape all the articles for this
grand Chief and all the Village what goods was intended for that VillageThe
Prarie got on fire and went with Such Violenc & Speed as to Catch a
man & woman & burn them to Death, Several escapd. among other a
Small boy who was Saved by getting under a green Buffalow Skin, this boy
was half white, & the Indians Say all white flesh is medisan, they Say
the grass was not burnt where the boy Sat &c. &. this fire passed
us at 8 oClock, and lookd truly tremendious.

—

29th October Monday 1804 a fair fine morning after Brackfast we were
visited by the old Cheaf of the Big bellies or ____ this man was old and
had transfered his power to his Sun, who was then out at war against the
Snake Indians who inhabit the rockey mountainsat 10 oClock the S W.
wind rose verry high, we Collected the Chiefs and Commened a Council
ounder a Orning and our Sales Stretched around to Keep out as much wind as
possible, we delivered a long Speech the Substance of which Similer to
what we had Delivered to the nations below. the old Chief of the
Grossanters was verry restless before the Speech was half ended observed
that he Could not wait long that his Camp was exposed to the hostile
Indians, &c. &. he was rebuked by one of the Chiefs for his
uneasiness at Such a time as the present, we at the end of the Speech
mentioned the Ricare who Accompanied us to make a firm peace, they all
Smoked with him (I gave this Cheaf a Dollar of the American Coin as a
Meadel with which he was much pleased) In Councel we prosented him with a
Certificate of his Sincrrity and good Conduct &c. we also Spoke about
the fur which was taken from 2 french men by a Mandan, and informd of our
intentions of Sending back the french handsafter the Council we
gave the presents with much Seremoney, and put the Meadels on the Cheifs
we intended to make viz. one for each Town to whome we gave Coats hats
& flags, one Grand Cheif to each nation to whome we gave meadels with
the presidents likeness in Councel we requested them to give us an answer
tomorrow or as Soon as possible to Some points which required their
Deliberation- after the Council was over we Shot the Air gun which
appeared to assonish the nativs much, the greater part them retired Soon
after

The Ricare Cheaf Ar-ke-tar-na-shar Came to me this evening and tells me
that he wishes to return to his Village & nation, I put him off Saying
tomorrow we would have an answer, to our talk to the Satisfaction &
Send by him a String of wompom informing what had passed here. a Iron or
Steel Corn Mill which we gave to the Mandins, was verry Thankfully recived(rte
The Prarie was Set on fire (or Cought by accident) by a young man of the
Mandins, the fire went with Such velocity that it burnt to death a man and
woman, who Could not Get to any place of Safty, one man a woman &
Child much burnt and Several narrowly escaped the flamea boy half
white was Saved un hurt in the midst of the flaim, Those ignerent people
Say this boy was Saved by the great Spirit medisin because he was whiteThe
Cause of his being Saved was a Green buffalow Skin was thrown over him by
his mother who perhaps had more fore Sight for the pertection of her Son,
and less for herself than those who escaped the flame, the Fire did not
burn under the Skin leaving the grass round the boy This fire passed our
Camp last about 8 oClock P.M. it went with great rapitidity and looked
Tremendious

The following Chiefs were made in Councel to day

Mar-too-ton-ha or Lower Village of the Mandans 1st Cheif Sha-ha-ka or Big
White 2 do Ka-goh-ha-mi or Little raven

Roop-tar-hee or Second Village of the Mandans 1st and Grand
Cheif-Pass-cop-sa-he or black Cat 2nd Cheif Car-gar-no-mok-She raven man
Cheaf

Mah-har-ha 3rd Village Chief Ta-tuck-co-pin-re-ha (white Buffalow robe
unfolded)

Me-ne-tar-re Me-te har-tar 1st Cheif-Omp-se-ha-ra. Black Mockersons 2 do.
Oh-harh or Little fox

we Sent the presents intended for the Grand Chief of the Mi-ne-tar-re or
Big Belley, and the presents flag and wompoms by the Old Chief and those,
and those intended for the Cheif of the Lower Village by a young Cheif

The following Cheifs were recommended in addition to those Viz.

1st Village Oh-hee-nar Big Mana Chien Sho-ta-har ro-ra

2d Village Taw nish-e-oBel-lar sa ra Ar-rat-ta na-mock-SheWolf
Man Chief

3rd Village Min-nis-Sur-ra-ree (Neighing horse) Lo-tong-gar-ti harold
woman at a distance

4th Village Mar-noh-tah the big Steeler Man-se-rus-setale of
Callumet bird

5th Village Ad hako ho pin nee Little Wolfs medisons Ar-rat-toe-no mook-gu
(man wolf Chief) (at war) Cal-tar co ta(Cherry grows on a bush) old
Chief and father to the above mentd. Chief Maw-pah’-pir-re-cos-sa tooThis
chief is near this hunting and a verry Considerable man

To the 1st Chiefs we gave a medal with the Imp. of the President of the U
S. To the 2d Chiefs a medal of weaveing & Domestic animals. To the 3rd
Chiefs a medal with the impression of a man Sowing wheat.

4th Village 1 Ea pa no paTwo taled Calumet bird young Chief 2 War
he ras sa the red Shield young Chief of Big belley-big town