Clark: October 30, 1804

30th of October Tuesday 1804 many Indian Chief visit us today I went in th
Perogou to the Island 7 miles above to look out a proper place for to
winter, it being near the tim the ice begins to run at this place, and the
Countrey after a few leagues high is Said to be barron of timber, I found
no place Soutable, & we concluded to drop down to th next point below
& build a fort to winter in the Party Danced which Delited the
Indians.

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30th October Tuesday 1804 Two Chiefs came to have Some talk one the
princapal of the lower Village the other the one who thought himself the
principal mane, & requested to hear Some of the Speech that was
Delivered yesterday they were gratified, and we put the medal on the neck
of the Big White to whome we had Sent Clothes yesterday & a flag,
those men did not return from hunting in time to join the Counell, they
were well pleased (2d of those is a Chien) I took 8 men in a Small perogue
and went up the river as far as the 1st Island about 7 miles to See if a
Situation Could be got on it for our Winter quarters, found the wood on
the Isd. as also on the pt. above So Distant from the water that, I did
not think that we Could get a good wintering ground there, and as all the
white men here informed us that wood was Sceres, as well as game above, we
Deturmined to drop down a fiew miles near wood and game on my return found
maney Inds. at our Camp, gave the party a dram, they Danced as is verry
Comn. in the evening which pleased the Savages much. Wind S. E

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Mandans

Ka gar no mogh ge the 2d Chief of the 2d Village of Mandins Came the 30t
of Octr. and Spoke to us as follows. Viz

Will you be So good as to go to the Village the Grand Chief will Speek
& give Some Corn, if you will let Some men take bags it will be well.
I am going with, the Chief of the ricares to Smoke a pipe with that nationI
concluded to go down

Mockerson Indians

The principal Chief of the Wau to Soon Came and Spoke a fiew words on
Various Subjects not much to the purpose. we Smoked and after my Shooting
the air gun he departed, Those nations know nothing of reagular Councils,
and know not how to proceed in them, they are restless &c-