Clark: October 31, 1804
31st of October Wednesday 1804 The main Chief of the mandans Sent 2 Cheifs
for to envite us to Come to his Lodge, and here what he has to Say I with
2 interpetes walked down, and with great Cerimony was Seated on a Robe by
the Side of the Chief; he threw a Robe highly decoraterd over my Sholders,
and after Smokeing a pipe with the old men in the Circle, the Chief Spoke
he belived all we had told him, and that peace would be genl. which not
only gave himself Satisfaction but all his people; they now Could hunt
without fear & their women could work in the fields without looking
every moment for the ememey, as to the Ricaras addressing himself to the
Chief with me you know we do not wish war with your nation, you have
brought it on your Selves, that man Pointing to the 2d Chief and those 2
young warriers will go with you & Smoke in the pipes of peace with the
RicarasI will let you see my father addressing me that we wish to
be at peace with all and do not make war upon anyhe continud to
Speak in this Stile (refer to notes) he delivered 2 of the Traps to me
which was taken from the french men, gave me 2 bushels of Corn, I answered
the Speech which appeared to give general Satisfactionand returned to the
boat, In the evening the Chief Visited us Dressed in his new Suit, &delayed
untill late the men Dancd untill 10 oClock which was common with them
wrote to the N W Copanys agent on the Ossinniboin River by a Mr.
McCruckin.
—
31st of October Wednesday 1804 a fine morning, the Chief of the Mandans
Sent a 2d Chief to invite us to his Lodge to recive Some Corn & here
what he had to Say I walked down and with great ceremoney was Seeted on a
roab by the Side of the Chief, he threw a handsom Roabe over me and after
smokeing the pipe with Several old men arround, the Chief Spoke Said he
believed what we had told them, and that peace would be general, which not
only gave him Satisfaction but all his people, they now Could hunt without
fear, & ther womin Could work in the fields without looking everry
moment for the Enemey, and put off their mockersons at night, as to the
Reares we will Show you that we wish peace with all, and do not make war
on any without Cause, that Chief pointing to the 2d and Some brave men
will accompy. the Ricare Chief now with you to his village & nation,
to Smoke with that people, when you Came up the Indians in the
neighbouring Villages, as well as those out hunting when they heard of you
had great expectations of reciving presents they those hunting imediately
on hearing returned to the Village and all was Disapointed, and Some
Dessatisfied, as to himself he was not much So but his Village washe
would go and See his great father &c. &c.
he had put before me 2 of the Steel traps which was robed from the french
a Short tim ago. about 12 bushels of Corn which was brought and put before
me by the womin of the Village after the Chief finished & Smoked in
great cerrimony, I answered the Speech which Satisfied them verry much and
returned to the boat. met the princapal Chief of the 3d Village and the
Little Crow both of which I invited into the Cabin and Smoked & talked
with for about one hour. Soon after those Chiefs left us the Grand Chief
of the Mandans Came Dressed in the Clothes we had given with his 2 Small
Suns, and requested to See the men Dance which they verry readily
gratified him in,the wind blew hard all the after part of the day
from the N E and Continud all night to blow hard from that point, in the
mornig it Shifed N W. Capt Lewis wrote to the N W Companys agent on the
Orsineboine River abt. North of this place
—
black Cat or Pose-cop-sa-he 1st Chief of the Mandans & 2d Village
“I believe what you have told us in Council, & that peace will be
general, which not only givs me pleasure, but Satisfaction to all the
nation, they now Can hunt without fear, and our womin Can work in the
fields without looking every moment for the enimey-” as to the Ricares we
will Show you that we wish piace with all, and do not make war on any with
out Cause, that Chief pointing to the 2d of the Village and Some young men
will accompany the Ricrea Chief home to his Nation to Smoke with that
peopleWhen the Indians of the Different Villages heard of your
Comeing up they all Came in from hunting to See, they expected Great
presents. they were disapointed, and Some dissatisfied- as to my Self I am
not much So, but my Village arehe believed the roade was open; and
he would go and See his great fatherhe Delivered Up 2 Traps which
had been taken from the french, & gave me a roabe & about 12
bushels of Corn& smoked &c
I answered the Speech it explained, many parts which he Could not
understand-of the Speech of yesterday.
