The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 Part 48

[Clark, March 18, 1805]

18th of March 1805 a cold cloudy Day wind from the N. I pack up all the merchindize into 8 packs equally devided So as to have Something of every thing in each Canoe & perogue I am informed of a Party of Christanoes & a.s.sinniboins being killed by the Sioux, 50 in Number near the Estableishments on the a.s.sinniboin R. a fiew days ago (the effect of Mr. Cammeron, revenge on the Chipaway for Killing 3 of his men) Mr.

Tousent Chabono, Enlisted as an Interpreter this evening, I am not well to day.

[Clark, March 19, 1805]

19th of March 1805 Cold windey Day Cloudy Some little Snow last night Visited to Day by the big white & Little Crow, also a man & his wife with a Sick Child, I administer for the child I am told that two parties are gorn to war from the Big bellies and one other party going to war Shortly.

[Clark, March 20, 1805]

I visited the Mandans on the 20th & have the canoes taken to the River, ready to Decend to the fort when the River Clears,

[Clark, March 20, 1805]

Fort Mandan 20th March Wednesday 1805.

I with all the men which could be Speared from the Fort went to Canoes, there I found a number of Indians the men carried 4 to the River about 11/2 miles thro the Bottom, I visited the Chief of the Mandans in the Course of the Day and Smoked a pipe with himself and Several old men.

cloudy wind hard from N.

[Clark, March 21, 1805]

I return on the 21st and on my return I pa.s.sed on the points of the high hills S. S. where I saw an emence quant.i.ty of Pumice Stone, and evident marks of the hills being on fire I collected some Pumice Stone, burnt Stone & hard earth and put them into a furnace, the hard earth melted and glazed the other two a part of which i, e, the Hard Clay became a Pumice-Stone, I also collected a Plant the root of which is a Cure for the Bite of a mad dog & Snake which I shall Send--Mr. Haney (I think it grows in the Blue R Barrens) the Indians make large Beeds of Different Colours-

[Clark, March 21, 1805]

21st March Thursday 1805 a Cloudy Day Some snow, the men Carried the remaining the 2 remained Canoes to the River, all except 3 left to take care & complete the Canoes, returned to the fort with their baggage, on my return to day to the Fort I came on the points of the high hills, Saw an emence quant.i.ty of Pumice Stone on the Sides & foot of the hills and emence beds of Pumice Stone near the Tops of the hills with evident marks of the Hill haveing once been on fire, I collected Some the differnt i e Stone Pumice Stone & a hard earth and put them into a furnace the hard earth melted and glazed the others two and the hard Clay became a pumice Stone Glazed. I collected Some plants &c.

[Clark, March 22, 1805]

22nd of March 1805 Visited by the 2nd Chief of the Grand Village of the Minetarrees to whome we gave a medal & Some Clothes acknowledging him as a 2d Chief, he Delayed all night, & Saw the men Dance, which is common amus.e.m.e.nt with the men he returned the 23rd with Mr. La Rocque & McKinsey two of the N W. Companys Clerks--Some few Drops of rain this evening for the first time this Winter visited by many Indians to day

[Clark, March 22, 1805]

March 22, 1805 23rd of March Friday 1805 a Cloudy Day visited by Mrs. Lack McKinsey & the 2d Chief of the Bigbellies, the white wolf and many other Menataries, we gave a Medal Some Clothes and wampoms to the 2 Chief and Delivered a Speach, which they all appeared well pleased with in The evening the men Danced Mr. Jessomme displeased

[Clark, March 24, 1805]

24th of March Satt.u.r.day 1805 after Brackfast Mr. La Rocke and Mr. McKinsey and the Chiefs & men of the Minetarras leave us--Soon after we were visited by a Brother of the Burnia who gave us a Vocabulary of his Language--the Coal & many other Mandans also visit us to Day. a find Day in the fore part in the evening a little rain & the first this winter

[Clark, March 25, 1805]

25th of March Sunday 1805 a Cloudy morning wind from the N E the after part of the Day fair, Several Indians visit us today, prepareing to Set out on our journey Saw Swans & wild Gees flying N E this evening

[Clark, March 25, 1805]

March 25, 1805 26h The ice broke up in Several places in the evenig broke away and was nearly takeing off our new Canoes river rise a little

[Clark, March 26, 1805]

26th of March Monday 1805 a find Day wind S. W. but fiew Inds visit us to day the Ice haveing broken up in Several places, The ice began to brake away this evening and was near distroying our Canoes as they wer decnding to the fort, river rose only 9 Inches to day prepareing to Depart

[Clark, March 27, 1805]

27th of March Tuesday 1805 The river choked up with ice opposit to us and broke away in the evening raised only 1/2 Inch all employed prepareing to Set out

[Clark, March 28, 1805]

28th had all the Canoes, the Perogus corked pitchd & lined cover the Cotton Wood, which is win Shaken (the Mandans feed their horses on the cotton wood Sticks in places of corn).

[Clark, March 28, 1805]

28th of March Friday 1805 a windey Bl.u.s.tering Day wind S W ice running the river Blocked up in view for the s.p.a.ce of 4 hours and gave way leaveing great quant.i.ty of ice on the Shallow Sand bars. had all the canoes corked pitched & tirred in and on the cracks and windshake which is universially in the Cotton wood

[Clark, March 28, 1805]

March 28, 1805 25th the ice Stoped running owing to Some obstickle above all prepareing to Set out but few Indians visit us to day they are watching to catch the floating Buffalow which brake through the ice in Crossing, those people are fond of those animals tainted and Catch great numbers every Spring