The Journals
of Lewis and Clark: Dates December 24, 1804 - December 31,
1804
The following
excerpts are taken from entries of the Journals of Lewis
and Clark. Dates: December 24, 1804 - December 31, 1804
December 24,
1804
Monday, 24th. The day continued warm and pleasant, and the
number of visitors became troublesome. As a present to three
of the chiefs, we divided a fillet of sheepskin which we
brought for spunging into three pieces each of two inches
in width; they were delighted at the gift, which they deemed
of equal value with a fine horse. We this day completed
our fort, and the next morning being Christmas,
December 25, 1804
Tuesday, 25th, we were awaked before day by a discharge
of three platoons from the party. We had told the Indians
not to visit us as it was one of our great medicine days;
so that the men remained at home and amused themselves in
various ways, particularly with dancing in which they take
great pleasure. The American flag was hoisted for the first
time in the fort; the best provisions we had were brought
out, and this, with a little brandy, enabled them to pass
the day in great festivity.
December 26, 1804
Wednesday, 26th. The weather is again temperate,
but no Indians have come to see us. One of the northwest
traders who came down to request the aid of our Minnetaree
interpreter, informs us that a party of Minnetarees who
had gone in pursuit of the Assiniboines who lately stole
their horses had just returned. As is their custom, they
came back in small detachments, the last of which brought
home eight horses which they had captured or stolen from
an Assiniboine camp on Mouse river.
December 27, 1804
Thursday, 27th. A little fine snow fell this morning
and the air was colder than yesterday, with a high northwest
wind. We were fortunate enough to have among our men a good
blacksmith, whom we set to work to make a variety of articles;
his operations seemed to surprise the Indians who came to
see us, but nothing could equal their astonishment at the
bellows, which they considered as a very great medicine.
Having heretofore promised a more particular account of
the Sioux, the following may serve as a general outline
of their history:
Almost the whole of that vast tract of country comprised
between the Mississippi, the Red River of Lake Winnepeg,
the Saskaskawan, and the Missouri, is loosely occupied by
a great nation whose primitive name is Darcota, but who
are called Sioux by the French, Sues by the English. Their
original seats were on the Mississippi, but they have gradually
spread themselves abroad and become subdivided into numerous
tribes. Of these, what may be considered as the Darcotas
are the Mindawarcarton, or Minowakanton, known to the French
by the name of the Gens du Lac, or People of the Lake. Their
residence is on both sides of the Mississippi near the falls
of St. Anthony, and the probable number of their warriors
about three hundred. Above them, on the river St. Peter's,
[146]is the Wahpatone, a smaller band of nearly two hundred
men; and still farther up the same river below Yellow-wood
river are the Wahpatootas or Gens de Feuilles, an inferior
band of not more than one hundred men; while the sources
of the St. Peter's are occupied by the Sisatoones, a band
consisting of about two hundred warriors.
These bands rarely if ever approach the Missouri, which
is occupied by their kinsmen the Yanktons and the Tetons.
The Yanktons are of two tribes, those of the plains, or
rather of the north, a wandering race of about five hundred
men, who roam over the plains at the heads of the Jacques,
the Sioux, and the Red river; and those of the south, who
possess the country between the Jacques and Sioux rivers
and the Desmoine. But the bands of Sioux most known on the
Missouri are the Tetons. The first who are met on ascending
the Missouri is the tribe called by the French the Tetons
of the Boise Brule or Burntwood, who reside on both sides
of the Missouri, about White and Teton rivers, and number
two hundred warriors. Above them on the Missouri are the
Teton Okandandas, a band of one hundred and fifty men living
below the Chayenne river, between which and the Wetarhoo
river is a third band, called Teton Minnakenozzo, of nearly
two hundred and fifty men; and below the Warreconne is the
fourth and last tribe of Tetons of about three hundred men,
and called Teton Saone. Northward of these, between the
Assiniboine and the Missouri, are two bands of Assiniboines,
one on Mouse river of about two hundred men, and called
Assiniboine Menatopa; the other, residing on both sides
of White river, called by the French Gens de Feuilles, and
amounting to two hundred and fifty men. Beyond these a band
of Assiniboines of four hundred and fifty men, and called
the Big Devils, wander on the heads of Milk, Porcupine,
and Martha's rivers; while still farther to the north are
seen two bands of the same nation, one of five hundred and
the other of two hundred, roving on the Saskaskawan. Those
[147]Assiniboines are recognised by a similarity of language,
and by tradition as descendents or seceders from the Sioux;
though often at war are still acknowledged as relations.
The Sioux themselves, though scattered, meet annually on
the Jacques, those on the Missouri trading with those on
the Mississippi.
December 28, 1804
Friday, 28th. The wind continued high last night,
the frost severe, and the snow drifting in great quantities
through the plains.
December 29, 1804
Saturday, 29th. There was a frost fell last night
nearly one quarter of an inch in depth, which continued
to fall till the sun had gained some height: the mercury
at sunrise stood at 9° below 0: there were a number of Indians
at the fort in the course of the day.
December 30, 1804
Sunday, 30th. The weather was cold, and the thermometer
20° below 0. We killed one deer, and yesterday one of the
men shot a wolf. The Indians brought corn, beans, and squashes,
which they very readily gave for getting their axes and
kettles mended. In their general conduct during these visits
they are honest, but will occasionally pilfer any small
article.
December 31, 1804
Monday, 31. During the night there was a high wind
which covered the ice with hillocks of mixed sand and snow:
the day was however fine, and the Indians came in great
numbers for the purpose of having their utensils repaired.
Next
Journal Entry
|