The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-27
JOURNAL

JOURNAL
Of a ooyGse from St Louis, Lenisiana, TO the
Nandan piiage, Iade,tGken by the ST Louis
Missouri Far COMPANY, .forts PURPOSE If CO...
dieting Shehekeh fhe M.adan GhieE 70 has ma
sion, and TO establish trading houses on ,he head
waters of TIE Missouri-6y Doctor THeMAs,
Surgeon TO the party
CONCLUDED from onr faher of the 9TH inst.
On leaving the Platt we take leave of the
eXuberance OF vegetation, broken country,
sandy soil, coarse short grass, a dearth of
timber, and in fact nothing to console the
view but what Providence has kindly favor
ed man, viz. Buffaloe and Deer, whose abun-
dance feed and ciothe the wretchcd wander
ers OF these sterile regions.
From the river Platt to the Maha Village
about $50 miles, we experienced coed wea-
ther; OH our way we passed the old Ioway
village now deserted, s. had view of the
Council Bluff, here Lewis and Clark held a
talk with The Pannies On their ascending the
river, this hill or Bluff is on the south side,
about SO feet high without stone to support
1T from the daily washings aud undermining
from the current below; from ITS top the ri
yer and surrounding country can be viewed
rs tar as the eye can reach 4 few miles
from the Bluff, the river takes a northerly
direction for several miles and meanders
abruptly to the south, although we ascended
twenty miles that day we we're TO, more
than 500 yards from the spot we had en-
camped the evening before at the COM
aencement Of this bend near the river on
the South side, we observed the hill Oh which
the great Maha chieflies inferred the Ma
has frequently visit his grave and pay him
those honors only due to the Deity, his tomb
Is constantly covered with presents, believing
his spirit TO rest on the summit of the hill,
empowered with the means of dispensing
good to his people.
On the I1th of August we arrived at the
village OK the last mentioned people, il is
situate on paire on the south side 4 miles
from the river, resembling at distance the
stack yard OF an extensive farmer. having
thsir huts in the form of cone about IS
feet high, their council house is built in the
centre, large enough to contain 500 men, the
materials consist of split pieces of timber CO.
vered over with earth. Here we were pre-
sented with the first dish of dog meat, it is
esteemed delicate and none partake Of but
those whom they wish to honor. These
people are very filthy in their dress & food,
the former consist of skins. and the latter of
the flesh Ut the animals of that country with
corn, punpicns, &c. They had skirmish
with the SOuex few DAYS before we arri
we'd, IN which they lost several of their war
llors; this nation Contains only or 500 men
aNie 70 bear arms aud are iii danger of ben.
czfermiHated 10y the Souex who boast of their
beng able to muster $4,000 men these lat
ter people reside on the north side of the
Missouri, extending from the neighborhoed
ct the R'charees to the Mississippi and the
North Western Lakes On our arrival
Shehekeh expressed wish 10 visit the vii
iage' being invited by the principal chiefs,
hav
reglmentais with his horse covered with tho
most showey ornaments set out ACCOMPANIED
by thirty Maha chiefs on horseback, in their
best dress; the whole nation were lost in
aston,snnent at the spleINid figure of the
Mandan, so much superior to any thing their
chlelS Could display; before dinner coun
Gil was held with Mr.. Chouteau for the
purpose OF requesting trader to reside a
inong them and to beg presents, in which
the Mandan preserved the dignity of a SUI
perior indeed Shehekeh's manners would
grace any circle, lie took great pains to co
pY the manners OF the first characters of the
with.
On the 18th, we left the village and a few
miles up met with three Snuex, who inform
ca us that party of their nation were wal
ing FOR us about so miles uD the river
river. called after one of the followers of
Lewis and Clark, who was buried ON an
tminence iii its ueighborhood, the Indians
Ead mounted Gag over his grave on our
way we passed several banks of coal and
chalk.
ON the f9th, we arrived a. the Y,n,ans
branch OF the S,n~x, Containing 500 Iodg
cs, their hns wcrc placed on the north
BANK and were svlutcd IN the following
1Hanncr: Fifty warriors ARRANGED themselves
60 INC shore, aud discharged tbcir pieces
l'aGed with bell iu'o the wafer az TIE bows
a. The barg having brought to near tbc
'hNre, tire oi7cers land d. AID were carried
, The council house bv SIX Indians in Buff,
lie robes; in the council, th.ir demand.
we're similar 20 the Miha's. they wcrc giv.
On 10 GHGcrs,and, that ~ trader could be
l|i' with them. and tn.r IN y could have no
''seh.s' mcutcc % K Tic place of sunni
900" thr pI"cjpa 1hi aGd~.ssrd thc
= htieneH 80 nearly the fJi!eang words