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  Clark
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  October 24, 1804 
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24th October Wednesday 1804 
Set out early a Cloudy day Some little Snow in the morning I am 
Something better of the Rhumutim in my neck ¬ a butifull Countrey on 
both Sides of the river. The bottoms Covd# with wood, we have Seen no 
game on the river to day a prof of the Indians hunting in the 
neighbourhod (1) passed a Island on the S# S# made by the river Cutting 
through a point, by which the river is Shortened Several miles ¬ on this 
Isld# we Saw one of the Grand Chiefs of the Mandins, with five Lodges 
hunting, this Cheif met the Chief of the Ricares who accompanied us 
with great Cordiallity & Sermony Smoked the pipe & Capt# Lewis with the 
Interpeter went with the Chiefs to his Lodges at 1 mile distant, after 
his return we admited the Grand Chief & his brother for a few minits on 
our boat. proceeded on a Short distance and Camped on the S# S# below 
the old Village of the Mandins & ricares. Soon after our landg# 4 
Mandins Came from a Camp above, the Ricares Chief went with them to 
their Camp, 
25th of October Thursday 1804. 
 a Gentle Breeze from the S# E by E passed an (1) old Village on a high 
Plain where the Mandans onced lived & after they left the Village & 
moved higher the Ricaras took possession & live until 1799 when they 
abandoned it & flew from the just revenge of the Mandans, a verry 
extensive Bottom above the Village above the Center of which (2) the 
Mandans lived in the 2 villages on the L# S#, but little timber ¬  
Several parties of Indians on each Side of the River going up. in view 
in every directions ¬ we are informed that the Sioux has latterly taken 
horses from the Big Bellies or Minitaries and on their way homerwards 
they fell in with the Assinniboins who killed them and took the horses 
& a frenchman Menard who resided with the Mandan for 20 years past was 
Killed a fiew days ago on his way from the Britishment astablishments 
on the Assineboin River, 150 miles N# of this place to the mandans by 
the assinniboin Indians ¬ we were frequently Called to by parties of 
Indians & requested to land & talk, passed a verry bad place & Camped 
on a Point S S# opposit a high hill Several Indians visit us this 
evening the Sun of the late great Chief of the Mandans who had 2 of his 
fingers off and appeared to be pearced in maney places on inquiring the 
reason, was informed that it was a testimony to their grief for 
Deceased freinds, they frequently Cut off Sevral fingers & pierced 
themselves in Different parts, a Mark of Savage effection, wind hard 
from the S# W# verry Cold R Fields with a Rhumitisum in his Neck one 
man R# in his hips my Self much better, Those Indians appear to have 
Similar Customs with the Ricaras, their Dress the Same more mild in 
their language & justures &c# &c# 
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