The reunited party now set out for the lower river and proceeded rapidly
down-stream, favored with a good wind. They made eighty-six miles on
the first day, passing the mouth of the Little Missouri early in the forenoon,
and camping at Miry River, on the northeast side of the Missouri. On the
second day they arrived at the principal village of the Minnetarees,
where they were received with cordial welcome by their old friends.
The explorers fired their blunderbuss several times by way of salute,
and the Indian chiefs expressed their satisfaction at the safe return
of the white men. One of the Minnetaree chiefs, however, wept bitterly
at the sight of the whites, and it was explained by his friends that their
coming reminded him of the death of his son, who had been lately killed
by the Blackfoot Indians.
Arriving at the village of the Mandans, of which Black Cat
was the chief, a council was called, and the chiefs of
the expedition endeavored to persuade some of the leading
men of the tribe to accompany them to Washington to see "the
Great Father." Black Cat expressed his strong desire to visit
the United States and see the Great Father, but he was afraid
of the Sioux, their ancient enemies, through whose territory
they must pass on their way down to the white man's country.
This chief, it will be recollected, was given a flag and
a medal by the two captains when they passed up the river
on their way to the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific coast.
The flag was now brought on and hoisted on the lodge of
Black Cat. On that occasion, also, the commanders of the
expedition had given the Indians a number of useful articles,
among them being a portable corn-mill. But the Indians had other
uses for metal, and they had taken the mill apart and used
the iron for the purpose of making barbs for their arrows.
From the Omahas, who were located here, the white men
received a present of as much corn as three men could carry.
Black Cat also gave them a dozen bushels of corn.
Their days of starvation and famine were over. They were next visited
by Le Borgne, better known as One-eye, the head chief of all the Minnetarees,
to whom Lewis and Clark also extended an invitation to go to Washington
to see the Great Father. The journal says: -
"Le Borgne began by declaring that he much desired to visit
his Great Father, but that the Sioux would certainly kill
any of the Mandans who should attempt to go down the river.
They were bad people, and would not listen to any advice.
When he saw us last, we had told him that we had made peace
with all the nations below; yet the Sioux had since killed
eight of his tribe, and stolen a number of their horses.
The Ricaras too had stolen their horses, and in the contest
his people had killed two of the Ricaras.
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