They Held
A Palaver With These Indians And Reproached The Ricara Chief, Who Was
Called Gray-Eyes, With Having Engaged In Hostilities With The Sioux,
Notwithstanding The Promises Made When The White Men Were Here Before.
To This Gray-Eyes Made An Animated Reply:
-
"He declared that the Ricaras were willing to follow the counsels
we had given them, but a few of their bad young men would not live
in peace, but had joined the Sioux and thus embroiled them with
the Mandans. These young men had, however, been driven out of the villages,
and as the Ricaras were now separated from the Sioux, who were a bad people
and the cause of all their misfortunes, they now desired to be at peace
with the Mandans, and would receive them with kindness and friendship.
Several of the chiefs, he said, were desirous of visiting their Great Father;
but as the chief who went to the United States last summer had not returned,
and they had some fears for his safety, on account of the Sioux, they did
not wish to leave home until they heard of him. With regard to himself,
he would continue with his nation, to see that they followed our advice.
. . . . . . . . .
"After smoking for some time, Captain Clark gave a small medal to
the Chayenne chief, and explained at the same time the meaning of it.
He seemed alarmed at this present, and sent for a robe and a quantity
of buffalo-meat, which he gave to Captain Clark, and requested him to take
back the medal; for he knew that all white people were `medicine,'
and was afraid of the medal, or of anything else which the white
people gave to the Indians.
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