The Explorers, Hungry For News From Home, Would Have Tarried And
Talked Longer With Their New-Found Friends, But They Were Anxious
To Get Down To Civilization Once More.
Their journal also says:
"The Indians, particularly the squaws and children, are weary of the
long journey, and we are desirous of seeing our country and friends."
This quotation from the journal gives us our first intimation that any
Indians accompanied Big White to the United States.
He appears to have
had a small retinue of followers men, women, and children - with him.
Below the mouth of the Platte, September 12, Lewis and Clark
met Gravelines, the interpreter who was sent to Washington from
Fort Mandan, in 1805, with despatches, natural history specimens,
and a Ricara chief. The chief had unfortunately died in Washington,
and Gravelines was now on his way to the Ricaras with a speech from
President Jefferson and the presents that had been given to the chief.
He also had instructions to teach the Ricaras in agriculture.
It is interesting to note how that the explorers, now tolerably
well acquainted with the Indian character since their long
experience with the red men, had adopted a very different bearing
from that which they had when coming up the river, in 1805.
Here is an extract from their journal, September 14: -
"We resumed our journey. This being a part of the river to
which the Kansas resort, in order to rob the boats of traders,
we held ourselves in readiness to fire upon any Indians who
should offer us the slightest indignity; as we no longer needed
their friendship, and found that a tone of firmness and decision
is the best possible method of making proper impressions on
these freebooters.
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