On The Twenty-First Of October, The Explorers Reached A Creek
To Which The Indians Gave The Name Of Chisshetaw, Now Known As
Heart River, Which, Rising In Stark County, North Dakota, And Running
Circuitously Through Morton County, Empties Into The Missouri Opposite
The City Of Bismarck.
At this point the Northern Pacific Railway
now crosses the Missouri; and here, where is built the capital
of
North Dakota, began, in those days, a series of Mandan villages,
with the people of which the explorers were to become tolerably
well acquainted; for it had been decided that the increasing
cold of the weather would compel them to winter in this region.
But they were as yet uncertain as to the exact locality at which they
would build their camp of winter. Here they met one of the grand
chiefs of the Mandans, who was on a hunting excursion with his braves.
This chief greeted with much ceremony the Rickaree chief who
accompanied the exploring party. The Mandans and Rickarees were
ancient enemies, but, following the peaceful councils of the white men,
the chiefs professed amity and smoked together the pipe of peace.
A son of the Mandan chief was observed to have lost both of his
little fingers, and when the strangers asked how this happened,
they were told that the fingers had been cut off (according to
the Mandan custom) to show the grief of the young man at the loss
of some of his relations.
Chapter VI
Winter among the Mandans
Before finally selecting the spot on which to build their
winter quarters, Lewis and Clark held councils with the chiefs
of the tribes who were to be their neighbors during the cold season.
These were Mandans, Annahaways, and Minnetarees, tribes living
peacefully in the same region of country.
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