"On Setting Out At Seven O'clock, Captain Clark, With Chaboneau
And His Wife, Walked On Shore; But They Had Not
Gone more than a mile
before Captain Clark saw Sacajawea, who was with her husband one
hundred yards ahead, begin
To dance and show every mark of the most
extravagant joy, turning round to him and pointing to several Indians,
whom he now saw advancing on horseback, sucking her fingers at
the same time, to indicate that they were of her native tribe.
As they advanced, Captain Clark discovered among them Drewyer dressed
like an Indian, from whom be learned the situation of the party.
While the boats were performing the circuit, he went toward the forks
with the Indians, who, as they went along, sang aloud with the greatest
appearance of delight.
"We soon drew near the camp, and just as we approached it
a woman made her way through the crowd toward Sacajawea;
recognizing each other, they embraced with the most tender affection.
The meeting of these two young women had in it something peculiarly
touching, not only from the ardent manner in which their feelings
were expressed, but also from the real interest of their situation.
They had been companions in childhood; in the war with the
Minnetarees they had both been taken prisoners in the same battle;
they had shared and softened the rigors of their captivity till
one of them had escaped from their enemies with scarce a hope
of ever seeing her friend rescued from their hands.
"While Sacajawea was renewing among the women the friendships
of former days, Captain Clark went on, and was received
by Captain Lewis and the chief, who, after the first embraces
and salutations were over, conducted him to a sort of circular
tent or shade of willows. Here he was seated on a white robe;
and the chief immediately tied in his hair six small shells
resembling pearls, an ornament highly valued by these people,
who procure them in the course of trade from the seacoast.
The moccasins of the whole party were then taken off, and,
after much ceremony, the smoking began. After this the conference
was to be opened; and, glad of an opportunity of being able
to converse more intelligibly, Sacajawea was sent for:
she came into the tent, sat down, and was beginning to interpret,
when in the person of Cameahwait she recognized her brother.
She instantly jumped up, and ran and embraced him,
throwing over him her blanket, and weeping profusely:
the chief was himself moved, though not in the same degree.
After some conversation between them she resumed her seat,
and attempted to interpret for us; but her new situation seemed
to overpower her, and she was frequently interrupted by her tears.
After the council was finished, the unfortunate woman learned
that all her family were dead except two brothers, one of whom
was absent, and a son of her eldest sister, a small boy,
who was immediately adopted by her."
The two parties, Indian and white, now went into a conference,
the white chiefs explaining that it would be needful for their Indian
friends to collect all their horses and help to transport the goods
of the explorers over the Great Divide.
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