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. Yet in spite
of these dispositions he had always had his ears open to
our counsels, and had actually made a peace with the Chayennes
and the Indians of the Rocky Mountains. He concluded by saying,
that however disposed they were to visit the United States,
the fear of the Sioux would prevent them from going with us."
The truth was that One-eye had no notion of going to Washington;
he was afraid of nobody, and his plea of possible danger
among the Sioux was mere nonsense to deceive the white men.
Captain Clark visited the village of Black Cat, and that worthy
savage made the same excuse that Le Borgne (One-eye) had already
put forth; he was afraid of the Sioux. The journal adds: -
"Captain Clark then spoke to the chiefs and warriors of the village.
He told them of his anxiety that some of them should see their
Great Father, hear his good words, and receive his gifts; and requested
them to fix on some confidential chief who might accompany us.
To this they made the same objections as before; till at length
a young man offered to go, and the warriors all assented to it.
But the character of this man was known to be bad; and one
of the party with Captain Clark informed him that at the moment
he [this Indian] had in his possession a knife which he had stolen.
Captain Clark therefore told the chief of this theft, and ordered
the knife to be given up. This was done with a poor apology for having
it in his possession, and Captain Clark then reproached the chiefs
for wishing to send such a fellow to see and hear so distinguished
a person as their Great Father. They all hung down their heads
for some time, till Black Cat apologized by saying that the danger
was such that they were afraid of sending any one of their chiefs,
as they considered his loss almost inevitable."
Although there was so much reluctance on the part of the Indians
to leave their roving life, even for a few months, there were
some white men among the explorers who were willing to give up
their home in "the States." The journal says: -
"In the evening Colter applied to us for permission to join the two
trappers who had accompanied us, and who now proposed an expedition
up the river, in which they were to find traps and to give him
a share of the profits. The offer was a very advantageous one;
and as he had always performed his duty, and his services could
be dispensed with, we consented to his going upon condition
that none of the rest were to ask or expect a similar indulgence.
To this they all cheerfully assented, saying that they wished
Colter every success, and would not apply for liberty to separate
before we reached St. Louis.
