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January 1, 1805 "The day was ushered in by the Descharge of two Cannon, we suffered 16 men with their music to visit the 1st Village for the purpose of Danceing... I found them much pleased at the Danceing of our men, I order my black Servent to Dance which amused the Croud Verry much, and Somewhat astonished them, that So large a man should be active ". Captain Clark January 2, 1805 " during this day the same scene of gayety was renewed at the second village." January 3, 1805 "last night it became cold and this morning we had snow; our hunters were sent out for buffaloe but the game had been frightened from the river by the Indians, so they obtained only one, also killed a hare and wolf." January 4, 1805 " Snowey morning, the Themtr. at 28 ° above 0. Sent out 3 men to nut down the river, Several Indians came to day the little Crow, who has proved friendly Came we gave him a handkerchf & 2 files, in the evening the weather became cold and windey, wind form the NW. I am verry unwell the after part of the daye." January 5, 1805 " I imploy my self drawing a Connection of the Countrey* from what information I have recvd. - for 3 nights passed in the 1st Village, a curious custom the old men arrange themselves in a circle & after Smoke a pipe, which is handed them by a young man, Dress up for the purpose, the young men who have their wives back of the circle (com) go to one of the old men with a whinning tone and request the old man to take his wife (who presents necked except a robe) and (or sleep with him) the girl then takes the Old man (who verry often can Scerecely walk) and leades him to a convenient place for the business, after which they return to the lodge, if the Old man ( or a white man) returns to the lodge without gratifying the man & his wife, he offers her again and again; it is often the Case that after the 2nd time (he) without kissing the Husband throws a nice robe over the old man & and begs him not to dispise him & his wife. we sent a man to this dance last night... all this is to cause the buffalow to Come near so that they may kill thim." drawing a Connection of the Countrey* - Clark was probably at work on some version of his map of the West sent back to Jefferson in Aril 1805, based on the information from Indians and traders. January 6, 1805 " fiew indians to day ... I am ingaged as yesterday." January 7, 1805 "Big White Chef of the Lower Mandan Village Dined with us, and gave me a Scetch of the Countrey as far as the high mountains & on the South Side of the River Rejone*, he says that the river rejone recves 6 small rivers on the S Side & that the Countrey is verry hilley and the greater part covered with timber, great numbers of beaver. I continue to draw a connected plote from the information of Traders, Indians and my own observation and idea from the best information, the Great falls is about 800 miles nearly west." River Rejone*- Rochejaune, French for the Yellowstone. The Canadian trader Menard claimed to have been on the river some time before 1795 and gave a description of it to Jean Baptiste Truteau. In any case, the French traders of St. Louis had received enough information from Indians before Lewis and Clark's time to have given it a name, perhaps derived from the yellow rocks in the river's upper canyon in present Yellowstone National Park. January 8, 1805 " a Cold Day but fiew indians at the fort to day."
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