October 8, 1804 (Camped between Oak and Fisher Creeks, Corson County, South Dakota)

"2 of our men discovered the ricckerre village, about the Center of the Island*. The Isld. is covered with fields, where those people raise their Corn Tobacco beens. Great numbers of those people came on the Island to see us pass, we passed above the head of the Island and Capt. Lewis with 2 interpeters & 2 men went to the Village.  I formed a Camp of the french & the guard on Shore, with one Sentinal on board of the boat at anchor, a pleasant evening all things arranged both for Peace or War.... Several french men Came up with Capt Lewis in a Perogue, one of which is a Mr. Gravellin ** a man well versed in the language of this nation and gave us some information relitive to the Countrey naton. "

Island*- Ashley Island, Corson County, South Dakota
Mr. Gravellin **- Joseph Gravelins, a trader among the Arikaras for more than twenty years.

"all the grand Chiefs visited us to day also Mr Taboe*, a trader from St. Louis-Many canoes of a single Buffalow Skin** made in the form of a Bowl carrying generally 3 and sometimes 5 & 6 men, those canoes ride the highest Waves..."

Mr Taboe*- Pierre-Antoine Tabeau
Buffalow Skin**- Possibly bullboats, hemispherical vessels covered with buffalo skins.

" much astonished at my black Servent, who made him self more turrible in their view than I wished him to Doe as I am told telling them that before I cought him he was wild & lived upon people, young children was verry good eating.  This nation never saw a black man before. we prepare all things to speak to the Indians. At one oClock the Cheifs all assembled & after some little Cerremony the council commenced, we informed them of what we had told the others before. Gave them presents. After the Council was over we Shot the air guns which astonished them much, they then departed and we rested secure all night."

"at 11 oClock we emt the Grand Chief in Council & he made a short speech thanking us for what we had given him & his nation promisseing to attend to the Council we had given him & informed us the road was open & no one dare Shut it & we might Departe at pleasure, at 1 oClock we set out for the uppper villages 3 miles distant.... Those people gave us to eate bread made of Corn & beens, also Corn & beans boild. A large Been * which they rob the mice of the Prairie which is rich & verry nurrishing also quashes. All Tranquillity."

large Been *- This "bean" is Amphicarpa monoica, whose seeds were an important food for the tribes of the Upper Missouri. Frontiersmen usually called it the "hog peanut" of "wild peanut".

"Went to the house of the 2nd Chief Lassil* where there was many Chiefs and warriors & about 7 bushels of Corn, a twist of their tobacco & seeds of 2 kind of Tobacco  we set some time before the Councill Commenced this man spoke at some length declareing his dispotion to belive and prosue our Councils, his intention of going to Visit his great father  acknowledged the satisfaction in receiving the presents and raising a doubt as to the safty of passing the nations below particularly the Souex.  requested us to take a Chief of their nation and make a pact with Mandins ** & nations above.... those people express an inclination to be at peace with all nations- The Nation of the Rickerries is about 600 men they appear to be peacefull. They raise great quantities of Corn Beens Simmins*** also Tobacco."

Chief Lassil* - Perhaps another name for Pocasse, the second Chief
Mandins **- Mandan Indians
Beens Simmins***- Summer squash

"A creek 18 miles above the Ricaras I call Stone Idol Creek, this creek heads in a small lake at no great distance, near what there is a Stone to which the Indians asscribe a great virtue*. Those people have a curious tradition of those stones, one man was a man in love, one girl whose parents would not let them yet in her hand... a court martial convened this day for the trial of John Newman, charged with "having uttered repeated expressions of a highly criminal and mutinous nature; the same having a tendency not only to distroy every principle of military discipline, but also to alienate the affections of the individuals composing this detatchment to their officers, and disaffect them to the service for which they have been so sacredly and solemnly engaged.  The Prisonar plead not guilty to the charge... the court are unanimously of opinion that the prisonar John Newman is guilty.  " 

great virtue*- When passing by these stones, the Arikara paid reverence and made votive offerings. Near present day Pollack, South Dakota.