JOURNAL. 
59 
alon^^ the shore opposite the boat all day, on the south 
side, on which side we encamped. Some of them 
remained v/itii us to 12 at night and then returned to 
their viilap^e. 
Saturday 27th. The morning was clear and plea- 
sant and we set out early. At half past seven we 
arrived at the first villa^^e of the Mamdans, and halted 
about two hours. This village contains 40 or 50 
lodges built in the iTianner of those of the Rickarees, 
These Indians have better complexions than most 
other Indians, and some of the children have fair hair. 
We passed a bluff on the south side with a stratum 
of black resembling coal. There is a bottom on the 
north side, where the second Mandan villa9:e is situ- 
ated. We went about a mile above it, and encamped 
in the same bottona, for the purpose of holding a 
council \Vith the natives. This place is 1610 miles 
from the mouth of the river du Bois, where we first 
embarked to proceed on the expedition. There are 
about the same number of lodges, and people, in this 
village as in the first. Thess people do not bury 
their dead, but place the body on a scafTald, wrapped 
in a buffaloe robe, where it lies exposed.* 
Sunday 28 ch. The day was clear, and v/e remain- 
ed here ; but could not sit in council, the wind blew 
$0 violent. 
Monday 29th. We had again a clear day, and 
some of the principal men came from jsach village of 
the Mandans, from the Watasoons, Sioux, and one 
from the Grossventers ; and all sat in council toge- 
ther. At 1 1 o'clock, when the Council met, a shot 
was fired from our bow piece, and the commanding 
officers took the chiefs by the hand. Captain Lewis, 
through an interpreter, delivered a speech ; gave a 
suit of clothes to each of the chiefs and some articles, . 
* See Mackenzie's account of the funeral rites of the 
Knisteneaux, ia his General History of the Far Trade. 
