Pow Wow
Journal 2006 08 21
Pow Wow
Two days ago Clark writes, “…the wind rose and become very Strong from the S. E. and a great appearance of rain. Jessomme the Interpreter let me have a piece of a lodge and the Squars pitched or Stretched it over Some Sticks, under this piece of leather I Slept <under> dry, it is the only covering which I have had Suffecient to keep off the rain Since I left the Columbia.” Shelter from the storm. Seems pretty standard to us. Notable to the wilderness Captain on August 19th, 1804.
Clark also notes how different the course of the Missouri is compared to when they ascended it. He also noted how the buffalo bulls had quit “running” and had become “poor.” Poor usually meant too lean to be palatable. I’m guessing that Clark means that the buffalo were in what we call “the rut.” Or mating season. The elk are just entering into it. Several times over the past few weeks the buffalo have kept the men awake with their loud bellowing. I’m guessing we’ll read something about elk bugling soon.
The winds continued to blow. This morning Clark commands all the men to “…put their arms in perfect order…” He didn’t know what today would bring. He did know that there could be trouble. As his boats approached the upper Ricara Villages the women and children working near the river must have run to tell the chief of their arrival. Clark delayed about an hour talking with fur trappers headed upriver. They had met these men in the Mandan villages over their winter here.
At about 11:00am the villages came into view. “…we Saluted the village with four guns <on St> and they returned the Salute by fireing Several guns in the village, I observed Several very white Lodges on the hill above the Town which the ricaras from the Shore informed me were Chyennes who had just arived—. we landed opposit to the 2d Village and were met by the most of the men women and children of each village as also the Chyennes they all appeared anxious to take us by the hand and much rejoiced to See us return. I Steped on Shore and was Saluted by the two great Chiefs, whome we had made or given Medals to as we assend this river in 1804, and also Saluted by a great number both of Ricaras & Chyennes, as they appeared anxious to here what we had done &c. as well as to here Something about the Mandans & Minetarras.”
In this simple welcome Clark is able to put to rest any fears of war. Isn’t a warm greeting far better than a cold shoulder? And in this extension of friendship by the Ricaras and even the Cheyennes William Clark turns from his military mission to his diplomatic mission. And he performs admirably. Big White supplies tobacco for the pipe and all chiefs express their great desire to live together in peace. All point to a few bad apples from their own tribes and the Sioux downstream as the inhibitors of peace. Clark continues in his gifts with the few small medals and things in his possession and in the process is able to dispel a threat to Big White. A chief of the Cheyenne who was not present when the Corps of Discovery came through in 1804 pulls a young man who had volunteered to go to Washington, DC and then “The Cheif then envited me & the Mandan Chief to his house to talk there.” And there he confesses that he has heard the words of the other chiefs and Clark. He declares that Big White will be as safe in this village as if he were in his own. And he pledges to not attack his neighbors. Only to defend himself.
While the Captain was conducting his diplomacy the men where trading for moccasins and robes “some of which are handsome.”
The work of the mission has now changed. The vision has not, but the daily work has. The unknown has been conquered. The report needs to be filed. The first Pow Wow is complete. Reason for hope of peace has been born.
He doesn’t record it, but Captain Clark must have been satisfied at day’s end with the accomplishments of today. He said, “I Set my self down on the Side of the Bank and the Chiefs & brave men of the Ricaras & Chyennes formed a Cercle around me.” Jehovah God said, "Come. Sit down. Let us reason.” And that is what William Clark did this day.
Proceed on.
Pow Wow
Two days ago Clark writes, “…the wind rose and become very Strong from the S. E. and a great appearance of rain. Jessomme the Interpreter let me have a piece of a lodge and the Squars pitched or Stretched it over Some Sticks, under this piece of leather I Slept <under> dry, it is the only covering which I have had Suffecient to keep off the rain Since I left the Columbia.” Shelter from the storm. Seems pretty standard to us. Notable to the wilderness Captain on August 19th, 1804.
Clark also notes how different the course of the Missouri is compared to when they ascended it. He also noted how the buffalo bulls had quit “running” and had become “poor.” Poor usually meant too lean to be palatable. I’m guessing that Clark means that the buffalo were in what we call “the rut.” Or mating season. The elk are just entering into it. Several times over the past few weeks the buffalo have kept the men awake with their loud bellowing. I’m guessing we’ll read something about elk bugling soon.
The winds continued to blow. This morning Clark commands all the men to “…put their arms in perfect order…” He didn’t know what today would bring. He did know that there could be trouble. As his boats approached the upper Ricara Villages the women and children working near the river must have run to tell the chief of their arrival. Clark delayed about an hour talking with fur trappers headed upriver. They had met these men in the Mandan villages over their winter here.
At about 11:00am the villages came into view. “…we Saluted the village with four guns <on St> and they returned the Salute by fireing Several guns in the village, I observed Several very white Lodges on the hill above the Town which the ricaras from the Shore informed me were Chyennes who had just arived—. we landed opposit to the 2d Village and were met by the most of the men women and children of each village as also the Chyennes they all appeared anxious to take us by the hand and much rejoiced to See us return. I Steped on Shore and was Saluted by the two great Chiefs, whome we had made or given Medals to as we assend this river in 1804, and also Saluted by a great number both of Ricaras & Chyennes, as they appeared anxious to here what we had done &c. as well as to here Something about the Mandans & Minetarras.”
In this simple welcome Clark is able to put to rest any fears of war. Isn’t a warm greeting far better than a cold shoulder? And in this extension of friendship by the Ricaras and even the Cheyennes William Clark turns from his military mission to his diplomatic mission. And he performs admirably. Big White supplies tobacco for the pipe and all chiefs express their great desire to live together in peace. All point to a few bad apples from their own tribes and the Sioux downstream as the inhibitors of peace. Clark continues in his gifts with the few small medals and things in his possession and in the process is able to dispel a threat to Big White. A chief of the Cheyenne who was not present when the Corps of Discovery came through in 1804 pulls a young man who had volunteered to go to Washington, DC and then “The Cheif then envited me & the Mandan Chief to his house to talk there.” And there he confesses that he has heard the words of the other chiefs and Clark. He declares that Big White will be as safe in this village as if he were in his own. And he pledges to not attack his neighbors. Only to defend himself.
While the Captain was conducting his diplomacy the men where trading for moccasins and robes “some of which are handsome.”
The work of the mission has now changed. The vision has not, but the daily work has. The unknown has been conquered. The report needs to be filed. The first Pow Wow is complete. Reason for hope of peace has been born.
He doesn’t record it, but Captain Clark must have been satisfied at day’s end with the accomplishments of today. He said, “I Set my self down on the Side of the Bank and the Chiefs & brave men of the Ricaras & Chyennes formed a Cercle around me.” Jehovah God said, "Come. Sit down. Let us reason.” And that is what William Clark did this day.
Proceed on.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 6:36 PM
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