Sleeping with the Sugar Smacks

Journal 2006 08 22
Sleeping with the Sugar Smacks

A wet windy night for our homeward bound travelers. The chiefs confirm with Clark that they will stay and not accompany him to Washington D.C. They reiterate their desires to heed his words regarding their neighboring tribes. Part of their reluctance is the fact that the Chief who left to visit Jefferson two winters ago has yet to return.

So Clark smokes a pipe with the leaders of these nations and sets out down the Missouri once more. As he writes his journal later in camp he recounts the anthropology of the Cheyenne in detail. Clark recounts the following diplomatic gesture and inquiry for aid by a Cheyenne Chief, “…as I was about to leave the Cheifs of the Chyennes lodge he requested me to Send Some traders to them, that their country was full of beaver and they would then be encouraged to Kill beaver, but now they had no use for them as they could get nothing for their skins and did not know well, how to catch beaver.    if the white people would come amongst them they would become acquainted <with them> and the white people would learn them how to take the beaver—. I promised the Nation that I would inform their Great father the President of the U States, and he would have them Supplied with goods, and mentioned in what manner they would be Supplied &c. &c….”

Clark has become something of a wilderness doctor during the journey and his “charts” regarding Lewis for today reads, “I am happy to have it in my power to Say that my worthy friend Capt Lewis is recovering fast, he walked a little to day for the first time. I have discontinud the tent in the hole the ball came out…” Nobody has mentioned it to date and I don’t remember if they do, but one of the biggest problems with a wound like Lewis’ two hundred years ago was the infection that might set in. I’m sure the lack of infection contributed to the happiness of the recovery.

And as almost a footnote to the anthropology report Clark makes sure he records something he must not have wanted to forget. “I have before mentioned that the Mandans Maharhas Menetarras & Ricarras, keep their horses in the Lodge with themselves at night.” I have asked the question many times in my own mind, “Why would you bring the barnyard animals in the house at night?” During the winter at Fort Mandan I assumed it was because of the bitter cold temperatures. But now, in late August? Protection from theft? Couldn’t have been for what they contributed to the décor and overall aura of the earthen huts the tribes mentioned use. I think it must have been for protecting them from theft.

I am famous in my family as a kid for sleeping with my favorite box of cereal. I know my motives. I didn’t want any of my brothers or sister eating my box of Cocoa Puffs or Sugar Pops before I got up! Seemed pretty reasonable to me at the time. Sure gets a good laugh even now whenever it is brought up. And that practice of gathering our precious possessions continues today and begs the question, “Are we bringing anything into our ‘houses’ for protection that would seem strange to most people?” More likely we are bringing things into our “spiritual houses” that we protect through allegiance and argument and an unwillingness to risk their loss. Got any mindsets or ideas that seem strange to others yet you’re hanging onto with all your might? What would a foreign observer record of those transactions?

Whatever we are holding onto so tightly that we bring it into our beds is almost universally a hindrance to our trust in God to preserve and protect us. Since most of us don’t have any horses in the bedroom (I’m not asking about dogs and cats!) what I’m really asking is, “Do any of us need to let go of the box of Sugar Smacks?”

Proceed on.