first across the continent-第59部分
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th regard to himself； he would continue with his nation； to see that they followed our advice。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃After smoking for some time； Captain Clark gave a small medal to the Chayenne chief； and explained at the same time the meaning of it。 He seemed alarmed at this present； and sent for a robe and a quantity of buffalo…meat； which he gave to Captain Clark； and requested him to take back the medal； for he knew that all white people were ‘medicine；' and was afraid of the medal； or of anything else which the white people gave to the Indians。 Captain Clark then repeated his intention in giving the medal； which was the medicine his great father had directed him to deliver to all chiefs who listened to his word and。 followed his counsels； and that as he ＇the chief＇ had done so； the medal was given as a proof that we believed him sincere。 He now appeared satisfied and received the medal； in return for which he gave double the quantity of buffalo…meat he had offered before。 He seemed now quite reconciled to the whites； and requested that some traders might be sent among the Chayennes； who lived； he said； in a country full of beaver； but did not understand well how to catch them； and were discouraged from it by having no sale for them when caught。 Captain Clark promised that they should be soon supplied with goods and taught the best mode of catching beaver。
〃Big White； the chief of the Mandans； now addressed them at some length； explaining the pacific intentions of his nation； the Chayennes observed that both the Ricaras and Mandans seemed to be in fault； but at the end of the council the Mandan chief was treated with great civility； and the greatest harmony prevailed among them。 The great chief； however； informed us that none of the Ricaras could be prevailed on to go with us till the return of the other chief； and that the Chayennes were a wild people； afraid to go。 He invited Captain Clark to his house； and gave him two carrots of tobacco； two beaver…skins； and a trencher of boiled corn and beans。 It is the custom of all the nations on the Missouri to offer to every white man food and refreshment when he first enters their tents。〃
Resuming their voyage； the party reached Tyler's River； where they camped； on the twenty…seventh of August。 This stream is now known as Medicine River； from Medicine Hill； a conspicuous landmark rising at a little distance from the Missouri。 The voyagers were now near the lower portion of what is now known as South Dakota； and they camped in territory embraced in the county of Presho。 Here they were forced to send out their hunters； their stock of meat was nearly exhausted。 The hunters returned empty…handed。
〃After a hunt of three hours they reported that no game was to be found in the bottoms； the grass having been laid flat by the immense number of buffaloes which recently passed over it； and； that they saw only a few buffalo bulls； which they did not kill； as they were quite unfit for use。 Near this place we observed； however； the first signs of the wild turkey； not long afterward we landed in the Big Bend； and killed a fine fat elk； on which we feasted。 Toward night we heard the bellowing of buffalo bulls on the lower island of the Big Bend。 We pursued this agreeable sound； and after killing some of the cows； camped on the island； forty…five miles from the camp of last night。〃 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃Setting out at ten o'clock the next morning； at a short distance they passed the mouth of White River； the water of which was nearly of the color of milk。 As they were much occupied with hunting； they made but twenty miles。 The buffalo；〃 says the journal； 〃were now so numerous； that from an eminence we discovered more than we had ever seen before at one time； and though it was impossible accurately to calculate their number； they darkened the whole plain； and could not have been； we were convinced； less than twenty thousand。 With regard to game in general； we have observed that wild animals are usually found in the greatest numbers in the country lying between two nations at war。〃
They were now well into the Sioux territory； and on the thirtieth of August they had an encounter with a party of Indians。 About twenty persons were seen on the west side of the river； proceeding along a height opposite the voyagers。 Just as these were observed； another band； numbering eighty or ninety； came out of the woods nearer the shore。 As they had a hostile appearance； the party in the canoes made preparations to receive them； they were suspected to be Teton…Sioux； although they might be Yanktons； Pawnees； or Omahas。 The journal adds：
〃In order； however； to ascertain who they were； without risk to the party； Captain Clark crossed； with three persons who could speak different Indian languages； to a sand…bar near the opposite side； in hopes of conversing with them。 Eight young men soon met him on the sand…bar； but none of them could understand either the Pawnee or Maha interpreter。 They were then addressed in the Sioux language； and answered that they were Tetons； of the band headed by Black Buffaloe； Tahtackasabah。 This was the same who had attempted to stop us in 1804； and being now less anxious about offending so mischievous a tribe； Captain Clark told them that they had been deaf to our councils； had ill…treated us two years ago； and had abused all the whites who had since visited them。 He believed them； he added； to be bad people； and they must therefore return to their companions； for if they crossed over to our camp we would put them to death。 They asked for some corn； which Captain Clark refused； they then requested permission to come and visit our camp； but he ordered them back to their own people。 He then returned； and all our arms were prepared； in case of an attack； but when the Indians reached their comrades； and informed their chiefs of our intention； they all set out on their way to their own camp； though some of them halted on a rising ground and abused us very copiously； threatening to kill us if we came across。 We took no notice of this for some time； till the return of three of our hunters； whom we were afraid the Indians might have met。 But as soon as they joined us we embarked； and to see what the Indians would attempt； steered near their side of the river。 At this the party on the hill seemed agitated； some set out for their camp； others walked about； and one man walked toward the boats and invited us to land。 As he came near； we recognized him to be the same who had accompanied us for two days in 1804； and was considered a friend of the whites。
〃Unwilling； however； to have any intercourse with these people； we declined his invitation； upon which he returned to the hill； and struck the earth three times with his gun； a great oath among the Indians； who consider swearing by the earth as one of the most solemn forms of imprecation。 At the distance of six miles we stopped on a bleak sand…bar； where we thought ourselves secure from any attack during the night； and also safe from the mosquitoes。 We had made but twenty…two miles； but in the course of the day had killed a mule…deer； an animal we were very anxious to obtain。 About eleven in the evening the wind shifted to the northwest； and it began to rain； accompanied by thunder and lightning； after which the wind changed to the southwest； and blew with such violence that we were obliged to hold fast the canoes； for fear of their being driven from the sand…bar： still； the cables of two of them broke； and two others were blown quite across the river； nor was it till two o'clock that the whole party were reassembled； waiting in the rain for daylight。〃
The party now began to meet white men in small detachments coming up the river。 On the third of September； for example； they met the first men who were able to give them news of home。 This party was commanded by a Mr。 James Airs （or Ayres）； from Mackinaw； by the way of Prairie du Chien and St。 Louis。 He had two canoes loaded with merchandise which he was taking up the river to trade with the Indians。 Among the items of news gathered from him； according to the private journal of one of the Lewis and Clark party； was that General James Wilkinson was now Governor of Louisiana Territory； and was stationed at St。 Louis。 This is the Wilkinson who fought in the American Revolution； and was subsequently to this time accused of accepting bribes from Spain and of complicity with Aaron Burr in his treasonable schemes。 Another item was to this effect： 〃Mr。 Burr & Genl。 Hambleton fought a Duel； the latter was killed。〃 This brief statement refers to the unhappy duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton； at Weehawken； New Jersey； July 11； 1804。 This interesting entry shows with what feelings the long…absent explorers met Mr。 Airs：
〃After so long an interval； the sight of anyone who could give us information of our country was peculiarly delightful； and much of the night was spent in making inquiries into what had occurred during our absence。 We found Mr。 Airs a very friendly and liberal gentleman； when we proposed to him to purchase a small quantity of tobacco； to be paid for in St。 Louis； he very readily furnished every man of the party with as much as he could use during the rest of the voyage； and insisted on our accepting a barrel of flour。 This last we found very agreeable； although we have still a little flour which we had deposited at the mouth of Maria's River。 We could give in return only about six bushels of corn； which was all that we could spare。〃
Three days later； the voyagers met a trading…boat belonging to Mr。 Augustus Chouteau； the founder of a famous trading…house in St。 Louis。 From this party the captains procured a gallon of whiskey； and with this they served out a dram to each of their men。 〃This；〃 says the journal； 〃is the first spirituous liquor any of them have tasted since the Fourth of July； 1805。〃 From this time forward； the returning explorers met trading parties nearly every day； and this showed that trade was following the flag far up into the hitherto unexplored regions of the American continent。
The explorers； hungry for news from home； would have tarried and talked longer with their new…found friends； but they were anxious to get down to ci
