Near present Mobridge, South Dakota, Pvt. Frazer is promoted to the permanent party and assigned to Sgt. Gass. Camp is near Sawa-haini—an active Arikara village where the interpreter Joseph Gravelines is found.
Meeting the Arikaras
by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading
Arikara Village of Earth-Covered Lodges, 1600 Miles above St. Louis
George Catlin (1796–1872)
Letters and Notes, Plate 80. Hand colored by unknown artist. Courtesy Missouri Historical Society, mohistory.org/collections/item/N27615.[2]Original sketch from George Catlin, Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the American Indians, (London: 1841), vol. 1, plate 80.
Regarding the Arikara village shown above, George Catlin wrote:
This village is built upon an open prairie, and the gracefully undulating hills that rise in the distance behind it are everywhere covered with a verdant green turf, without a tree or a bush anywhere to be seen. This view was taken from the deck of the steamer when I was on my way up the river.
When Lewis and Clarke first visited these people thirty years since, it will be found by a reference to their history, that the Riccarees received and treated them with great kindness and hospitality ; but owing to the system of trade, and the manner in which it has been conducted in this country, they have been inflicted with real or imaginary abuses, of which they are themselves, and the fur traders, the best judges ; and for which-they are now harbouring the most inveterate feelings towards the whole civilized race.[3]Ibid., 204.
Arikara Village Sawa-haini
2 of our men discovered the reckerrei [Arikara] village, about the Center of the Island on the L. Side on the main Shore. The Isld. is covered with fields, where those people raise their Corn Tobacco Beens &c. &c. Great numbers of those People came on the Island to See us pass
—William Clark
Joseph Gravelines Signs On
Several french men Came up with Capt Lewis in a Perogue, one of which is a Mr. Gravellin [Joseph Gravelines] a man well versed in the language of this nation and gave us Some information relitive to the Countrey naton &c (Mr. Gravotine a French man joined us as an interpeter)
—William Clark
Robert Frazer Re-assigned
Robert Frazer being regularly inlisted and haveing become on of the Corps of Vollenteers for North Western Discovery, he is therefore to be viewed & respected accordingly; and will be anexed to Sergeant Gass‘s mess.
Wm Clark Cpt &.
Meriwether Lewis
Capt. 1st U’ S. Regt. Infty
Lewis Returns Late
I formd a Camp on Shore with the Perogue crew & guard, with the Boat at Anchor, Capt Lewis returned late, a french man and a Spaniard accompanied him
—William Clark
Weather Diary
Thermot. at rise
Weather Wind at thermotr. at 4 P.M. Weather Wind at 4 oC P.M. 48 fair N. W. 62 fair N W arrived at Recare vilage, visited the Chief on the Island
—Meriwether Lewis[4]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of the month” column and spelled out some abbreviations.
Notes
| ↑1 | Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Original sketch from George Catlin, Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the American Indians, (London: 1841), vol. 1, plate 80. |
| ↑3 | Ibid., 204. |
| ↑4 | To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of the month” column and spelled out some abbreviations. |
