Lewis and Clark exploring a pass-age a passage by the Missisourie to the pacific Ocean[.] They came up the river in a Boat of twenty oars accompanied by two Peroques. Their fortifications for winter quarters were already complete[.] They had held a Council with the Mandanes and distributed many presents but most of the Chiefs did not accept of any thing from them[.] [S]ome time after Captain Lewis with three Interpreters paid a visit to the Gros Ventres Village – and went directly to the Serpents Lodge where he passed the night. [N]ext morning he came to the Village where I was – and observed to me that he was not very graciouly received at the upper village. "I sent word a head said he to inform Le Blet qui port les Cornes that I intended to take up my quarters at his lodge[.] He returned for answer that he was not at home. This conduct surprised me, it being common only among Your English Lords, not to be at home, when they did not wish to see Strangers – but as I had felt no inclination of entering any house after being told the Landlord would not be at home – I looked out for another lodging, which I readily found[.]"

After haranguing the Indians and explaining to them the purport of his expedition to the Westward – several of them accepted of cloathings – but not-

-withstanding

[7]