Volume 1

great numbers ;
J. B. LAFRANCE—LEWIS AND CLARK. 329
but our trifling equipments would not
admit of such purchases.
About this time Jean Baptiste La France" made his
appearance. This man had left [Brandon House, on]
Riviere la Souris in May last, equipped by the H. B. Co.
with a small assortment for trading. He resides on the S.
side, at the great Mandane village, and hearing of our arrival,
came over to us. He informed Black Cat, our kind host,
who his guests were, and told him that our visit was from
mere curiosity. The chief instantly retired to his family
hut, and brought out his flag, which was soon flying over
the hut in which we were accommodated. This flag was
given to him in 1804-05 [i. e., Oct. 29th, 1804] by Captains
Lewis and Clark, who also gave him a silver medal ; the
same articles were also given to the principal chiefs of the
other villages, and several very useful utensils were left
among them. I saw the remains of an excellent large corn
mill [L. and C, p. 182], which the foolish fellows had demolished
to barb their arrows ; the largest piece of it, which
they could not break or work up into any weapon, was fixed
to a wooden handle, and used to pound marrow-bones to
make grease.
As we desired to cross the river, we sent La France to
engage people of the opposite village ^° to come over for us.
It would have been in vain for us to attempt to prevail upon
anyone in this village to ferry us over ; for, as long as a
stranger has any property, they wish him to trade all he
brings in the first village he enters, every village being
ambitious of getting as many European articles as they can,
*^
See L. and C, pp. 203, 213, and esp. 1179, where I cite this passage from
the Henry MS. literally.
^ The Jirst of the two Mandan and of the whole five villages of L. and C,
on the S. side of the Missouri ;
" the lower village of the Mandans, called
Matootonha," p. 182. This was about 4 m. below the mouth of Knife r., and
distant about 3 m. diagonally across the Missouri from the other Mandan village
of Rooptahee.
It was the village of Shahaka, Gros Blanc, or Big White, a principal
chief, and of Kagohami or Little Raven. In this locality is now a place
called Deapolis.