[Clark, December 1, 1804]
 1s Decr. a young Chief arrived
 7 Chiens Came to the Village with a pipe & the 3 Ricares who Came here
 a fiew days ago & Sent off yesterday have returned and Say that the
 Sieaux & ricares are Camped together
 
 
 [Clark, December 1, 1804]
 1st of December Satturday 1804
 wind from the N W. all hands ingaged in pitting pickets &. at 10 oClock
 the half brother of the man who was killed Came and informd. us that
 after my departure last night Six Chiens So Called by the french Shar
 ha Indians had arrived with a pipe and Said that The mandans
 apprehended danger from the Shar has as they were at peace with the
 Seaux; and wished to Kill them and the Ricarees (or Parties) but the
 Cheifs informed the nation "it was our wish that they Should not be
 hurt, and forbid being Killed &c." we gave a little Tobacco &c. & this
 man Departed well Satisfied with our councils and advice to him in the
 evening a Mr. G Henderson in the imploy of the hudsons bay Company Sent
 to trade with the Gros ventre-or big bellies So Called by the french
 traders
 
 
 [Clark, December 2, 1804]
 2d of Decr. 1804 Visited by Several Mandan Chiefs and 4 Chyannes Inds.
 who Came with a pipe to the Mandans, Sent a Speech to ther Nation a
 flag & Some tobacco, also written a Speech to the Ricaras & Sioux,
 informe them what they might depend on if they would not open their
 ears, & &.
 
 
 [Clark, December 2, 1804]
 2nd of December Sunday 1804
 The latter part of last night was verry warm and Continued to thaw
 untill ____ oClock when the wind Shifted to the North at 11 oClock the
 Chiefs of the Lower village of the Mandans with maney of theire young
 men and 4 of the Shar-ha's who had come to Smoke with the pipe of Peace
 with the Mandans, we explained to them our intentions our views and
 advised them to be at peace, Gave them a flag for theire nation, Some
 Tobacco with a Speech to Deliver to their nation on theire return, also
 Sent by them a letter to Mrs. Tabbo & Gravoline, at the Ricares
 Village, to interseid in proventing Hostilities, and if they Could not
 effect those measures to Send & informe us of what was going on,
 Stateing to the Indians the part we intend to take if the Rickores &
 Seauex did not follow our Derections and be at peace with the nations
 which we had addopted--We made Some fiew Small presents to those Shar
 ha's and also Some to the Mandans & at 3 oClock they all Departed well
 pleased, haveing Seen many Curisossties, which we Showed them-. river
 rise one inch
 
 
 [Clark, December 3, 1804]
 3rd December Monday 1804.
 a fine morning the after part of the day Cold & windey the wind from
 the N W. The Father of the Mandan who was killed Came and made us a
 present of Some Dried Simnens & a little pemicon, we made him Some
 Small preasents for which he was much pleased
 
 
 [Clark, December 4, 1804]
 4th of December Tuesday 1804
 a Cloudy raw Day wind from the N. W. the Black Cat and two young Chiefs
 Visit us and as usial Stay all Day the river rise one inch finish the
 main bastion, our interpetr. we discover to be assumeing and
 discontent'd
 
 
 [Clark, December 5, 1804]
 5th December Wednesday 1804
 a Cold raw morning wind from the S. E. Some Snow, two of the N W.
 Companey Came to See us, to let us Know they intended to Set out for
 the establishment on the osinniboin River in two Days-& their party
 would Consist of 5 men, Several Indians also visited us one brought
 Pumpkins or Simmins as a preasent a little Snow fell in the evening at
 which time the wind Shifted round to N. E.
 
 
 [Clark, December 6, 1804]
 Fort Mandan
 6th of December Thursday 1804
 The wind blew violently hard from the N, N W. with Some Snow the air
 Keen and Cold. The Thermometer at 8 oClock A, M, Stood at 10 dgs. above
 o--at 9 oClock a man & his Squar Came down with Some meat for the
 inturpeter his dress was a par mockersons of Buffalow Skin Pr. Legins
 of Goat Skin & a Buffalow robe, 14 ring of Brass on his fingers, this
 metel the Mandans ar verry fond off--Cold after noon river rise 11/2
 Inch to day
 
 
 [Clark, December 7, 1804]
 at Fort mandan
 7th of December 1804, we were informed by a Chief that great numbers of
 Buffalow were on the hills near us Cap Lewis with a party went out &
 Killed 11three in view of our fort, The weather so excesive Cold &
 wolves plenty, we only saved 5 of them, I with a party turned on the
 8th out and found the Buffalow at 7 ms. distant Killed 8 & a Deer, I
 returned with 2 Cows leaving men with remaining meat--Several men badly
 frost bit--The Themormeter Stood this morning at 44 d. below Breizing.
 Capt Lewis went out 9th & Stayed all night out Killed 9 buffalowmaney
 of the Buffalow Killed were So meager that they not fit for use
 Collected by the ade of Some horses the best of the meat in fact all we
 could Save from wolves & I went on a hunting party the 14 & 15 of
 Decr.--much Snow verry cold 52° below freesinge. N W. & H Bay Clerks
 Visit us the 16th also Mr Hainey, Cold Tem. 74° below freesing
 I visit the Mandans on the 1s of January Capt Lewis the 2nd
 
 
 [Clark, December 7, 1804]
 7th of December Friday 1804
 a verry Cold day wind from the N W. the Big White Grand Chief of the 1s
 Village, Came and informed us that a large Drove of Buffalow was near
 and his people was wating for us to join them in a Chase Capt. Lewis
 took 15 men & went out joined the Indians, who were at the time he got
 up, Killing the Buffalows on Horseback with arrows which they done with
 great dexterity, his party killed 14 Buffalow, five of which we got to
 the fort by the assistance of a horse in addition to what the men
 Packed on their backs--one Cow was killed on the ice after drawing her
 out of a vacancey in the ice in which She had fallen, and Butchered her
 at the fort--those we did not get in was taken by the indians under a
 Custon which is established amongst them i e. any person Seeing a
 buffalow lying without an arrow Sticking in him, or Some purticular
 mark takes possesion, many times (as I am told) a hunter who Kills
 maney Buffalow in a chase only Gets a part of one, all meat which is
 left out all night falls to the Wolves which are in great numbers,
 always in the Buffalows--the river Closed opposit the fort last night
 11/2 inches thick The Thermometer Stood this morning at 1 d. below o-
 three men frost bit badly to day
 
 
 [Clark, December 8, 1804]
 8th December Satturday 1804
 a verry Cold morning, the Thermometer Stood at 12 d. below 0 which is
 42 d. below the freesing point, wind from the N W I with 15 men turned
 out Indians joined us on horseback, shot with arrows rode along side of
 buffaloel and killed 8 buffalow & one Deer, one Cow and Calf was
 brought in, two Cows which I killed at 7 miles Dst. I left 2 men to
 Skin & Keep off the wolves, and brought in one Cow & a calf, in the
 evening on my return to the fort Saw great numbers of Buffalow Comeing
 into the Bottoms on both Sides of the river This day being Cold Several
 men returned a little frost bit; one of men with his feet badly frost
 bit my Servents feet also frosted & his P-s a little, I feel a little
 fatigued haveing run after the Buffalow all day in Snow many Places 10
 inches Deep, Generally 6 or 8, two men hurt their hips verry much in
 Slipping down--The Indians kill great numbers of Buffalow to day--2
 reflectings Suns to day
 
 
 [Clark, December 9, 1804]
 9th December Sunday 1804
 The Thermometer Stood this morning at 7° above 0, wind from the E. Capt
 Lewis took 18 men & 4 horses and went out Send in the meet killed
 yesterday and kill more, the Sun Shown to day Clear, both interpeters
 went to the Villages to day at 12 oClock two Chiefs Came loaded with
 meat one with a dog & Slay also loaded with meat, Capt. Lewis Sent in 4
 Hors's loaded with meat, he continued at the hunting Camp near which
 they killed 9 buffalow.
 
 
 [Clark, December 10, 1804]
 10th Monday Decr. 1804 Fort Mandan
 a verry Cold Day The Thermometer to day at 10 & 11 Degrees below 0.,
 Capt. Lewis returned, to day at 12 oClock leaveing 6 men at the Camp to
 prepare the meat for to pack 4 Horse loads Came in, Capt Lewis had a
 Cold Disagreeable night last in the Snow on a Cold point with one Small
 Blankett the Buffaloe Crossed the river below in emence herds without
 brakeing in. only 2 buffalow killed to day one of which was too pore to
 Skin, The men which was frost bit is gitting better. the rise 11/2 inch
 wind North
 
 
 [Clark, December 11, 1804]
 11th December Tuesday 1804
 a verry Cold morning Wind from the north The Thermomettr at (4 oClock A
 M at 21°) Sunrise at 21° See list. below 0 which is 53° below the freesing
 point and getting colder, the Sun Shows and reflects two imigies, the
 ice floating in the atmespear being So thick that the appearance is
 like a fog Despurceing
 Sent out three horses for meat & with Derections for all the hunters to
 return to the fort as Soon as possible at 1 oClock the horses returned
 loaded at night all the hunters returned, Several a little frosted, The
 Black Cat Chief of the Mandans paid us a Visit to day continue Cold all
 day river at a Stand
 
 
 [Clark, December 12, 1804]
 12th December Wednesday 1804
 a Clear Cold morning wind from the north the Thormometer at Sun rise
 Stood at 38° below 0, moderated untill 6 oClock at which time it began to
 get Colder. I line my Gloves and have a cap made of the Skin of the
 Louservia (Lynx) (or wild Cat of the North) the fur near 3 inches long
 a Indian Of the Shoe nation Came with the half of a Cabra ko ka or
 Antilope which he killed near the Fort, Great numbers of those animnals
 are near our fort but the weather is So Cold that we do not think it
 prudent to turn out to hunt in Such Cold weather, or at least untill
 our Consts. are prepared to under go this Climate. I measure the river
 from bank to bank on the ice and make it 500 yards
 
 
 [Clark, December 13, 1804]
 13th December Thursday 1804
 The last night was verry Clear & the frost which fell Covered the ice
 old Snow & thos parts which was naked 1/6 of an inch, The Thermotr.
 Stands this morning at 20° below 0, a fine day. find it imposible to make
 an Observation with an artifical Horsison Joseph Fields kill a Cow and
 Calf to day one mile from the fort river falls
 
 
 [Clark, December 14, 1804]
 14th December Friday 1804
 a fine morning. wind from the S. E. the murckerey Stood at '0' this
 morning I went with a party of men down the river 18 miles to hunt
 Buffalow, Saw two Bulls too pore to kill, the Cows and large gangues
 haveing left the River, we only killed two Deer & Camped all night with
 Some expectation of Seeing the Buffalow in the morning, a verry Cold
 night, Snowed.
 
 
 [Clark, December 15, 1804]
 15th of December 1804 Satturday
 a Cold Clear morning, Saw no buffalow, I concluded to return to the
 Fort & hunt on each Side of the river on our return which we did
 without Success--the Snow fell 11/2 inches deep last night. wind North-
 on my return to the fort found Several Chiefs there
 
 
 [Clark, December 16, 1804]
 Fort Mandan
 16th December, Sunday 1804
 a clear Cold morning, the Thermtr. at Sun rise Stood at 22° below 0, a
 verry Singaler appearance of the Moon last night, as She appeared thro
 The frosty atmispear--Mr. Henny, from the Establishment on River
 Ossinnniboin, with a letter from, Mr Charles Chaboillez one of the Cos
 arrived in 6 Days, Mr. C in his letters expressed a great anxiety to
 Serve us in any thing in his power-
 a root Discribed by Mr. Henry for the Cure of a Mad Dog
 Mr. Le rock a Clerk, of the N W Company and Mr. George Bunch a Clerk of
 the Hudsons bay Compy accompanied Mr. Henny from the Village
 
 
 [Clark, December 17, 1804]
 17th December Monday 1804
 a verry Cold morning the Thrmt. Stood a 43° below 0. We found Mr. Henny a
 verry intelligent man from whome we obtained Some Scetches of the
 Countrey between the Mississippi & Missouri, and Some Sketches from
 him, which he had obtained from the Indins. to the West of this place
 also the names and charecktors of the Sceoux &c about 8 oClock P M. the
 thermometer fell to 74° below the freesing pointe--the Indian Chiefs Sent
 word that Buffalow was in our neighbourhood, and if we would join them,
 in the morning they would go and kill them-
 
 
 [Clark, December 18, 1804]
 18th December Tuesday 1804
 The Themometer the Same as last night Mr. Haney & La Rocke left us for
 the Grossventre Camp, Sent out 7 men to hunt for the Buffalow They
 found the weather too cold & returned, Several Indians Came, who had
 Set out with a veiw to Kill buffalow, The river rise a little I imploy
 my Self makeing a Small map of Connection &. Sent Jessomme to the Main
 Chief of the mandans to know the Cause of his detaining or takeing a
 horse of Chabonoe our big belly interpeter, which we found was thro the
 rascallity of one Lafrance a trader from the N W. Company, who told
 this Cheif that Chabonah owd. him a horse to go and take him he done So
 agreeable to an indian Custom--he gave up the horse
 
 
 [Clark, December 19, 1804]
 19th December Wednesday 1804
 The wind from S. W. the weather moderated a little, I engage my self in
 Connecting the Countrey from information. river rise a little
 
 
 [Clark, December 20, 1804]
 20th December Thursday 1804
 The wind from the N W a moderate day, the Thermometr 37° above 0, which
 givs an oppertunity of putting up our pickets next the river, nothing
 remarkable took place to Day river fall a little
 
 
 [Clark, December 21, 1804]
 21st December Friday 1804
 a fine Day worm and wind from the N W by W, the Indian whome I stoped
 from Commiting murder on his wife, thro jellousy of one of our
 interpeters, Came & brought his two wives and Showed great anxiety to
 make up with the man with whome his joulassey Sprung--a womin brought a
 Child with an abcess on the lower part of the back, and offered as much
 corn as She Could carry for Some medison, Capt Lewis administered &c.
 
 
 [Clark, December 22, 1804]
 22nd December Satturday 1804
 a number of Squars womn & men Dressed in Squars Clothes Came with Corn
 to Sell to the men for little things, we precured two horns of the
 animale the french Call the rock mountain Sheep those horns are not of
 the largest kind--The mandans Indians Call this Sheep Ar-Sar-ta it is
 about the Size of a large Deer, or Small Elk, its Horns Come out and
 wind around the head like the horn of a Ram and the teckere not unlike
 it much larger and thicker perticelarly that part with which they but
 or outer part which is ____ inchs thick, the length of those horns,
 which we have is
 
 
 [Clark, December 23, 1804]
 23rd December Sunday 1804
 a fine Day great numbers of indians of all discriptions Came to the
 fort many of them bringing Corn to trade, the little Crow, loadd. his
 wife & Sun with corn for us, Cap. Lewis gave him a few presents as also
 his wife, She made a Kettle of boild Simnins, beens, Corn & Choke
 Cherris with the Stones which was paletable
 This Dish is Considered, as a treat among those people, The Chiefs of
 the Mandans are fond of Stayin & Sleeping in the fort
 
 
 [Clark, December 24, 1804]
 24 December Monday 1804
 Several Chiefs and members of men womin and Children at the fort to
 day, Some for trade, the most as lookers on, we gave a fellet of Sheep
 Skin (which we brought for Spunging) to 3 Chiefs one to each of 2
 inches wide, which they lay great value (priseing those felets equal to
 a fine horse), a fine Day we finished the pickingen around our works
 
 
 [Clark, December 25, 1804]
 25th December Christmass Tuesday
 I was awakened before Day by a discharge of 3 platoons from the Party
 and the french, the men merrily Disposed, I give them all a little
 Taffia and permited 3 Cannon fired, at raising Our flag, Some men went
 out to hunt & the Others to Danceing and Continued untill 9 oClock P,
 M, when the frolick ended &c.
 
 
 [Clark, December 26, 1804]
 26th Decr. Wednesday 1804
 a temperate day no Indians to day or yesterday. A man from the N W
 Company Came Down from the Gross Vintres to Get one of our interpeters
 to assist them in trade This man informed that the Party of Gross
 Ventres who persued the Ossinboins that Stold their horses, has all
 returned in their usial way by Small parties, the last of the party
 bringing 8 horses which they Stole from a Camp of Asniboins which they
 found on Mouse river-
 
 
 [Clark, December 27, 1804]
 27th December 1804 Thursday
 a little fine Snow weather something Colder than yesterday Several
 Indians here to Day, much Surprised at the Bellos & method of makeing
 Sundery articles of Iron wind hard from the N W.
 
 
 [Clark, December 28, 1804]
 28th of December Friday 1804
 blew verry hard last night, the frost fell like a Shower of Snow,
 nothing remarkable to day, the Snow Drifting from one bottom to another
 and from the leavel plains into the hollows &c
 
 
 [Clark, December 29, 1804]
 29th December Satturday 1804
 The frost fell last night nearly a 1/4 of an inch Deep and Continud to
 fall untill the Sun was of Some bite, the Murcurey Stood this morning
 at 9 d below 0 which is not considered Cold, as the Changes take place
 gradually without long intermitions
 a number of Indians here
 
 
 [Clark, December 30, 1804]
 30th December Sunday 1804
 Cold the Termtr. at 20 d below 0 a number of Indians here to day they
 are much Supprised at the Bellows one Deer Killed
 
 
 [Clark, December 31, 1804]
 Fort Mandan
 31st of December Monday 1804
 a fine Day Some wind last night which mixed the Snow and Sand in the
 bend of the river, which has the appearance of hillocks of Sand on the
 ice, which is also Covered with Sand & Snow, the feost which falls in
 the night continues on the earth & old Snow &c. &c.--a Number of
 indians here every Day our blckSmitth mending their axes hoes &c. &c.
 for which the Squars bring Corn for payment