February 21, 1805
21st February Thursday 1805
a Delightfull Day put out our Clothes to Sun— Visited by the big white
& Big man they informed me that Several men of their nation was gorn to
Consult their Medison Stone about 3 day march to the South West to know
What was to be the result of the insuing year— They have great
confidence in this Stone and Say that it informs them of every thing
which is to happen, & visit it every Spring & Sometimes in the Summer
"They haveing arrived at the Stone give it Smoke and proceed to the
wood at Some distance to Sleep the next morning return to the Stone,
and find marks white & raised on the Stone representing the piece or
war which they are to meet with, and other changes, which they are to
meet" This Stone has a leavel Surface of about 20 feet in Surcumfrance,
thick and pores, and no doubt has Some mineral qualtites effected by
the Sun.
The Big Bellies have a Stone to which they ascribe nearly the Same
Virtues
Capt Lewis returned with 2 Slays loaded with meat, after finding that
he could not overtake the Souis war party, (who had in their way
distroyd all the meat at one Deposit which I had made & Burnt the
Lodges) deturmined to proceed on to the lower Deposit, which he found
had not been observed by Soux he hunted two day Killed 36 Deer & 14
Elk, Several of them So meager, that they were unfit for use, the meet
which he killed and that in the lower Deposit amounting to about 3000
wt was brought up on two Slays, one Drawn by 16 men had about 2400 wt
on it
