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The Journals
of Lewis and Clark: Dates March 16, 1805 - March 21,
1805
The following
excerpts are taken from entries of the Journals of Lewis
and Clark. Dates: March 16, 1805 - March 21, 1805
March 16,
1805
Saturday 16. The weather is cloudy, the wind from the
southeast. A Mr. Garrow, a Frenchman who has resided
a long time among the Ricaras and Mandans, explained
to us the mode in which they make their large beads,
an art which they are said to have derived from some
prisoners of the Snake Indian nation, and the knowledge
of which is a secret even now confined to a few among
the Mandans and Ricaras: the process is as follows:
glass of different colors is first pounded fine and
washed, till each kind, which is kept separate, ceases
to stain the water thrown over it: some well seasoned
clay, mixed with a sufficient quantity of sand to prevent
its becoming very hard when exposed to heat, and reduced
by water to the consistency of dough, is then rolled
on the palm of the hand, till it becomes of the thickness
wanted for the hole in the bead; these sticks of clay
are placed upright, each on a little pedestal or ball
of the same material about an ounce in weight, and distributed
over a small earthen platter, which is laid on the fire
for a few minutes, when they are taken off to cool:
with a little paddle or shovel three or four inches
long and sharpened at the end of the handle, the wet
pounded glass is placed in the palm of the hand: the
beads are made of an oblong form wrapped in a cylindrical
form round the stick of clay which is laid crosswise
over it, and gently rolled backwards and forwards till
it becomes perfectly smooth. If it be desired to introduce
any other color, the surface of the bead is perforated
with the pointed end of the paddle and the cavity filled
with pounded glass of that color: the sticks with the
string of beads are then replaced on their pedestals,
and the platter deposited on burning coals or hot embers:
over the platter an earthern pot containing about three
gallons, with a mouth large enough to cover the platter,
is reversed, being completely closed except a small
aperture at the top, through which are watched the bead:
a quantity of old dried wood formed into a sort of dough
or paste is placed round the pot so as almost to cover
it, and afterwards set on fire: the manufacturer then
looks through the small hole in the pot, till he sees
the beads assume a deep red color, to which succeeds
a paler or whitish red, or they become pointed at the
upper extremity; on which the fire is removed and the
pot suffered to cool gradually: at length it is removed,
the beads taken out, the clay in the hollow of them
picked out with an awl or needle, and it is then fit
for use. The beads thus formed are in great demand among
the Indians, and used as pendants to their ears and
hair, and are sometimes worn round the neck.
March 17, 1805
Sunday 17. A windy but clear and pleasant day,
the river rising a little and open in several places.
Our Minnetaree interpreter Charbonneau, whom we intended
taking with us to the Pacific, had some days ago been
worked [172]upon by the British traders, and appeared
unwilling to accompany us, except on certain terms;
such as his not being subject to our orders, and do
duty, or to return whenever he chose. As we saw clearly
the source of his hesitation, and knew that it was intended
as an obstacle to our views, we told him that the terms
were inadmissible, and that we could dispense with his
services: he had accordingly left us with some displeasure.
Since then he had made an advance towards joining us,
which we showed no anxiety to meet; but this morning
he sent an apology for his improper conduct, and agreed
to go with us and perform the same duties as the rest
of the corps; we therefore took him again into our service.
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