Lewis and Clark and their men then spent September 21-29, 1804, in this area. Private John Colter camped and hunted on what is known today as Farm Island. Captain Clark dubbed La Framboise Island "Good Humored Island" as he and Captain Lewis were full of anticipation for the coming council with the powerful Teton Lakota. Despite unforeseen difficulties during the initial encounter, the Corps spent the next three days studying this band.
Upriver from this site, following a night of feasting and dancing, one pirogue steersman inadvertently ran over the anchor cable of the keelboat, sending the vessel to the mercy of the current. The shouting men, who were trying to regain control of the keelboat, alarmed the Teton warriors who lined the riverbanks apparently prepared for conflict. The Captains, based on reports of impending treachery gathered by an interpreter, took this show of force as a threat to their continued passage. The next morning, after searching in vain for their anchor, the Corps prepared to depart. Another armed confrontation ensued; however, the Captains were determined to proceed on.
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