May 14, 1805

The bird woman

Sacagawea is a 16 year old Shoshone woman  who was brought on the trip because she spoke shoshone language. She was introduced to the captains in november back at Fort Mandan.  Not only is Sacagawea a translator but also she is very couragous. One day a strong gust of wind hit the sail and tipped the piroque and it filled with water.  Every one was frantic because most of the men could not swim!  Yet she was still quite relaxed as irreplaceable precious books, medicine, instruments, and records washed out of the boat.  Sacagawea calmly fished the items out of the water and saved them!!! But that is only one act of courage sacagawea revealed.  She was pregnant when she first started the journey. In febuary she gave birth to a baby boy.  Sacagawea had a difficult childbirth which was probably very painful until lewis constructed a potion made of rattle snake rattles which would induce her child birth. The baby was named Jean Baptiste Charbonneau but Clark decided to call him Pomp or Pompy.  Sacagawea then had to finish the long trek with a baby in a cradle board strapped to her back.  She while traveling with our group is very helpful because she and her baby are a sign that we do not want to fight.  Because no one would bring a baby or a woman to a war. She and her baby are the equivilent to caring a white flag around with us.  I think Sacagawea is a phenomenal person and to tell you the truth I am a little jealous.