On Board the Perogue Near the Ricara Village
August 20th 1806
Charbono
Sir
Your present situation with the Indians givs me some concern. I wish now that I had advised you to come on with me to the Illinois where it most probably would be in my power to put you in some way todo something for your self. I was so engaged after the Big White had concluded to go down with Jessomme as his Interpreter, that I had not time to talk with you as much as I intended to have done. Youhave been a long time with me and have conducted your Self in Such a manner as to gain my friendship,your woman who accompanied you that long dangerous and fatigueing rout to the Pacific Ocian and back diserved a greater reward for her attention and services on that rout than we had in our power to give her at the Mandans. As to your little Son (my boy Pomp) you weII know my fondness for him and my anxiety to take and raise him as my own child. I once more tell you if you will bring your son Baptiste to me I will educate him and treat him as my own child. I do not forgit the promis which I made to you and shall now repeat them that you may be certain. Charbono, if you wish to live with the white people, and will come to me I will give you a piece of land and furnish you with horses cows & hogs. If you wish to visit your friends in Montrall I will let you have a horse, and your family shall be taken care of untill your return. If you wish to return as an Interpreter for the Menetarras when the troops come up to form the establishment, you will be with me ready and I will precure you the place – or if you wish to return to trade with the indians and will leave your little Son Pomp with me, I will assist you with merchendize for that purpose from time [to time] and become my self conserned with you in trade on a Small scale that is to say not exceeding a perogue load at one time. If you are desposed to accept either of my offers to you and will bring down your Son your famn Janey had best come along with you to take care of the boy untill I get him. Let me advise you to keep your Bill of exchange and what furs and pelteries you have in possession, and get as much more as you can – and get as maney robes, and big horn and Cabbra Skins as you can collect in the course of this winter and take them down to St. Louis as early as possible in the Spring. When you get to St. Louis enquire of the Govorner of that place for a letter which I shall leave with him for you. In the letter which I shall leave with the governer I shall inform you what you had best do with your firs pelteries and robes &c. and derect you where to find me. If you should meet with any misfortune on the river &c. when you get to St. Louis write a letter to me by the post and let me know your situation. If you do not intend to go down either this fall or in the Spring, write a letter to me by the first oppirtunity and inform me what you intend to do that I may know if I may expect you or not. If you ever intend to come down this fall or the next Spring will be the best time. This fall would be best if you could get down before the winter. I shall be found either in St. Louis or in Clarksville at the Falls of the Ohio.
Wishing you and your family great suckcess & with anxious expectations of seeing my little danceing boy Baptiest I shall remain your Friend,
WILLIAM CLARK
Keep this letter and let not more than one or 2 persons see it, and when you write to me seal your letter. I think you best not deturmin which of my offers to accept untill you See me. Come prepared to accept of either which you may chuse after you get down.
Mr. Teousant Charbono
Minetarras Village
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Source: Missouri Historical Society Library, St.Louis.
