Over the Continental Divide! A Skit
The first encounter of the Shoshone tribe with white men from the east as recorded by Captain Meriwether Lewis. This took place during the famous Lewis & Clark expedition. Lewis and Clark were to explore the west and find a way to the Pacific Ocean. This took place in the Bitterroot Mountains of modern-day Idaho.
Characters
Captain LewisShoshone Man #1Shoshone War Party
French Canadian GuideDogsShoshone Chief
Two PrivatesTwelve-year-old Shoshone girlNarrator
Shoshone Woman #1Teenage Shoshone girl
Shoshone Woman #2Elderly Shoshone woman
As Narrator reads the account – students act out the scene.
Narrator: On Tuesday morning, August 13th, 1805, Captain Lewis and three men left the main group and set out early, along a recently used Indian trail. Nine miles into his march, Lewis saw two Indian women, a man, and some dogs. Within half a mile of them, Lewis ordered his men to stop. He unslung his pack and rifle and put them on the ground, took out a flag, and advanced alone toward the Indians.
The women ran away! (Shoshone Woman #1 and #2 run away) But, the man stood his ground. When Lewis was within 100 yards he cried out loudly and frequently!
Meriwether Lewis: “Tab-ba-bone, Tab-ba-bone, Tab-ba-bone!”
Narrator: However, the man “absconded!” (Shoshone Man #1 runs away) Lewis called for his men to rejoin him and they again set off. About another mile into their journey, they came to the top of a hill. There they saw three women: a twelve-year-old, a teenager, and an elderly Shoshone. They were very close by.
Lewis again laid down his rifle and moved toward the women. The teenager ran off (Teenage Shoshone girl runs away), but the old woman and child remained. They sat on the ground and held their heads down.
Lewis approached the old woman, took her hand, and raised her up. And again he said…
Meriwether Lewis: “Tab-ba-bone!”
Narrator: Lewis’s men joined him and began to give the old woman presents and other trinkets from their packs. Lewis’s friendly attitude and the gifts calmed the old woman down. Through his French Canadian guide, Lewis “spoke” with the old woman by using sign language. (French Canadian Guide do signing while Lewis “speaks”).
Meriwether Lewis: “Have her call the other girl back” (Guide signs).
Elderly Shoshone Woman: (say something in Shoshone)
Narrator: …And the teenager reappeared and joined the group. The privates handed out more trinkets and gifts to all three.
Meriwether Lewis: “Guide, tell this woman that we wish them to conduct us to their camp that we are anxious to become acquainted with the chiefs and warriors of their nation!” (Guide signs for a while)
Narrator: The old woman set off immediately with the group in tow. The Indians led the way. After about two miles, sixty warriors, mounted on excellent horses and armed for war with bows and arrows plus three inferior rifles, came on at full speed. When they saw Lewis’s group they halted. This was the first time an American had ever seen a Shoshone war party, and the first time this band of Shoshones had ever seen an American. The Indians were overwhelming superior. It would have taken little effort to wipe out Lewis and his men.
Nevertheless, Lewis laid down his rifle, picked up his flag, and told the others to stay.
Meriwether Lewis: “Stay!”
Narrator: Following the old woman, Lewis advanced slowly toward the war party. A man Lewis guessed was the chief stopped to talk to the old woman.
Shoshone Chief: (say something in Shoshone)
Elderly Shoshone Woman (say something in Shoshone in response and also show the presents and smile)
Narrator: This broke the tension and the chief dismounted and moved toward Lewis. He then said…
Shoshone Chief: “Ah-hi-e, ah-hi-e!”
Narrator: The chief put his left arm over Lewis’s right shoulder and applied his left cheek to Lewis’s right cheek, continuing to say…
Shoshone Chief: “Ah-hi-ie, ah-hi-e!”
Narrator: The warriors and Lewis’s men then came on and….
Meriwether Lewis: “…we wer all caresed and besmeared with their grease and paint till I was heartily tired of the national hug!”