Lewis and Clark and the ‘Little People’

The Lewis and Clark journals recall how the two famous American explorers investigated tales of the “little people” who supposedly lived not far from where they wintered at the Mandan villages in 1804-05.
The “little people,” they were told stood 18 inches tall and were to be avoided because they were fierce and deadly with bow and arrow. They also were told to stay away from a certain mound or hill they inhabited because they were so dangerous.
The explorers went to find the “little people” at the mound or hill described to them. The explorers reported, however, seeing no “little people” or any signs that they existed. They noted there were some holes in the hill, but that was all. No one fired arrows at them either.
A few years ago I found a site on the World Wide Web about the “little people.” Isn’t the web wonderful?
Anyway, I emailed the head ranger of a state park that is there now and asked him about the “little people?”
He replied:
“There have been archaeological studies done on the site. There has never been any artifacts found that represent the presence of the little people. There are many native Americans around that have lots of oral history concerning the little people.”
And after signing is name, the ranger added:
“Many people still believe in the little people.”