Created by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
in partnership with the University of Nebraska Press
and funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
July the 5th 1804 Set out verry early this morning, Swam the horse across the river, proceeded on for two miles under the bank where the old Kansas town formerly stood (Say in 1724) The Cause of those people moveing from this place I cannot learn, but naterally conclude that War has reduced their nation & compelled them to retire further into the Plains with a view of defending themselves & opposeing their enemey (more effectually[)] on hors back (I neglected to mention yesterday that the Lake on the S. S. was large Say ¾ me. wide & 7 or 8 long one creek & Several brooks running into it from the hills, it contains Great quantities of Sun fish & Gosling's from which we gave it the name,) passed Some verry bad Sand bars Situated parrelel to each other, (1) the Boat turned three times once on the [Plat?] of a Drift wood. She recved no 〈dammage〉 proceiviable damage, we came to for Dinner at a Beever house, Cap Lewis's Dog Seamon [Scannon] went in & drove them out. the high Lands on the L. S. is open, a few trees Scattering (2) passed a Small Creek on the L. S. in the ls[1st] bend to the left I call 〈Roses Creek〉 yellow oaker [ochre] creek from 〈the number of rose about &〉 a bank of that Mineral just above. [2] we camped on the L. S. under a high bank [3] Latd. 39° 25' 41" North
| N 35° E | 1 | me. on the S. S. opposit the old village of Kanzes |
| S. 56° E | 2 | Me. on the L. point a Large Eddey on the L. S. and a bad Sand bar |
| East— | 1 | me. on L. S. a Sand bar in middle & & (1) Boat turned 3. |
| N. 18° W. | 2 | mes. to a pt. on S. S. opsd. a Prarie psd. a Creek L. S. (2) |
| North | 1 | me. on S. S. |
| S. 70 E | 3 | me. to a pt. of Willow on the L S. wind from S E |
| 10 |
on the banks of this river I observe great quants of Grapes, berries & roses Deer is not So plenty in this three days past as they were below that. Elks are plenty about those Praries. Some Buffalow Sign.
Set out verry early, proceeded on near the bank where the old village Stood for two miles, (Swam the hors found a few day ago) passed Some bad Sand bars, The Origan of this old village is uncertain M. de Bourgmont [4] a French officer who Comdd. a fort near the Town of the Missouris in about the year 1724 and in July of the Same year he visited this Village at that time the nation was noumerous & well desposed towards the french Mr. Du Pratz must have been badly informed as to the Cane opposd this place we have not Seen one Stalk of reed or cane on the Missouries, he States that the "Indians that accompanied M De Bourgmont Crossed to the Canzes Village on 〈rafts〉 floats of Cane" [5]
Those people must have been verry noumerous at that time as Mr. De B: was accompanied by 300 Warriers, 500 young people & 300 Dogs of burthen out of this Village
The Cause of Those Indians moveing over to the Kanzis river I have never lernt— we passed Some bad Sand bars, Situated parrelel to each other (1) The Boat turned twice on the quick Sand & once on 〈the〉 a raft of Drift, no procievable damage Prarie Contine on the high land on the L. S. passsd a Small Creek (2) on L. S. in the first bend to the L S. I call Yellow-Oaker Creek from a quantity of that Mineral in a bank a little above
The river Continue to fall a litte— I observe great quantities of Summer & fall Grapes, Berries & Wild roases on the banks— Deer is not so plenty as usual, great Deel of Elk Sign. (Wind from S E)
| N. 35° E | 1 | me. on S. S. opsd. the pls. of Old Vilg. |
| S 56° E | 2 | me: to L. pt. a eddey on L. S. |
| East | 1 | me. on L. S. Sevl. Sand bars (1) |
| N 18° W | 2 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. opsd a prarie pd. (2) |
| North | 1 | me. on the S. S. |
| S. 70° E | 3 | ms. to pt. of will. on L. S. |
| 10 |
Thursday July 5th 1804 we Set out verry eairly. we Swam the white horse a cross this River, proceeded on for two miles under the bank where the old Kansas Town formerly Stood (Say in 1724) the cause of those people moveing from this place we cannot learn, but naturly conclude that war has reduced their nation and compelled them to retire further into the plains with a view of Defending themselves. I did not mention on yesterday that the Lake on the north side was large say ¾ of a Mile wide & 7 or 8 miles long one Creek & several Creeks running in to it from the hills it contains a great quantity of fish and Goslings from which it takes its name, we passed Some verry bad Sand bars the Boat turned three times once on a Drift wood, but recived no procevable Damage, we came too at a beaver house for Dinner. the high land on the South Side is open a fiew trees Scattering, we passed a Small creek on the left named yallow Oakey Creek, [6] we Camped on the South Side under a high bank. the land on the opposite Side is well timbered Good bottom, fine place for a Range verry thick high Rushes for common,
Thursday July 5th 1804 Set out errley this morning Swam ouer Stray Horse a Cross the River to Join our other Horses prossed on for two miles under the Bank of the old Kansas village formaley Stood in 1724 the couse of the Indians moving from this place I cant 〈tell〉 Larn but natreley Concluded that war has reduced thair nation and Compelled them to Retir further in to the Plaines with a view of Defending themselves and to operserve their enemey and to Defende them Selves on Horse Back encampt on the South Side
Thur. 5th. We proceeded on our voyage at five in the morning; and found the land high on the south side. We went through a large bend full of sand-bars where we had some difficulty in passing; and encamped on the south side at high prairie land.
Thursdy 5 Got on our way Roed. a mile Up the prarie Crossd the River with the white horse and left him with the others that the hunters had on the E. Shore Roed. 10 Miles Incampd at the Rock Prarie— [7]
Thursday July 5th We started early this morning, and rowed one Mile on our way; and took in the white horse and crossed the River with him, and landed him with the other horses on the No. East shore where the hunters had left them, and Encamp'd in the evening at the Rock Priari, distance come this day being 10 Miles
Created by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
in partnership with the University of Nebraska Press
and funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.