Created by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
in partnership with the University of Nebraska Press
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A fine morning, set out at an early hour. one Beaver caught this morning by two traps, having a foot in each; the traps belonged to different individuals, between whom, a contest ensued, which would have terminated, most probably, in a serious rencounter had not our timely arrival at the place prevented it. after breakfast this morning, Capt. Clark walked on Stad. shore, while the party were assending by means of their toe lines, I walked with them on the bank; found a species of pea bearing a yellow flower, and now in blume; it seldom rises more than 6 inches high, the leaf & stalk resembles that of the common gardin pea, the root is pirenial. [1] (See specimen of vegitables No. 3.) I also saw several parsels of buffaloe's hair hanging on the rose bushes, [2] which had been bleached by exposure to the weather and became perfectly white. it every appearance of the wool of the sheep, tho' much finer and more silkey and soft. I am confident that an excellent cloth may be made of the wool of the Buffaloe. the Buffaloe I killed yesterday had cast his long hare, and the poil [3] which remained was very thick, fine, and about 2 inches in length. I think this anamal would have furnished about five pounds of wool. we were detained today from one to five P. M. in consequence of the wind which blew so violently from N. that it was with difficulty we could keep the canoes from filling with water altho' they were along shore; I had them secured by placing the perogues on the out side of them in such manner as to break the waves off them. at 5 we proceed, and shortly after met with Capt. Clark, who had killed an Elk and a deer and was wating our arrival. we took the meat on board and continued our march untill nearly dark when we came too on the Stard side under a boald welltimbered bank which sheltered us from the wind which had abated but not yet ceased. here we encamped, [4] it being the extremity of the last course of this day.—
| South | to a sand point on the Stard. side | 3 |
| N. 75° W. | to a point of Woodland on Lard. side | 2 ½ |
| N. 85 W. | along the Lard. point | ½ |
| S. 25 E. | to a sand point Stard. side | 2 |
| S. 60 W. | to a willow point Stard. side | 1 |
| S. 65 W. | along the Stard. shore to a point of timbered land, oppo- site to a bluff on Lard. |
½ |
| N. 25 W. | to a copse of wood on stard side, in a bend | 2 |
| S. 50. W. | to a point of timbered land on Stard side where we en- camped for the night |
1 ½ |
| miles | 13 |
Point of Observation No. 5.
On the Stard. shore at the extremity of the fifty course of this day—
Observed meridian Altd. of ☉'s L. L. with Octant by the back observation 79° 12' 00"
Latitude deduced from this observatn. [blank]
Set out at an early hour one Beaver & a Musrat [6] Cought this morning, the beaver cought in two traps, which like to have brought about a missunderstanding between two of the party &c. after brackfast I assended a hill and observed that the river made a great bend to the South, I concluded to walk thro' the point about 2 miles and take Shabono, with me, he had taken a dost of Salts &c. his Squar followed on with his child, when I Struck the next bend of the [river] could See nothing of the Party, left this man & his wife & Child on the river bank and went out to hunt, Killed a young Buck Elk, & a Deer, the Elk was tolerable meat, the Deer verry pore, Butcherd the meat and Continued untill near Sunset before Capt Lewis and the party Came up, they were detained by the wind, which rose Soon after I left the boat from the N W. & blew verry hard untill verry late in the evening. we Camped on the S. S. in an excellent harbor, Soon after We came too, two men went up the river to Set their beaver traps they met with a Bear and being without their arms thought prodent to return &c. the whild Cheries are in bloom, [7] Great appearance of Burnt hills Pumice Stone &c. the Coal & Salt appearance Continued, [8] the water in the Small runs much better than below,— Saw Several old Indian Camps, the game, Such as Buffalow Elk, antelopes & Deer verry plenty
| South | 3 | miles to a point on the Std. Side |
| N. 75° W. | 2 ½ | miles to a wood point on the L. Side |
| N. 85° W. | ½ | a mile along the Lad Side |
| S. 25° E | 2 | miles to a Sand point on the Sd. Side |
| S. 60° W. | 1 | mile to a pt. of Willows on the Sd. Side |
| S. 65° W | ½ | mile along the Sd. pot. to a point of timbered land opsd. a Bluff on the Lard. Side |
| N. 25° W | 2 | miles to a Copse of woods on the Sd. Side |
| S. 50° W. | 1 ½ | miles to the upper part of a wood on the Stad. Side & Camped |
| miles | 13 |
Thursday 18th April 1805. a clear pleasant morning. we Set off eairly. Some of the men who Set traps for beaver last night they caught only one beaver & that in 2 traps by one hind foot and one fore foot. they belonged to 2 owners. they had Some difference which had the best rite to it. proceeded on a Short distance one of the men killed a goose in the river. the wind from the West. proceeded on passed high hills on each side of the River. Saw a gang of buffaloe on the hills on S. S. and a gang of Elk in a handsom [bottom] covered with c. w. timber on the N. S. one of the men wounded one of them another man killed another goose. The wind Shifted in to the N. W. and blew hard against us. Saw a nomber of bald Eagles in Sd. bottom one of them had a nest in a low tree one of the men clumb up and got 2 Eggs (all there was.) The wind rose so high that we could not go with the cannoes without filling them with water. detained us about 3 hours. one man killed another goose Seamon b. out we then proceeded on. Capt. Clark who walked on Shore killed one Elk and one deer which we halted & took them on board. came about 15 miles to day and camped at a bottom covered with Cottonwood and arsh Elm timber also on N. S. the river has been verry crooked and bearing towards the South the most of the day. the Game is gitting pleantyier every day.—
Thursday 18th. The men caught some beaver, and killed a wild goose. The morning was fine and we went on very well until 1 o'clock, when the wind blew so hard down the river, we were obliged to lie to for 3 hours, after which we continued our voyage. This day Captain Clarke went by land and met us in the afternoon on the bank with an elk and a deer. We came about 14 miles and encamped in a good harbour on the North side, on account of the wind, which blew very hard all night accompanied with some drops of rain.
Thursday April 18th This morning Clear pleasant weather, We set off Early, having the wind from the South the water in the River was at a stand in regard to its depth, In the Evening we encamped on the North side of the River, having come 15 Miles this day.— In the night the dew fell, which was what we had not seen for a long time.—
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.