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The morning was fair and fine; we set out at an early hour and proceeded on very well. some parts of the river more rapid than yesterday. I walked on shore across the land to a point which I presumed they would reach by 8 A. M. our usual tme of halting. by this means I acquired leasure to accomplish some wrightings which I conceived from the nature of my instructions necessary lest any accedent should befall me on the long and reather hazardous rout I was now about to take. [1] the party did not arrive and I returned about a mile and met them, here they halted and we breakefasted; I had killed two fine gees on my return. while we halted here Shannon arrived, and informed us that having missed the party the day on which he set out he had returned the next morning to the place from whence he had set out or furst left them and not finding that he had supposed that they wer above him; that he then set out and marched one day up wisdom river, by which time he was convinced that they were not above him as the river could not be navigated; he then returned to the forks and had pursued us up this river. he brought the skins of three deer which he had killed which he said were in good order. he had lived very plentifully this trip but looked a good deel worried [2] with his march. he informed us that Wisdom river still kept it's course obliquely down the Jefferson's river as far as he was up it. immediately after breakfast I slung my pack and set out accompanyed by Drewyer Shields and McNeal who had been previously directed to hold themselves in readiness for this service. I directed my course across the bottom to the Stard. plain led left the beaver's head about 2 miles to my left and interscepted the river about 8 miles from the point at which I had left it; I then waded it and continued my rout to the point where I could observe that entered the mountain, but not being able to reach that place, changed no direction to the river which I struck some miles below the mountain and encamped for the evening having traveled 16 M. [3] we passed a handsom little stream formed by some large spring which rise in this wide bottom on the Lard. side of the river. we killed two Antelopes on our way and brought with us as much meat as was necessary for our suppers and breakfast the next morning. we found this bottom fertile and covered with taller grass than usual. the river very crooked much divided by lands, shallow rocky in many plases and very rapid; insomuch that I have my doubts whether the canoes could get on or not, or if they do it must with great labour.— Capt. Clark proceeded after I left him as usual found the current of the river increasing in rapidity towards evening his hunters killed 2 antelopes only. in the evening it clouded up and experienced a slight rain attended with some thunder and lightning the musquetoes very troublesome this evening. there are some soft bogs in these vallies covered with turf. the earth of which this mud is composed is white or bluish white and appears to be argillacious. [4]
| S. 12° W. | 4 | to a Stard. bend, passing two islands and 16 short circular bends on the Stard. side the distance by way of the river bed 11 Miles.— |
| S. 10° E. | 1 | to a high bottom on Lard. distance by water 3 M. passing an island, a bayou and 4 short bends on Stard. side. |
| Miles | 5 |
a fine morning wind from the N. E we proceeded on verry well rapid places more noumerous than below, Shannon the man whome we lost on Wisdom River Joined us, haveing returned to the forks & prosued us up after prosueing Wisdom River one day
Capt Lewis and 3 men Set out after brackft. to examine the river above, find a portage if possible, also the Snake Indians. I should have taken this trip had I have been able to march, from the rageing fury of a tumer on my anckle musle, in the evening Clouded up and a fiew drops of rain Encamped on the Lard Side near a low bluff, [5] the river to day as yesterday. the three hunters Could kill only two antelopes to day, game of every kind Scerce
Friday 9th August 1805. a clear cool morning. Several hunters out eairly. we Set out at Sun rise, and proceeded on. the wind high from S. E. took on board a deer which the hunters killed. about 8 oClock we halted for breakfast. George Shannon who had been 3 days lost joined us with 3 buck Skins which he killed & found fat. he brought in a little of the meat also. Capt. Lewis, Shields, Drewyer & Mcneal Set out to go on a head a long distance to make discoveries in hopes to find Indians &C. we proceeded on took on board another Deer which the hunters had killed. the Game is generally Scarse along here. only a fiew Deer to be Seen. The River & bottoms prarie continues as yesterday 〈back at the 3 forks our Captains named this fork Jeffersons River the North we call Sensable River because we were Sensable of it. the South fork named〉 not known for certn. yet So I expect the forks ought to be called the head of the Missourie, although we are yet on a branch which we expect to See the head of it in a fiew days. Some thunder the Musquetoes troublesome. the beaver as pleanty as usal, &C. Saw Snow on the Mountains Some distance a head. proceeded passed the head of the old Channel where the River formerly ran along the high land at the South Side of the prarie. Some timber along the old bed. Some part of the prarie is low and boggy and will Shake for Some distance around a man when he walks on it. we expect it would be good turf to burn. Some Showers passed over. we Came 18 mls. and Camped at a fiew trees on L. Side.
Friday 9th. We set out at sunrise, and had a fine morning with some dew; proceeded on till 9 o'clock when we halted for breakfast. Here one of the hunters [6] came to us who had been out since the morning the canoes went up the north branch by mistake, and who had that morning proceeded them by land. Here also Captain Lewis and three men [7] started to go on ahead; and at 10 we proceeded on with the canoes. The river is narrow and very crooked, and the valley continues about the same breadth. There is some timber on the mountain on the south side, and white earth or rocks appearing through the pines. At noon we halted for dinner, and hauled out one of the canoes, which had sprung a leak and caulked her.
This morning our commanding officers thought proper that the Missouri should lose its name at the confluence of the three branches we had left on the 30th ultimo. [8] The north branch, which we went up, they called Jefferson; the west or middle branch, Madison; the south branch, about 2 miles up which a beautiful spring comes in, Gallatin! and small river above the forks they called Philosophy. Of the 3 branches we had just left, they called the north Wisdom, the south Philanthropy, and the west or middle fork, which we continued our voyage along, retained the name of Jefferson. We went 14 miles and encamped on the south side. Our two hunters killed but one goat.
Friday 9th August 1805. a clear cool morning. Several hunters out on Shore we Set out as usal and proceeded on. the wind high from the S. E. took on board a goat which one of the hunters had killed. we halted abt. 8 oC. for breakfast. George Shannon joined us who had been lost 3 days. he had killed 3 buck Deer, which was fat. he brought in the Skins & a little meat. Capt. Lewis G. Drewyer H. McNeal & John Shields Set out to go on by land a long distance to look out the way for us to go & expect to find the Snake nation of Indians. we proceeded on. took on bord a deer which one of the hunters killed. we Saw no game worth notice except a fiew deer. the River and Smooth prarie the Same as yesterday. 〈back at the forks our Captains named this Stream Jeffersons River, the N. fork Sensable River, [9] and the South fork〉, not known yet. So I expect that ought to be called the head of the Missourie although we are yet on the head branch, which we expect to See the head of it Soon. Some Thunder. the Musquetoes troublesome. the beaver pleanty as usal, &c. Saw Snow on the Mountains Some distance a head. proceeded on passed the old bed of the River where it formerly ran along the high land at South Side of the prarie Some cotton trees along it. the prarie low, Some part of which is soft & boggy which we expect is good turf to burn was dug & dryed. Thunder Showers passed round or over. Came 18 miles and Camped on L. S. near a grove of cotton trees & willows.
Friday August 9th We had a clear cool morning, several of our Hunters left the camp early to go out a hunting & We set out as usual, and proceeded on our Voyage, the wind blowing high from the South east, We stopped with one of our Canoes & took on board a Goat, which one of the hunters, that went out this morning had killed, & left on the bank of the River; we proceeded on till about 8 o'Clock A. M. when we halted to take breakfast. Here we were joined by George Shannon, one of our party that had been lost, for these 3 days past, he had killed 3 buck Deer, which he said was very fat, he brought with him, some of the Meat and the Skins of them. Captain Lewis & 3 of our party 〈here〉 left us here & set out to go by land a long distance up the River, in order to look out the best way for us to proceed, & to find out the Snake nation of Indians.— We then proceeded on a small distance, & took on board one of the Canoes, a Deer which one of the hunters had killed & left on the bank of the River also; We saw no Game, excepting a few deer, which were in the bend of the River. We passed some smooth plains much the same as those we passed Yesterday. We all expect that we are near the head Waters or source of the Mesouri River, as the River, here is growing much narrower than it was, We had some thunder in the afternoon, and the Musketoes was very toublesome. The beaver was very plenty to be seen in the River, & along the shores. We saw Snow on the mountains which lay ahead of us.— We continued on our way, and passed a place, where we supposed the Bed of the River formerly was, and high land, lying on the South side of the Priaries lying back from the River, with some Cotton wood Trees growing on it, The priaries here lay low on both sides of the River, some part of which is soft & boggy, which we expect would make good turf In the evening we had some Showers of rain accompanied with thunder, We encamped on the South side of the River, near a Grove of Cotton wood trees, & Willows, having come 18 Miles this day.—
Created by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
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