October 12th. Saturday 1805
A fair Cool morning wind from the East after purchaseing
every Sp[e]cies of the provisions those Indians could spare we
set out and proceeded on at three miles passed 4 Islands,
Swift water and a bad rapid opposit to those Islands on the
Lard. side at 14-½ miles passed the mouth of a large Creek
on the Lard side opposit a Small Island here the Countrey
assends with a gentle assent to the high plains, and the River
is 400 yards wide about 1 mile below the Creek on the Same
Side took Meridian altitude which gave 72° 30′ 00″ Latitude
produced ° ′ ″ [blank spaces in MS.] North in the
afternoon the wind shifted to the S. W. and blew hard we
passed today [blank space in MS.] rapids several of them very
bad and came to at the head of one (at 30 miles) on the Stard.
Side to view it before we attemptd. to d[e]send through it[5]
The Indians had told us [it] was very bad we found [it] long
and dangerous about 2 miles in length, and maney turns necessary
to Stear Clare of the rocks, which appeared to be in every
direction The Indians went through & our small canoe followed
them, as it was late we deturmined to camp above
untill the morning we passed several stoney Islands today
Country as yesterday open plains, no timber of any kind,
a fiew Hackberry bushes & willows
[6]
excepted, and but few
drift trees to be found, So that fire wood is verry Scerce The
hills or assents from the water is faced with a dark ruged
Stone. The wind blew hard this evening.
