Original journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806 printed from the original manuscripts in the library of the American Philosophical Society and by direction of its committee on historical documents |
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The ORIGINAL JOURNALS OF
LEWIS AND CLARK Original journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806 | ||
[Clark:]
May 27th. Sunday 1804—
as we were pushing off this morning two Canoos Loaded
with fur &c came to from the Mahas [Mahar; Omaha—
Ed.] nation, [living 730 miles
above on the Missouri] which
place they had left two months, at about
10 oClock 4 Cajaux[25]
or rafts
loaded with furs and peltries came too, one from the
Paunees, [Paunees on the river Platt]
the others from Grand
Osage, they informed nothing of Consequence, passed
a
creek on the Lbd. Side called ash
Creek 20 yds. Wide, passed
the upper point of a
large Island on the Sbd. Side back of which
comes in
three creeks one Called Otter Creek, her[e] the
man we left hunting came
in we camped on a Willow Island
in the mouth of Gasconnade River George
Shannon killed
a Deer this evening.
N 71°. W. | 3 | Ms. to pt. Lbd. Sd. pd. an Isd. |
S 82° W. | 6 | Ms. to pt. Lbd. Sd. pd. 2 Isd. a Creek |
N 74° W. | 1 1/2 | Ms. to pt. Lbd. Sd. pd. up pt. big Isd. & 2 Creeks |
S 70° W. | 5 | Ms. to pt. opsd. the Gasconnade R |
15 1/2 |
The word originally
penned by Clark in the MS. has been erased both here and
elsewhere, and
over it is written the word "Cajaux," by the same hand which has
made
other black-ink emendations in Clark's text. This word (also written cajeu or
cajeux) is a term used
by the French-Canadian peasantry to designate a small raft;
for its
etymology, see Jesuit Relations (Thwaites's ed.), xxxii,
p. 313. Cf. entries
under June 5 and elsewhere, where the word appears as
originally written, "Caissee,"
and "Chaussies."—Ed.
May 28th Munday 1804
Gasconnade
Rained hard all last
night some thunder & lightning hard
Wind in the forepart of the night
from the S W. Ruben Fields
killed a Deer Several hunters out to day. I
measured the
river found the Gasconnade to be 157 yds.
Wide and 19 foot
Deep the Course of this R. is S. 29° W, one of the
hunters
fell in with 6 Inds. hunting, onloaded the
large Perogue on
board of which was 8 french hands found many things wet
by their cearlessessness, put all the articles which was wet out
to
Dry. this day so Cloudy that no observations could be
taken, the river
begins to rise, examine the mens arms and
equapage, all in
order
May 29th. Tuesday—
Rained last night, Cloudy morning
4 hunters sent out with
orders to return at 12 oClock
Took equal altitudes of Suns Lower limb found it 105° - 31′ - 45″
A M. | 9 h - 25′ - 24″ | P M | 2 h - 35′ - 31″ |
9 - 26 - 3 | 2 - 37 - 20 | ||
9 - 27 - 27 | 2 - 38 - 52 |
Error of Sextion 8′. 45″ -
☉s Magnetic Azzamuth S. 83° W.
Time at place of obsvn. by bromtr. P. M. 4 h - 4 m - 44 s
Double altitude of ☉ L Limb—71° - 24′ - 00″
Cap Lewis observed Meridean altitude of ☉ U L. back observation
with the octant & artificeal
horozen—gave for altitude on the
Limb 38°. 44′ -
00″.
octant error—2 - 0 - 0 +
had the Perogues
loaded and all perpared to Set out at 4
oClock after finishing the
observations & all things necessary
found that one of the hunters had
not returned, we determined
to proceed on
& leave one perogue to wate for him,
accordingly at half past four we
set out and came on 4 miles
& camped on the Lbd.
Side above a small Creek called Deer
Creek, Soon after we came too we
heard several guns fire
down the river, we answered them by a Discharge of
a Swivell
on the Bow.
N. 54° W, | 2 | Ms. to pt. Lbd. Sd. |
N. 78° W | 2 | Ms. to pt. Lbd. Sd. pd. Deer Creek |
4 |
May 30th Wednesday 1804
Rained
all last night. Set out at 6 oClock after a heavy
shower, and proceeded
on, passed a large Island a Creek
opposit on the St.
Side, Just above a Cave Called Monbrun
[Montbrun's] Tavern & River, passed a Creek on the Lbd. Side
call Rush Creek at 4 miles
several Showers of rain, the Currents
verry
Swift, river rising fast. Passed Big Miry [Muddy]
River at 11 miles on the Starboard Side, at the lower point of
a
Island, this River is about 50 yards Wide, Camped at the
mouth of a Creek
on Lbd. Sd. of abt. 15 yds.. Wide Called Grinestone
Creek, opposit the head of a Isd. and the mouth of
Little
Mirey [Muddy] River, on the St. Side, a heavy wind accompanied
with rain & hail we made 14 miles to day, the river
Continud to
rise, the Country on each Side appear full of
Water.
West | 2 | M s. to a pt. L. Sd. opsd. a Cave & pt. Isd. |
S 80° W. | 2 | Ms. to a pt. on L. Sd. psd. Isd. & rush Creek |
S 78° W. | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on L. Sd. psd. a Wil. Isd. |
S 66° W | 4 | Ms. to a pt. on Lbd. Sd. opsd. Miry R: & Isd. |
S 48° W | 6 | Ms. to a pt. on St. Sd. opsd. som sm: Isds.. Psd. |
a creek 2 ms. Swift | ||
17 | say 17 mile |
May 31st Thursday 1804—
rained the greater part of last night, the wind from the West
raised and blew with great force untill 5 oClock p. m. which
obliged
us to lay by a cajaux of Bear Skins and pelteries came
down from the Grand Osarge, one french man, one Indian,
and a squaw,
they had letters from the man Mr. Choteau Sent
to that
part of the Osarge nation settled on Arkansa River
Inds. not believing that the Americans had possession of the
Countrey they disregard'ed St. Louis & their Supplies &c.
Several rats of Considerable Size was Caught in the woods to
day. Capt Lewis went out to the woods & found many curious
Plant & Srubs, one Deer killed this evening.
June 1st 1804 Friday—
Set out early a fair morning Passed the mouth Bear Creek
25
yds. Wide at 6 Miles, Several Small Islands in the river
the wind a head from the West the current exceedingly rapid
Came to
at the point of the Osarges River on the Labd Side
of
Missouris this Osages river verry high, [we] falled all
the Trees in the point to make observations Set up untill
12 oClock
taken observation this night—
S. 49° W - | 4 | ms. to pt. Isd. psd. Little Muddy river on Lbd. Sd. 30 yds. wid |
S 45° W - | 6 | ms. to Isd. psd. Bear Creek L. Sd. 20 yd. Wid. |
S. 39 W. | 3 | ms. to Pt. of Osage River |
13 |
June 2nd Satturday
Cap Lewis Took the Time & Distance of ☉s & Moons
nearest limbs, the Sun East—and
Meridean altitude of Suns
U. L. with Octant, back observation gave for
altitude 37°—
28′–00″.
Errors of
Octant 2°–00′–00″ +. made Several other
observations. I made an angle for the Wedth of the two
rivers. The
Missourie from the Point to the N. Side is 875
yards wide the Osage River
from the point to the S. E.
Side is 397 yards Wide, the destance between
the two rivers
at the pt. of high Land (100 foot above
the bottom) and 80
poles up the Missouris from the point is 40 poles, on
the
top of this high land under which is a limestone rock two
mouns
or graves are raised. from this pt. which comds (commands)
up and down, also the Osage R. up.[27]
George
Drewyer & John Shields who we had sent with the
horses by Land on the
N. Side joined us this evening much
worsted, they being absent Seven Days
depending on their
gun, the greater part of the time rain, they were
obliged
to raft or Swim many Creeks, those men gave a flattering
account of of the Countrey Commencing below the first hill
on the N
Side and extend'g Parrelal with the river for 30 or
40 Ms. The Two Muddy rivers passing thro. &
som fine
Springs & Streems our hunters kill several Deer to day,
Some Small licks on the SE of the Osage River.
Biddle here furnishes
(pp. 8, 9) an enumeration of the bands of the Osage tribe,
then numbering
over 2,300 warriors; also their own tradition of their origin, which
made
them descendants of the beaver.—Ed.
June 3rd Sunday 1804—
The forepart of the day fair Took Meridional altitude of
☉s U. L. with the Octant and glass Horreson
adjusted back
observation. The instrement gave
38°–2′–00″ it was Cloudy
and the Suns disk
much obscured and cannot be Depended on.
We made other Observations in
the evening after the return
of Capt. Lewis from a
walk of three or four ms. round. We
Set out at 5
oClock P. M. proceeded on five miles to the
mouth of a Creek on the L. S.
20 yds.. wide Called Murow,[28]
passed a
Creek at 3 ms. which I call Cupbord
Creek as it
mouths above a rock of that appearance. Several Deer killed
to day. at the mouth of the Murow Creek I saw much sign
of War
parties of Inds. haveing crossed from the mouth of this
Creek. I have a bad cold with a Sore throat. near West
5
Miles
June 4th Monday 1804—
a fair day three men out on the right flank passed a large
Island on the.St. Side called Seeder Island, this
Isd. has a great
Deel of Ceeder on it, passed a Small
Creek at 1 ml. 15 yd.
Wide which
we named Nightingale Creek from a Bird of that
discription which Sang for
us all last night, and is the first
at 7 Ms. on the S. S. abt. 20 yds. Wide above Some Small
Isds passed a Creek on the L. S. abt. 15 yds. wide, Mast [Mast]
Creek, here the Serjt. at the helm run under a bending Tree
& broke the Mast, Some delightfull Land, with a jentle
assent about this Creek, well timbered, Oake, Ash, Walnut
&c. &c. passed, wind N W. by W. passed a small creek
called Zancare C on the L. S: at this last point I got out
and walked on the L. S.d thro a rush bottom for 1 Mile & a
Short Distance thro: Nettles as high as my brest assended a
hill of about 170 foot to a place where the french report that
Lead ore has been found, I saw no Mineral of that description.
Cap Lewis camped imediately under this hill,[30] to wate which
gave me Some time to examine the hill, on the top is a
mound of about 6 foot high, and about 100 acres of land which
the large timber is Dead in Decending about 50 foot a projecting
lime stone rock under Which is a Cave at one place
in this projecting rocks I went on one which spured up and
hung over the water from the top of this rock I had a prospect
of the river for 20 or 30 ms. up, from the Cave which
incumpased the hill I decended by a Steep decent to the foot,
a verry bad part of the river opposit this hill, the river continus
to fall Slowly, our hunters killed 7 Deer to day The
land our hunters passed thro: to day on the S. S. was verry
fine the latter part of to day. the high land on the S. S. is
about 2d. rate
N. 30° - W. | 4 | Ms. to a pt. on S. Sd. psd. a C. & 2 Isd. |
N. 25° - W. | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on S. Sd. psd. Seeder C. |
N. 58 W. | 7 1/2 | M.s. to pt. on L. S. a Creek on L. S. |
N. 75. W. | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on S. Sd. opsd. Mine Hill |
17 1/2 |
No species of the true
nightingale (Daulias luscinia) is found in North America;
the so-called "Virginia nightingale" is the cardinal or red-bird
(Cardinalis virginianus).
—Coues (L. and C., i, p. 14).
The
ordinary mocking-bird sings in the night; so also, occasionally, do the catbird
and the brown thrasher.—James N.
Baskett.
June 5th Tuesday 1804—
after Jurking[31]
the meet killed
yesterday and Crossing the
hunting party we Set out at 6 oClock, from the
last Course &
distance, N 51° W. 5 M. to a pt.
on the St. Sd. passed a
small creek on the L. S: I call Lead C. passed a creek on
the S. S. of 20 yds. Wide Cal.d Lit: [Little] Good-Womans
C. on the L. S. a Prarie extends
from Lead C. parrelel with
the river to Mine river, at 4 Ms. Passed the Creek of
the big rock about 15 yds. wide on the L. S.d at 11 oClock
brought too a small Caissee [raft made of two canoes
tied
together] in which was two french men, from 80 Leagues up
the Kansias [Kanzas] R. where they wintered, and
Cought a
great quantity of Beaver, the greater part of which they lost
by fire from the Praries, those men inform [us] that the
Kansas
Nation are now out in the plains hunting Buffalow,
they hunted last winter
on this river Passed a projecting
rock on which was painted a figure
[ILLUSTRATION] and a Creek at
2 ms. above Called Little Manitou[32]
Creek, from the
Painted rock this Creek 20 yds. wide on the L.
Sd. passed a Small Creek on L. S. opposit a verry bad
Sand
bar of Several Ms. in extent, which we named Sand C, here
my Servent York Swam to the Sand bar to
geather Greens
for our Dinner, and returned with a Sufficent quantity wild
Creases [Cresses] or Tung
[Tongue] grass, we passed up for
2 ms. on the L. S. of this Sand and was obliged to return, the
watr. uncertain the quick Sand moveing we had a fine
wind,
but could not make use of it, our Mast being broke, we passed
between 2 Small Islands in the Middle of the Current, &
round
the head of three a rapid Current for one mile and
Camped on the S. S.
opsd. a large Island in the middle of the
river, one
Perogue did not get up for two hours, our Scout
discovd. the fresh sign of about 10 Inds. I expect that those
probably they are the Saukees.[33]
N. 51°, W. | 5 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. ps.d. 3 C, 1 S. 2 L. S. |
N 23° W | 7 1/2 | Ms. a t. L. S. psd. Mon. [Manitou—Ed.] Creek |
12 1/2 |
Coues claims (L. d C., i, p. 31) that the word "jerk" (spelled "jurk" by
Clark), as applied to the process of drying meat in the sun, is a
corruption of a
Chilian word charqui, meaning
"sun-dried meat."—Ed.
The Sauk Indians, an
Algonquin tribe formerly resident in Wisconsin; they were
the allies of
the Foxes in the war waged by that tribe against the French during the
early part of the eighteenth century.—Ed.
June 6th.. Wednesday 1804
Mended our Mast this morning
& Set out at 7 oClock under
a jentle breese from S. E. by S passed the
large Island, and a
Creek Called Split rock Creek[34]
at 5 Ms. on the S. S. psd.
a place to the
rock from which this Creek 20 yds. wd. takes
its name,
a projecting rock with a hole thro: a point of the
rock, at 8 Ms. passed the Mouth of a Creek Called Saline or
Salt R. on the L. Sd.
this River is about 30 yds.. wide, and has
So many
Licks and Salt Springs on its banks that the water of
the Creek is
Brackish, one verry large Lick is 9 ms. up on the
left
Side the water of the Spring in this Lick is Strong as one
bushel of the
Water is said to make 7lb. of good Salt passed a
large
Isd. & several Small ones, the water excessivly Strong,
so much so that we Camped Sooner than the usual time to
waite for
the perogue, The banks are falling in verry much
to day river rose last
night a foot.
Capt. Lewis took Meridean altd. of Sun U. L. with the Octant
above Split Rock C. made
the altitude 37° 6′-00″ error of
oct. as usual 2°
0′ 0″ + The Country for Several miles below
is good, on the
top of the high land back is also tolerble land
Some buffalow Sign to
day[35]
I am Still verry unwell with a Sore throat & head ake
N. 28° W. | 3 1/2 | Ms. to a Hill on S. S. pd. N. Bilg: of Isd. |
N 49° W | 1 1/2 | Ms. to a creek Split rock |
West - | 1 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. opsd. a Clift |
N 31° W. | 4 1/2 | Ms. 2. to a pt. on L. S. psd. Saline C. L. S. |
N. 51° W | 3 | Ms. to a bilg of an Isd to lift pd. Sm. Isd. |
14 |
The buffalo (more correctly designated as "American bison")
ranged, during
the seventeenth century, as far east as the Alleghany
Mountains. For descriptive and
historical information regarding this
animal, see monographs thereon, as follows:
J. A. Allen's "History of the
American Bison," in U. S. Geol. and Geog. Survey
of the
Territories, Ann. Rep., 1875, PP. 443–587; Wm. F. Hornaday's "Extermination
of the American Bison," in Smithsonian Institute Rep., 1887, part 2, pp.
367–548; and Charles Mair's "The American Bison," in Canad. Roy. Soc. Proc.,
1890, sec. 2, pp. 93–108.
—Ed.
June, 7th.. Thursday 1804
Set out early passed the head
of the Island opposit which
we Camped last night, and braekfast at the
Mouth of a large
Creek on the S. S. of 30 yds wide
called big Monetou,[36]
from the
pt. of the Isd. o[u]r Course of
last night to the mouth of this
Creek is N 61° W 4 1/2 Ms. a Short distance above the mouth
of this Creek, is
Several Courious paintings and carving on the
projecting rock of Limestone
inlade with white red & blue flint,
of a verry good quallity, the
Indians have taken of this flint
great quantities. We landed at this
Inscription and found it a
Den of Rattle Snakes, we had not landed 3
Minites before
three verry large Snakes was observed in the Crevises of
the
rocks & killed. at the mouth of the last mentioned Creek
Capt. Lewis took four or five men & went to Some
Licks or
Springs of Salt Water from two to four miles up the Creek,
on Rt. Side the water of those Springs are not Strong,
say
from 4 to 600 gc. of water for a Bushel of Salt
passed some
Small willow Islands and camped at the mouth of a small river
Called Good Womans River[37]
this river is
about 35 yards Wide
and said to be navagable for Perogues Several Leagues.
Capt.
Lewis with 2 men went up the Creek a short
distance. our
Hunters brought in three Bear this
evening, and informs that
the Countrey thro: which they passed from the
last Creek is
fine, rich land, & well watered.
N 61° W, | 4 1/2 | Ms. to Mo. of Manitou on S. S. |
S 88° W, | 2 | Ms. to pt. on Lbd. Side |
S 81° W | 4 | Ms. to pt. S. S. psd. an Island |
S 87° W | 3 1/2 | Ms. to pt. of High Land on L. S. psd. W. Isd. |
14 Ms. | Passed the Mo. of Good Womans R. |
8th.. of June, Friday 1804—
Set out this morning at Daylight
proceeded on the Course
of last night Passed two Willow Islands & a
Small Creek
above a Rock point on the L. S. at 6 miles on which there is
a number of Deer Licks, passed the Mine River at 9
ms. this
river is about 70 yards wide at its mouth and
is Said to be navagable
for Perogues 80 or 90
ms. the Main [West] branch[38]
passes near
the place where the Little Osage village formerly
stood on the Missouries,
& heads between the Osarge & Kansias
Rivers, the left hand fork heads with nearer Branches of
the Osage
River, The french informd that Lead Ore has been
found
in defferent parts of this river, I took Sjt. Floyd and
went out 4 Ms. below this river, I found the land
verry good
for a mile or 1 1/2 Ms. back, and
Sufficiently watered with Small
Streems which lost themselves in the
Missouries bottom, the
Land rose graduelly from the river to the Summit of
the high
Countrey, which is not more than 120 foot above High Water
Mark, we joined the Boat & Dined in the point above the
mouth of
this River, Capt. Lewis went out above the river &
proceeded on one mile, finding the countrey rich, the wedes
&
vines So thick & high he came to the Boat. proceeded on
passed an
Island and Camped at the lower point of an Island
on the L. S. Called the
Island of Mills about 4 Ms. above Mine
River at this
place I found Kanteens, axs, Pumey Stone &
peltry hid and buried (I
suppose by some hunters) none of
them (except the pumey Stone) was teched
by one of our
party, our hunters Killed 5 Deer to day, commenced raining
Soon after we came too which prevented the
party cooking
passed thro: on S. S is a fine high bottom, no water.
S. 81° W. | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. psd. Deer L. Creek L. S. |
N 88° W, | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on L Side |
N. 83° W. | 2 | Ms. to Mouth of Mine Riv. L. S. |
N 64° W. | 1 | Ml. to a pt. on S. S. |
N 80° W. | 3 | Ms. to the Lower pt. of Isd. of Mills |
12 |
This day we met 3 men on a Cajaux from the River of the
Soux above the
Mahar Nation those men had been hunting
12 Mo:
& made about 900$ in pelts. & furs they were out
of Provisions and out of Powder. rained this night.
At the point of junction
are some very rich salt springs; the west branch, in
particular, is so
much impregnated, that, for twenty miles, the water is not palatable.
—Biddle
(i, p. 12).
9th of June 1804 Satturday—
a fair morning, the River rise a
little we got fast on a Snag
Soon after we Set out which detained us a
Short time passed
the upper Point of the Island, Several Small Chanels
running
out of the River below a Bluff [Cliff of rocks
called the arrow
rock[39]
] & Prarie (Called the Prarie of Arrows) where the
river
is confined within the width of 300 [200]
yds. Passed a Creek
of 8 yds. wide
Called Creek of Arrows, this Creek is Short and
heads in the Praries on
the L. S. passed a Small Creek called
Blackbird Creek S.S. and an Island
below & a Prarie above on
the L. S. a small Lake above the Prarie.
opposit the Lower
point of the 2d. Island on the S. S.
we had like to have Stove
our boat, in going round a Snag her Stern Struck
a log under
water & She Swung round on the Snag, with her broad Side
to the Current expd. to the Drifting timber, by the
active
exertions of our party we got her off in a fiew Mints. without
engerey [injury] and Crossed to the Island
where we Campd.[40]
our hunters lay on the S. S. the Perogue crossed
without
Seeing them and the banks too uncertain to Send her over.
Some wind from the S accompanied with rain this evening.
appears even and of a good quallity riseing gradually to from
fifty to 100 foot.
N. 39° W, | 4 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. opsd. a Prarie |
N. 34° E. | 2 | Ms. to pt. of an Isd. L. S. |
N. 83′ W, | 1 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. on L. S. opsd. B. Bs Cr. |
N. 39. W. | 2 | Ms. to a pt. of High Ld. on L. S. |
N. 32. E | 3 1/2 | Ms. to a Pt. on L. S. psd. an Isld. |
13 |
10th of June1804—
A hard rain last night, We set out this morning
verry
early passed Some bad placies in the river, Saw a number
of
Goslings [this] morning pass near a Bank which was falling
in at the time we passed, passed two Rivers
of Charletons
which mouth together, above some high
land which has a great
quantity of Stone Calculated for whetstons the
first of those
rivers is about 30 yds. Wide & the
other is 70 yds. wd. and heads
Close to the R. Dumons [des Moines] The Aieways
[Ayauway]
Nation have a Village on the head of
these Rivers.[41]
they run through an even Countrey [a broken rich thickly timbered
country] and is navagable for Perogues Cap Lewis took
Medn. altd. of ☉ U. L. with Octant, back
obsvn. made it 37° 12′
—00″
delayed 1 1/2 hours.
Cap. Lewis Killed a large Buck, passed a large Isd. call'd
Shecco[42]
and camped in a
Prarie on the L. S. I walked out
three miles, found the prarie composed of
good Land and
plenty of water roleing & interspursed with points of
timber
land. Those Praries are not like those, or a number of those
abound with Hasel Grapes & a wild plumb of a Superior [size
&] quallity, Called the Osages Plumb Grows on a bush the
hight of a Hasel (and is three times the sise of other Plumbs,)
and hang in great quantities on the bushes I saw great numbers
of Deer in the Praries, the evening is Cloudy, our party
in high Spirits.
N. 8° E | 2 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. on L. S. |
North | 1 | Ml. along the L. Side |
N. 40° W | 1 | Ml. do do do |
N. 70° W. | 0 1/2 | (ops.d. the Mos. of Charltons R. |
N. 60° W | 2 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. |
N 80 W | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. opsd. a Pln. |
10 |
The
name Charleton now appears on maps as Chariton. The etymology of
Des
Moines is suggested in the form used by Clark, "Dumons" This river was
formerly named (from the tribe dwelling on its shores) Rivière des
Moihgonans—a
name soon abbreviated to Moins, and that to River Des
Moins (with many variants,
of which Clark's is one). Aieway and Ayauway
are among the many variants of
the name of a Siouan tribe, now known as
the Iowa, from whom a State and river
are named. Biddle says that the
Iowas numbered 300 men.—Ed.
11th.. June 1804 Monday—
The N W. wind blew hard & cold as this wind was imediately
a head, we could not proceed we took
the advantage of
this Delay and Dried our wet articles, examin'd
Provisions &c.
&c. the river begining to fall, the hunters killed
two Deer
G: Drewyer killed two Bear in the Prarie, they were not fat.
we had the meat Jurked and also the venison, which is a constant
Practice to have all the fresh meat not
used, Dried in
this way.
12th.. of June. Tuesday 1804
Set out early passed Some bad Placies, and a
Small Creek
on the L. S. called plumb Creek at
abt. 1 Ml. at 1 oClock we
brought
too [to,] two Chaussies one loaded with furs & Pelteries,
the other with Greece [buffalow grease & tallow] we
purchased 300lbs of Greese, and finding that old Mr.
Durioun
was of the party we questioned him untill it was too late to Go
further, and Concluded to Camp for the night, those people
inform
nothing of much information.
Concluded to take old durioun [who went acc'] back as fur
as the Soux nation
with a view to get some of their Cheifs to
visit the Presdt. of the United S. (This man being a verry
the Nation 20 odd years) and to accompany them on[43] [Sentence
incomplete.—Ed.]
N. 25° W. | 3 1/2 | Ms. to L. S. passed Plumb C. |
N 70 W | 2 1/2 | Ms. to pt. on S. S. |
N. 60° W | 3 | Ms. to pt. on S. S. |
9 |
An original letter by
Dorion to George Rogers Clark, dated Cahokin, 1780, is
in the Draper
Collection, Wisconsin Historical Society (press-mark, 50 J 34).—Ed.
13th.. June Wednesday 1804—
We Set out early passed a round bend
to the S. S. and
two Creeks Called the round bend Creeks between those two
Creeks and behind a Small Willow Island in the bend is a
Prarie in
which the Missouries Indians once lived and the
Spot where 300 [200] of them fell a sacrifise to the fury of
the Saukees, this nation (Missouries) once the most noumerous
nation in this part of the Continent now
reduced to about
30 fes [fires, i. e., families
—Ed.] and that fiew under the
protection of
the Otteaus[44]
[Ottoes] on R Platt who
themselves
are declining, passed some willow Isds. and
bad Sand bars,
Took Medn. Altitude with Octent back
observation it gave
for altd. on its Low L. 36° 58′ 0″ the E [Error] Enstrement
2° 00′ - 00″ +. the Hills or high land for Several days
past or
above the 2 Charletons does not exceed 100 foot, passed a
Batteau on Sand rolling where the Boat was nearly turning
over by
her Strikeing & turning on the Sand. we came too
in the mouth of Grand
River on S. S. and Camped for the
night, this River is from 80 to 100
yards wide at its mouth
and navagable for Perogues a great distance, this
river heads
with the R. Dumoine, below its mouth is a butifull Plain of
bottom land, the hills rise at 1/2 a mile back, the lands
about this
place is either Plain or over flown bottom. Capt
Lewis
and myself walked to the hill, from the top of which we
had a butifull
prospect of Serounding countrey, in the open
Deer, we took some Lunar observations this evening.
N. 40° W | 2 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. L. S. |
S. 39 W. | 3 | Ms. to a pt. S. S. psd. 2 Creeks |
N. 28, W | 1 1/2 | Ms. to a Pt. Stbd. S. |
N. 30 W | 2 | Ms. to a pt. L. S. opsd. Gd. R |
9 Ms. |
The Missouri and Oto
tribes belong to the Siouan stock. The remnants of
both are now in the
Indian Territory.—Ed.
14th. June Thursday—
We Set out at 6
oClock, after a thick fog passed thro: a
narrow pass on the S. S. which
forms a large Isd. opposit the
upper point of this
Island on the L. S. is one of the worst
quick or moveing sand bars Which I
have Seen, notwithstanding
all our
precaustons to Clear the Sands and pass
between them (which was the way we
were compd. to pass, from
the immence Current &
falling banks on the S. S.) the Boat
Struck the point of one from the
active exertions of the
men, prevented her turning, if She had turned she
must have
overset. We met a Causseu [Cajaux, or
raft—Ed.] from the
Pania [Paunee] on the
River Platt, we detained 2 hours with
a view of engageing one of the hands
to go to the Pania nation
with a view to get those people to meet us on
the river, (I
went out & Shot a Deer) We passed a high land, &
clay
bluff on the S. S. Called the Snake bluff from the number of
Snakes about this place, we passed a Creek above the Bluff
about 18
yds. wide, this Creek is Called Snake Creek,[45]
a bad
Sand
bar just below, which we found Dificullty in passing &
Campd. above, our Hunters came in. George Drewyer, gives
the
following act. of a Pond, & at abt.
5 Miles below here S. S.
Passed a Small Lake in which there was many Deer
feeding.
he heard in this Pond a Snake makeing goubleing noises like
a turkey. he fired his gun & the noise was increased, he
has
heard the indians mention this Species of Snake, one
Frenchman gives a
Similar account
S. 33° W | 2 | Ms. to Lowr. pt. on an Isd. S. S. |
S. 60° W | 1 | Ml. thro: a chanil on S. S. |
S. 70° W | 2 | Ms. to pt. L. S. passed a bad Sand |
S. 5 E | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. passed a Creek S. S. |
8 |
15th June, Friday 1804—
Set out early and
had not proceeded far e'er we wheeled on
a Sawyer which was near injuring
us verry much, passed a
plain on the L. S. a Small Isd. in the midle, the river riseing,
water verry swift
Passed a Creek on the L. S. passed between
two Islands, a verry bad place,
moveing Sands, we were
nearly being swallowed up by the rolling Sands over
which the
Current was so Strong that we could not Stem it with our
Sales under a Stiff breese in addition to our ores, we were
compelled to pass under a bank which was falling in, and use
the Toe
rope occasionally, Continued up pass two other
Small Islands and Camped on
the S. S. nearly opposit the
antient Village of the
Little Osarges and below the antt. Village
of the Missouries both
Situations in view and within three
Ms. of each
other,[46]
the
Osage were Settled at the foot [of]
a hill in a butifull Plain, which
extends back quite to the
Osage River, in front of the Vilg: next to the
river is an
ellegent bottom Plain which extends several miles in length on
the river in this low Prarie the Missouries lived
after they
were reduced by the Saukees at their
Town Some Diste. below.
The little osage finding
themselves much oppressed by the
Saukees & other nations, left this
place & built a village 5
Ms. from the Grand Osarge Town, about years ago a
fiew of the Missouries
accompanied them, the remainder of
that Nation went to the Otteaus on the
River Platt. The
River at this place is about 3 [one] Ms. wide. our hunters did
not
come in this evening the river beginning to fall
S. 35° W. | 2 | Ms. along S. S. |
S. 50° W. | 1 1/2 | Ms. a pt. L. S. passed a pra: & Creek L. S. |
S. 51° W. | 2 1/2 | Ms. pt. S. S. psd. a Willow Isd. |
S. 8° W. | 3/4 | Ms. to a pt. L. S. passd. Low pt/2 Isds. |
S. 80° W. | 2 | Ms. to upr. Pt. Isd. S. S. psd. bad place |
S. 5° W. | 2 | Ms. to a pt. S. S. passed bad place |
S. 12° W. | 1 1/2 | Ms. to a pd. S. S. psd. a Isd. in Midl opsd. old village |
12 1/4 | Lit: Osage. |
16th June Satturday 1804—
Set out at 7 oClock at about a mile 1/2
we came to the
Camp of our hunters, they had two Bear & two Deer, proceeded
on pass a Island on the S. S. a heavy
rain came on &
lasted a Short time, we came to on the S. S. in a
Prarie at the
place where Mr. Mackey lais down a old
french fort,[47]
I could
See no traces of a Settlement of any kind, in the plain I discovered
a kind of Grass resembling Timothey
which appeared
well Calculated for Hay. this Plain is verry extensive in
the
evening I walked on the S. S. to see if any timber was convt.
to make Oars, which we were much in want of, I found
some
indifferent timber and Struck the river above the Boat at a
bad
Sand bar, the worst I had Seen which the boat must pass
or Drop back
Several Miles & Stem a Swift Current on the
the Streem which was difficult Dangerious We came to above
this place at Dark and Camped in a bad place, the Mosquitoes
and Ticks are noumerous & bad.
N. 68.° W. | 2 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. L. S. pass Isd. S. S. |
West | 2 | Ms. to a blg. in Snag Isd. L. S. |
S. 85 W. | 1 | Ml. on L. S. a bad Sand Mid. |
S. 61 W. | 1 | Ml. on L. S. do do and 2 sm. Isds.. |
S. 30 W. | 2 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. S. S. passed upr Sd. Isd. |
S. 40 W | 1 | Ml. alg. S. S. an Isd. Mdl. & bad ps |
10 |
Lewis's map of 1806
indicates "Mr. J. Mackay's route," which embraces
most of the valley of
the Niobrara River; this Mackay may be the person referred to
in the text.
Biddle's narrative mentions (i, p. 44) a man of this name who had in
1795–96 a trading establishment farther up the Missouri. The French
fort was
probably the post (Fort Orleans) established by Bourgmont (1723)
not far (according
to Coues) from the Malta Bend of the Missouri (see
Margry's Découvertes et établissements,
vi, p.
393; Le Page du Pratz's Louisiane, i, p. 324; and Coues's
L. and
C., i, p. 24, note
51).
The exact site of Fort Orleans is not definitely known, and there
are diverse
opinions regarding it. Hon. Walter B. Douglas, of St. Louis,
thinks that the fort
was on "the north bank of the Missouri, above the
mouth of Wakenda Creek, in
what is now Carroll County, and 15 to 20 miles
above the town of Brunswick, which
stands a little below the place where
was the old mouth of Grand River (about six or
seven miles from its
present entrance). The action of the river-current has caused
great
changes in the course of both rivers, even within the last thirty years." Later
there was another French post upon the river at a village of the Kansas
Indians, not far
from the present site of Fort Leavenworth.—Ed.
June 17th. Sunday 1804 (S. 65° W. 1 Ml. S. Side.)—
Cloudy morning wind from the S.
E we Set out early and
proceeded on one mile & came too to make oars,
& repair our
cable & toe rope &c. &c. which was necessary
for the Boat &
Perogues, Sent out Sjt. Pryor and
Some men to get ash timber
for ores, and Set some men to make a Toe Rope
out of the
Cords of a Cable which had been provided
by Capt. Lewis at
Pittsburg for the Cable of the boat.
George Drewyer our
hunter and one man came in with 2 Deer & a Bear,
also a
young Horse, they had found in the Prarie, this horse has
been in the Prarie a long time and is fat, I Suppose, he has
been
left by Some war party against the Osage, This is a
Crossing place for the war parties against that nation from the
Saukees, Aiaouez, [Ayauways] & Souix. The party is much
aflicted with
Boils, and Several have the Deassentary, which I
contribute to the water [which is muddy.] The
Countrey
about this place is butifull on the river rich & well
timbered
on the S. S. about two miles back a Prarie coms. [commences]
which is rich and interspursed with groves
of timber, the
county rises at 7 or 8 miles Still
further back and is rolling.
on the L. S. the high lands & Prarie
coms. in the bank of the
river and and continus back,
well watered and abounds in Deer
Elk & Bear The Ticks & Musquiters
are verry troublesome.
June 18th.. Monday
Some rain last night, and Some hard Showers this morning
which delay our work verry
much, Send out Six hunters in
the Prairie on the L. S. they kill 5 Deer
& Coht [caught] a
Bear, which verry large & fat, the party to wok
at the oars,
make rope, & jurk their meat all Day Dry our wet Sales
&c.
in the evening, The Musquiters verry bad
June 19th.. Tuesday
rain last
night after fixing the new oars and makeing all
necessary arrangements, we
set out under a jentle breese from
the S. E. and proceeded on passed two
large Islands on the
S. S. leaving J. Shields and one man to go by land
with the
horses Some verry hard water, passed Several Islands &
Sand bars to day at the head of one we were obliged to cleare
away
Driftwood to pass, passed a Creek on the L. Side Called
Tabboe [Tabo] 15 yds. Wide passed a large Creek at the head
of an Island
Called Tiger River 25 yds. on the S. S. the
Island
below this Isd. is large and called the Isle of Pant[h]ers,
formed on the S. S. by a narrow Channel, I observed on the
Shore Goose & Rasp berries in abundance
in passing Some
hard water round a Point of rocks on the L. S. we were
obliged
to take out the roape & Draw up the Boat for 1/2 a mile, we
came too on the L. S. near a Lake of the Sircumfrance of
Several
miles, Situated on the L. S. about two miles from the
river[48]
this Lake is Said
to abound in all kinds of fowls, Great
numbers of Deer frequent this Lake
dureing Summer Season,
and feed on the hows [haws] &c. &c. they
find on the edgers
the Land on the North Side of the river is rich and
Sufficiently
high to afford Settlements, the Lds. on
the South Side assends
Gradually from the River not So rich, but of a good
quallity
and appear well watered
N 87° W. | 3 | Ms. to upr. pt. of an Island. |
S 80° W | 1 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. L. Side psd. 4 wil. Isds.. |
S. 70° W | 1 1/2 | Ms. along the L. S. |
S 58° W | 4 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. S. S. psd. a Isd. S. S. |
S. 68 W | 3 | Ms. to pt. S. S. psd. Tabbo Creek |
S. 83 W | 4 | Ms. to pt. L. S. Campd. 1 Ml.[49] |
17 1/2 |
The musquitoes and other
animals are so troublesome that musquitoe biers or
nets were distributed
to the party.—Biddle (i, p. 16).
June 10th Wednesday—
Set out after a heavy Shower of rain and proceeded on the
Same Course of last night passede a large butifull Prarie on
the S.
S. opposit a large Island, called Saukee Prarie, a jentle
breese from the
S. W. Some butifull high lands on the L. S.
passed Som verry Swift water
to day, I saw Pelicans to day on
a Sand bar, My
Servent York nearly loseing an Eye by a
man throwing Sand into it, we came
too at the lower Point
of a Small Island, the party on Shore we have not
Seen Since
we passed Tiger R. The Land appear'd verry good on each
Side of the river to day and well timbered, We took Some
Loner
observations, which detaind. us untill 1 oClock a butifull
night but the air exceedingly Damp, &
the Mosquiters
verry troublesome
S. 42° W. | 1 | Ml. along L. S. |
S. 46°. W | 2 | Ml. to pt. S. S. psd. an Isd. |
S. 51°. W | 1 1/2 | Ms. to pt. L. S. opsd. Isd. & Saukee Prarie on S. S. |
S. 70°. W | 3/4 | Ml. along L. S. water bad |
S. 25°. W | 1 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. S. S. psd. Isd. & bad Sand |
6 3/4 |
21st.. June Thursday—
The river rose 3 Inches last night after the Bows man
Peter Crousat viewed the water on each Side of the Island
which presented a most
unfavourable prospect of Swift water
to assend on the right Side, and with much dificuelty,
with the assistance of a long Cord or Tow rope, & the anchors,
we got the Boat up without any further dang. than Braking
a Cabbin window & loseing Some oars which were Swong
under the windows, passed four Isds.. to day two large & two
Small, behind the first large Island two Creeks mouth, called
Eue-bert [Hubert][50] Creek & River & Isd. the upper of those
Creeks head against the Mine River & is large, passed a
verry remarkable bend in the River to the S. forming an
accute angle, the high lands come to the river on the S. S.
opposit the upper large Island, this Isd. is formed by a narrow
chanel thro. the Pt. of the remarkable bend just mentiond. below
this Isd. on the L. S. is a Counter Current of about a
mile. passed between several Small Islands Situated near the
L. Side and camped above on the Same Side. Two men Sent
out to hunt this evening brought in a Buck & a pore Turkey.
at Sunset the atmespier presented every
appearance of wind,
Blue & White Streeks centiring at the Sun as She
disappeared
and the Clouds Situated to the S. W. Guilded in the most
butifull manner.
The Countrey and Lands on each Side of the river
is
various as useal, and may be classed as follows, viz: the low
or
overflown points or bottom land, of the groth of Cotton
& Willow, the
2nd.. or high bottom of rich furtile Soile of the
groth of Cotton, Walnut, Som ash, Hackberry, Mulberry,
Lynn [Linden]
& Sycamore. the third or high Lands rises
gradually from the 2nd.. bottom (except whin it Coms to the
river then from
the river) about 80 or 100 foot roleing back
Supplied with water (the
small rivers of which loses themselves
in the bottom land) and are covered
with a variety of timber
Such as Oake of different Kinds Blue ash, Walnut
&c. &c. as
far as the Praries, which I am informed lie back from
the river,
at Some places near & others a great Distance
S. 77° W. | 2 1/2 | Ms. along S. S. psd. the hd. of a lg Isd. L. S. |
N. 30° E, | 1 1/2 | Ms. pt. L. S. psd. a cl. Low pt. Isd. on L. S. (1) |
North, | 1 | Ml. along the Larboard Side |
N 18° W | 1/2 | Ml. do do do |
N 84° W | 1/2 | Ml. do do do |
S. 80° W, | 3/4 | Ml. do do psd. Sevl. Sm. Isds. L. S. |
S. 35 W | 3/4 | Ml. do do psd. do do do |
7 1/2 |
Biddle gives this name
(i, p. 17) as "Eau Beau or Clearwater;" Gass calls it
Du Beau or Du Bois.
—Ed.
22nd.. June Friday—
river rose 4 Inch last night I was waken'd before daylight
this morning by the guard, prepareing the
Boat to receve
an apparent Storm which threttened violence from the West
at daylight a violent wind accompanied with rain cam[e] from
the W.
and lasted about one hour, it Cleared away, and we
Set out and proceeded
on under a gentle breeze from the
N. W. passed Some verry Swift water,
crouded with Snags,
pass two large Island opposit each other, and
immediately
opposit a large & extensive Prarie on the Labd. Side, This
Prarie is butifull a high bottom for 1 1/2
mile back and rises
to the Common leavell of of the Countrey (about 70 or
80
feet) and extends back out of view. Capt. L walked
on Shore
a fiew miles this after noon (at 3 oClock P. M. Farents. Thermometer
Stood at
87° = to 11° above Summer heat) We
came too on the L. Side opposit
the mouth of a large Creek
called the River of the Fire Prarie,[51]
at the mouth of
this
Creek, the Party on Shore were waiting our arrival, they
informed that the Lands thro: which they passed was fine &
well
watered
S. 14° W. | 2 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. on the S. S. |
S. 25° W | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on the S. S. bad wat. |
S. 66° W. | 1/2 | Ml. on S. Side |
N. 60° W | 4 1/2 | Mls to a pt. on the L. S. psd. 2 Isds and a Prarie |
10 1/2 |
The present name of a
creek on the south side of the Missouri; on the north
side is Clear (or Fishing) creek, but four or five miles higher, which may
be the one
meant by Clark, as its mouth may have shifted since their time.
Gass says that Fireprairie
creek was 60
yards wide.—Coues (L. and
C., i, p. 30).
23rd.. June Satturday—
Some wind this morning from the N. W. we set out at
7 oClock,
and proceeded on to the head of a Island on the
S. S. the wind blew hard
and down the river which prevented
the P'ty moveing [proceding] from this Island the whole
day,[52]
Capt. Lewis had the arms examined &c. at the lower
end of
this Island I got out of the boat to walk on Shore, &
expected the
party on Shore would overtake me, at the head
of the Island, they did not
& I proceeded on round a round
and extensive bend in the river, I
Killed a Deer & made a
fire, expecting the boat would come up in the
evening. the
wind continueing to blow prevented their moveing, as the
distance by land was too great for me to return by night I
concluded
to Camp, Peeled Some bark to lay on, and
geathered wood to make fires to
keep off the musquitrs &
knats, Heard the party on Shore fire, at Dark
Drewyer
came to me with the horses, one fat bear
& a Deer, river fell
8 Inches last night
N 70° W | 2 | Ms. to an Isd. on S. S. (I went out) |
N 75° E | 1 1/2 | Ms. psd. the head of the Isd. to pt. L. S. |
3 1/2 |
Biddle here says:
"Directly opposite on the south, is a high commanding
position, more than
seventy feet above high water mark, and overlooking the river
which is
here of but little width; this spot has many advantages for a fort, and trading
house with the Indians." (And, in a
foot-note:) "The United States built in
September, 1808, a factory and
fort at this spot, which is very convenient for trading
with the Osages,
Ayauways, and Kanzas." This place was the site of Fort Osage,
at or near
the present town of Sibley.—Ed.
24th June Sunday—
Set out at half after Six. I joined the boat this
morng at
8 oClock (I will only remark that dureing the time I lay on
the sand waiting for the boat, a large Snake Swam to the bank
imediately under the Deer which was hanging over the water,
and no
great distance from it, I threw chunks and drove this
snake off Several
times. I found that he was so determined
on getting to the meet, I was
compelld. to kill him, the part
from the bag of the Doe.) I observed great quts. of Bear
Signs, where the had passed in all Directions thro the bottoms
in Serch of Mulberries, which were in great numbers.
in all the bottoms thro which our party passed)
Passed the
mouth of a Creek 20 yds. wide name [named]
Hay Cabbin Creek[53]
from Camps of Straw built on it
came to about
1/2 Ml. above this creek & jurked, the meet
killed
yesterday and this morning Lattitude of this place
38°–37′–5″ N. Capt. Lewis
walked on Shore & killed a Deer,
pass a bad part of the river, on the
S. S. the rocks projected
into the river Some distance, a creek above
called Sharriton
Carta,[54]
in the evening we
Passed thro: between two Sand
bars at the head we had to raise the Boat 8
Inches to get
her over, Camped near the lower point of an Island on the
on the L. Side, party in high Sperrits. The Countrey on each
side of
the river is fine interspursed with Praries, in which
immence herds of
Deer is Seen,[55]
on the banks of the river
we observe numbers of
Deer watering and feeding on the
young willow, Several killed to
day
N 80. E | 1/4 | Ml. on the Larboard Side |
N 55. E | 1/4 | Ml. on other |
West | 3 | Ms. to a point on S. S. |
N 80. W. | 4 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. on L. S. passd. Hay Cab. Is. |
West | 1/2 | Ml. on L. Side |
S 21°. W | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. psd. a rock & Creek L. S. |
11 1/2 |
A phonetic rendering of
the French Charretins écartés—that
is, two creeks
named Charretin, whose courses are separated (écartés), although they meet at their
entrance into the Missouri. There are two such creeks in Clay County, Mo.,
which
answer to the description in our text. For full explanation of the
name, see Coues's
L. and C., i, p. 31.—Ed.
Brackenridge says in 1811 (Louisiana,
p. 219): "The Missouri is now what
the Ohio was once, the Paradise of hunters."—Ed.
25th.. June Monday
a thick fog detained us untill 8 oClock, passed a Island,
at 3 Miles passed a Coal-Mine, or Bank of stone Coal, on
the South
Side, this bank appears to Contain great quantity
of fine Coal, the river
being high, prevented our Seeing
that contained in the cliffs of the best
quallity, a Small Creek
mouths below this bank call'd after the bank Chabonea [Charbon]
Creek the
Wind from the N. W. passed a Small Creek
on the L. Side at 12 oClock,
called Bennet's Creek The Praries
come within a Short distance of the river on
each Side which
Contains in addition to Plumbs Raspberries &c. vast
quantities
of wild apples, great numbs. of Deer are seen feeding on
the young willows &
earbage in the Banks and on the Sand
bars in the river, our party on Shore
did not join in this
evening we camped on an Island Situated on the S.
Side,
opposit some hills higher than Common, say 160 or 180 feet
above the Bottom. The river is Still falling last night it fell
8
Inches
S. 49° W. | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. |
S 55 W | 1/2 | Ml. on the S. S. psd. a Coal Mine |
N. 50° W | 3 1/2 | Ms. to Pt. on L. S. psd. a Creek L. S. |
N. 70° W. | 1/2 | Ml. on L. S. pass Willow Isd. |
S. 80° W. | 1/2 | Ml. on L. S. ditto |
S 55° W. | 1/2 | Ml. on L. S. ditto |
S 15° W | 1/2 | Ml. on L. S. ditto & round Pt. |
S 2° E | 2 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. |
S 48 W | 2 | Ms. to a pt. on S. S. psd. a Isd. |
13 |
June 26th.. Tuesday 1804—
We Set out early, the river
falling a little, the wind from
the S. W. Passed the mouth of a Small
river on the L. Side
above the upper point of a Small Island, called Blue
Water
River,[56]
this river heads in Praries back with the Mine River
38° 32°′–15″ North, the high lands which is on the North
Side does not exceed 80 feet high, at this Place the river
appears to be confd. in a verry narrow channel, and the current
Still more so by Counter Current or Whirl on one Side
& high bank on the other, passed a Small Isd. in the bend
to the L. Side We Killed a large rattle Snake, Sunning himself
in the bank, passed a bad Sand bar, where our tow rope
broke twice, & with great exertions, we rowed round it and
came to & camped, in the Point above the Kansas [Kanzas]
River I observed a great number of Parrot queets [Parroquets]
this evening, our Party killed Several [7] Deer to day
S 62° W. | 1/2 | Ml. on the S. S. Isd. on L. S. |
S 80° W. | 1/2 | Ml. on the S. S. psd. Blue Water R. L. S. |
N 87° W. | 1 | Ml. on the S. S. |
N. 85° W. | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on the L. S. Midl. abt. |
S. 80° W. | 1/2 | Ml. on L. S. |
S. 37° W. | 2 1/2 | Mls to a pt. on S. S. psd. Lit. Cr. |
S. 58° W | 1 | Ml. on S. S. psd. a bad place |
S. 78° W. | 3/4 | Ml. to the up. pt. of Kansas R. |
9 3/4 | = 366 & 3/4 Ms. to mouth of Missourie |
Now Big Blue River. In a footnote, Biddle here says: "A few
miles up the
Blue Water Creek are quarries of plaster of paris, since
worked and brought down
to St. Louis."—Ed.
June 27th.. Wednesday—
a fair warm morning, the river rose a little last night, we
determine to delay at this Place three or four Days to make
observations & recruit the party, Several men out Hunting,
onloaded our Perogue, and turned her up to Dry with a view
of repairing her after completing a Strong redoubt or brest
work from [one] river to the other, of logs & Bushes Six feet
high, The Countrey about the mouth of this river is verry
fine on
each Side as well as North of the Missourie the
bottom, in the Point is
low & overflows for 250 yards. it
rises a little above high water mark
and continus of that hight
of good quallity back to the hills A high
Clift, on the upper
Side of the Kanses 1/2 a mile up below the Kanses the
hills
is about 1 1/2 Miles from the point on the North Side of the
compared the instrumts Took equal altitudes, and the Meridian
altitude of the Suns L. L. to day Latitude 38° 31′–13″
Longitude [Blank space in MS.] measured the width of the
Kansas River by an angle and made it 230 yds. 1/4 wide,[57] it is
wider above the mouth the Missourie at this place is about
500 yards wide, The Course from the Point down the Midl.
of the Missourie is S. 32° E, & turns to the North. up Do:
is N 21° W. & do do [i. e. turns to the North—Ed.] Do.
up the right side of the Kansas is S. 54° E., & the river turns
to the left, Several Deer killed to day.
28 June Thursday—
took equal altitudes &c. &c. &c. & varaition of the Compass
repaired the Perogue cleaned out the Boat suned our Powder
[and] wollen articles examined every thing 8 or 10 huntrs
out to day in different directions, in examining our Private
Store of Provisions we found Several articles Spoiled from the
wet or dampness they had received, a verry warm
day, the
wind from the South, The river Missourie has raised yesterday
last night & to day about 2 foot.
this evening it is on a
Stand, Captt. Lewis weighed
the water of the Two rivers
The Missourie 78° the Kansais 72°.
(the weight is)[58]
To Describe the most probable of the various
accounts of
this great river of the Kansas, would be too lengthy &
uncertain
to insert here, it heads with the
river Del Noird in the
black Mountain or ridge which Divides the Waters of
the
Kansas Del Nord, & Callarado & [a word
almost illegible;
possibly "offshoots."—Ed.]
from those of the Missourie
(and not well assertaind.)
This river receves its name from a
Nation which dwells at this time on its
banks & [has] 2
villages one about 20 leagues & the other 40
Leagues up,
those Indians are not verry noumerous at this time, reduced
by war with their neighbours, &c, they formerly lived on
the
South banks of the Missourie 24 Leagues above this river
in a open &
butifull plain, and were verry noumerous at the
a fierce & warlike people, being badly Supplied with fire arms,
become easily conquered by the Aiauway & Saukees who are
better furnished with those materials of War, This Nation is
now out in the Plains hunting the Buffalow [They consist of
about 300 men] our hunters killed Several Deer and Saw
Buffalow, Men impd. [employed] Dressing Skins & makeing
themselves comfortable, the high lands come to the river
Kansas on the upper Side at about a mile, full in view, and a
butifull place for a fort, good landing-place, the waters of the
Kansas is verry disigreeably tasted to me.
29th.. June Friday
obsvd. the distance
of ☉ & ☾, took Equal & maridional
Altd. and after makeing Some arrangements, and inflicting a
little punishment to two men we Set out at 1/2 past 4 oClock,
and
proceeded on. (I) passed a large Island on the S. Side,
opposit a large
Sand bar, the Boat turned, and was within Six
Inches of Strikeing the
rapidity with which the Boat turned
was so great that if her bow had
Struck the Snag, She must
have either turned over or the bow nocked off, S
W wind
N. 21. W. | 3 1/2 | Ms. to a pt. on L. S. psd. pt. Isd. S. S. (I) |
N. 1.8° W. | 3/4 | Ml. on the L. S. psd. Hd. of the Isd. |
S. 79. W. | 3 | Ms. to a pt. on the S. S. |
7 1/4 |
The ORIGINAL JOURNALS OF
LEWIS AND CLARK Original journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806 | ||