July 12th Thursday
1804—
Concluded to Delay here to day with a view of takeing
equal
altitudes & makeing observations as well as refreshing our men
who are much fatigued. after an early Brackfast I with five
men in a
Perogue assended the River Ne-Ma-haw about three
[2] Miles to the Mouth of a Small creek on the
Lower Side,
here I got out of the Perogue, after going to Several Small
Mounds in a leavel plain, I assended a hill on the Lower Side,
on
this hill Several artificial Mounds were raised, from the
top of the
highest of those Mounds I had an extensive view
of the Serounding Plains,
which afforded one of the most pleasing
prospect I ever beheld, under me a Butifull River of
Clear Water of
about 80 yards wide Meandering thro: a leavel
and extensive meadow, as far
as I could See, the prospect
much enlivened by the flew Trees & Srubs
which is bordering
the bank of the river, and the Creeks & runs
falling into it,
The bottom land is covered with Grass of about 4 1/2 feet
high,
and appears as leavel as a smoth surfice, the 2d
bottom [the
upper land] is also covered with Grass
and rich weeds & flours,
interspersed with copses of the Osage Plumb,
on the riseing
lands, Small groves of trees are Seen, with a numbers of
Grapes
and a Wild Cherry resembling the common Wild Cherry, only
larger and grows on a small bush on the tops of those hills
in every
direction, I observed artifical Mounds (or as I may
more justly term
graves) which to me is a strong evidence
[indication] of this Country being once thickly Settled. (The
Indians of the Missouris Still keep up the Custom of Burrying
their
dead on high ground) after a ramble of about two miles
about I returned to
the perogue and decended down the river,
gathd. Som
grapes nearly ripe, on a Sandstone Bluff about 1/4
of a Mile from its mouth on the Lower Side I observed some
Indian
Marks, went to the rock which jucted over the water
and marked my name
& the day of the month & year. This
river heads near one of the
(see note) villages of the Pania
[Pawnee] on the
River Blue [Blue River], a branch of the
Kansas River. above this river about half a mile the Prarie
comes to the Missouri, after my return to Camp on
the Island
completed Som
observations. Tri[e]d a man (W. C.) for
Sleeping on his Post &
inspected the arms amunition &c. of
the party found all complete, Took
Some Luner Observations,
three Deer
killed to day.
Latd. 39° - 55′ - 56″ N.
