University of Virginia Library

July 21st. Satturday 1804—

Set out early under a gentle breeze from the S. E. proceeded
on verry well, passed (1) a willow Island on the L. S. opposit
a bad Sand bar, Some high lands covered with timber L. S.
in this hill is limestone and semented rock of shels &c (2) in
high water the opposit Side is cut thro: by several Small
channels, forming Small Islands, a large Sand bar opposit the
Hill, at 7 oClock the wind luled and it Commns'd raining,
arrived at the lower Mouth of the Great River Platt at 10
oClock, (about 3 Ms. above the Hill of wood land) the Same
range of High land continus within 3/4 of a mile of the Mouth
below This Great river being much more rapid than the
Missourie forces its Current against the opposit Shore. The
Current of this river comes with great velosity roleing its Sands
into the Missouri, filling up its Bead & Compelling it to incroach
on the S [Nortti] Shore, we found great dificuelty in

passing around the Sand at the Mouth of this River. Capt.
Lewis and Myself with 6 men in a perogue went up this Great
river Platt about 2 [one] Miles, found the Current verry
rapid roleing over Sands, passing through different Channels
none of them more than five or Six feet deep, about 900 [600]
yards Wide at the Mouth, I am told by one of our Party
who wintered two winters on this river, that "it is much wider
above, and does not rise more than five or six feet" Spreds
verry wide [with many small islands scattered thro' it,] and from
its rapidity & roleing Sands Cannot be navagated with Boats
or Perogues. The Indians pass this river in Skin Boats which
is flat and will not turn over. The Otteaus a Small nation
reside on the South Side 10 Leagues up, the Panies on the
Same Side 5 Leagues higher up. about 10 Leagues up this
river on the S. Side a Small river Comes into the Platt Called
Salt River, "the water So brackish that it Can't be Drank at
Some Seasons, above this river & on the North Side a Small
river falls into the platt Called Elk (Horn) River this river
runs Parralal withe the Missouri, at 3 miles passed a Small
river on the L. S. Called Papillion or Butterfly C: 18 yds wide
a large Sand bar off the mouth, we proceeded on to get to a
good place to Camp and Delay a fiew days, passed around this
Sand bar: and Came. for the night on the L. S. a verry hard
wind from the N. W. I went on Shore S. S. and proceeded
up one mile thro: high Bottom land open a great number
of wolves about us this evening

Course Distance & Refrs. July 21st.

         

N. 22°. W.	3 1/2	Ms. to a pt. S. S. opposit a pt. of High land on the L. S.
N. 28°. W.	6 1/2	Ms. to a pt. on S. S. psd. a Naked pt. & Wilw. Isl'd (1) on the L. S. & a high p on L S. (2)
N. 39°. W.	3	Ms. to a pt. on S. S. just below the Platt river passd a pt. of High Land covd. with wood L S. a Sd bar near the S. S.
N. 8°. W	2	Ms. to a point in the junction of the Platt & Missouri a verry extensive [view— Ed.] up the Platt West & Missourie North Passed many Sand bars in the Mouth Platt river
	15	Ms. to Platt.