Sunday, September 16th, 1804.
This morning set out at an early
hour, and come too at 1/2
after 7 A. M. on the Lard. shore 1 1/4 miles
above the mouth
of a small creek which we named Corvus,[28]
in consequence of
having kiled a beatiful bird of
that genus near it. we concluded
to ly by at
this place the ballance of this day and the
next, in order to dry our
baggage which was wet by the heavy
showers of rain which had fallen within
the last three days,
and also to lighten the boat by transfering a part of
her lading
to the red perogue, which we now determined to take on with
us to our winter residence wherever that might be; while
some of the
men were imployed in the necessary labour others
were dressing of skins
washing and mending their cloaths &c.
Capt. Clark and myself kiled
each a buck immediately on
landing near our encampment; the deer were very
gentle and
in great numbers in this bottom which had more timber on it
than any part of the river we had seen for many days past,
consisting of Cottonwood Elm, some indifferent Ash and a
considerable quan[ti]ty of a small species of white oak which
[was][29]
loaded with acorns of an excellent flavor [having][29] very
little
of the bitter roughness of the nuts of most species of
oak, the leaf of
this oak is small pale green and deeply
indented, (not copied for Dr.
Barton) it seldom rises higher
than thirty feet is much branched, the bark
is rough and thick
and of a light colour; the cup which contains the acorn
is
fringed on it's edges and imbraces the nut about one half;
the
acorns were now falling, and we concluded that the number
of deer which we
saw here had been induced thither by the
acorns of which they are
remarkably fond. almost every
species of wild game is fond of the acorn,
the Buffaloe Elk,
Deer, bear, turkies, ducks, pigians and even the wolves
feed
on them; we sent three hunters out who soon added eight
deer
and two Buffalo to our strock of provisions; the Buffaloe
were so pour that we took only the tongues skins and
marrow
bones; the skins were particularly acceptable as we were in
want of a covering for the large perogue to secure the baggage;
the
clouds during this day and night prevented my making
any observations.
Serg
t. Gass and Reubin Fields whom we
had sent out
yesterday to explore the White river returnd at
four oclock this day and
reported that they had followed the
meanders of that stream about 12 miles
it's general course
[is] West, the present or principal channel 150 yards
wide;
the coulour of the water and rapidity and manner of runing
resembled the Missouri precisely; the country broken on the
border
of the river about a mile, when the level planes commence
and extend as far as the eye can reach on
either side;
as usual no timber appeared except such as from the steep
declivities of hills, or their moist situations, were sheltered
from
the effects of the fire. these extensive planes had been
lately birnt and
the grass had sprung up and was about three
inches high. vast herds of
Buffaloe deer Elk and Antilopes
were seen feeding in every direction as
far as the eye of the
observer could reach.
White River 17th. Sept. Plomb Camp.
Course Distance & refferrence
[Not given.—Ed.]
