University of Virginia Library

Saturday 7th. of December 1805.

Some rain from 10 to 12 last night, this morning fair,
have every thing put on board the Canoes and Set out to the
place Capt. Lewis had viewed and thought well Situated for
winter quarters. we proceeded on against the tide to a point
about [blank space in MS.] miles here we met Sergt. Pryor
and his party returning to the Camp we had left without
any meat, the waves verry verry high, as much as our
Canoes could bear rendered it impossible to land for the
party, we proceeded on around the point into the bay and

landed to take brackfast on 2 Deer which had been killed &
hung up, one of which we found the other had been taken
off by [s]ome wild animal probably Panthors or the Wild [cat?]
of this Countrey here all the party of Sergt. Pryors joined us
except my man York, who had stoped to rite his load and
missed his way, Sergt. Pryor informed us that he had found
the Elk, which was much further from the bay than he expected,
that they missed the way for one day and a half, & when he
found the Elk they were mostly spoiled, and they only brought
the Skins of 4 of the Elk. after brackfast I delayed about
half an hour before York Came up, and then proceeded around
this Bay which I call [have taken the liberty of calling] Meriwethers
Bay the Cristian name of Capt. Lewis who no doubt
was the 1st white man who ever Surveyed this Bay, we assended
a river which falls in on the South Side of this Bay 3
miles to the first point of high land on the West Side, the
place Capt. Lewis had viewed and formed in a thick groth of
pine about 200 yards from the river, this situation is on a
rise about 30 feet higher than the high tides leavel and thickly
Covered with lofty pine, this is certainly the most eligable
Situation for our purposes of any in its neighbourhood. Meriwethers
Bay is about 4 miles across deep & receves 2 rivers
the Kil-how-â-nah-kle and the Ne tul and Several Small Creeks.[18]
we had a hard wind from the N.E. and Some rain about 12
oClock to day which lasted 2 hours and Cleared away. From
the Point above Meriwethers Bay to Point Adams is West to
point Disapomtment is N. 75°. W. (camped on the Ne tul.)