Wednesday 20th. of August 1806
a violent hard rain about day light this morning. all wet
except myself and the indians. we embarked a little after Sun
rise wind moderate and ahead. we proceeded on at Meridn.
passed the enterance of cannonball river imediately above is the
remains of a large Sieoux encampment which appears to have
been made this Spring. at 3 P M passed the enterance of
Wardepon[15]
River [Scioux boundary to which they claim the country]
Saw great number of wolves on the bank some Buffalow
& Elk, tho' not so abundant as near the River Rochejhone.
passed the place where we left the last encampment of Ricaras
in the fall 1804 and encamped on a Sandbar from the N.E.
Side, haveing made 81 miles only, the wind blew hard all
day which caused the waves to rise high and flack over into
the Small Canoes in such a manner as to employ one hand in
throwing the water out. The plains begin to change their appearance
the grass is turning of a yellow colour. I observe a
great alteration in the Current course and appearance of this
pt. of the Missouri. in places where there was Sand bars in the
fall 1804 at this time the main current passes, and where the
current then passed is now a Sand bar. Sand bars which were
then naked are now covered with willow several feet high. the
enterance of some of the Rivers & creeks changed owing to
the mud thrown into them, and a layor of mud over some of
the bottoms of 8 inches thick.
