University of Virginia Library

Friday August 9th 1805.

The morning war fair and fine; we set out at an early hour
and proceeded on very well. some parts of the river more
rapid than yesterday. I walked on shore across the land to a
point which I presumed they would reach by 8. A. M. our
usual time of halting. by this means I acquired leasure to accomplish
some wrightings which I conceived from the nature of

my instructions necessary lest any accedent should befall me on
the long and reather hazardous rout I was now about to take.
the party did not arrive and I returned about a mile and met
them, here they halted and we breakfasted; I had killed two
fine gees on my return. while we halted here Shannon arrived,
and informed us that having missed the party the day on which
he set out he had returned the next morning to the place from
whence he had set out or furst left them and not finding [them]
that he had supposed that they wer above him; that he then set
out and marched one day up wisdom river, by which time he was
convinced that they were not above him as the river could not
be navigated; he then returned to the forks and had pursued
us up this river. he brought the skins of three deer which he
had killed which he said were in good order. he had lived very
plentifully this trip but looked a good deel worried with his
march. he informed us that Wisdom river still kept it's course
obliquely down the Jefferson's river as far as he was up it[13] .
immediately after breakfast I slung my pack and set out accompanyed
by Drewyer Shields and Mc. Neal who had been
previously directed to hold themselves in readiness for this service.
I directed my course across the bottom to the Stard. plain
left the beaver's head about 2 Miles to my left and interscepted
the river about 8 miles from the point at which I had left it;
I then waded it and continued my rout to the point where I
could observe that it entered the mountain, but not being able
to reach that place, changed my direction to the river which I
struck some miles below the mountain and encamped for the
evening having traveled 16. M. we passed a handsom little
stream formed by some large spring[s] which rise in this wide
bottom on the Lard. side of the river. we killed two Antelopes
on our way and brought with us as much meat as was necessary
for our suppers and breafast the next morning. we found
this bottom fertile and covered with taller grass than usual. the
river very crooked much divided by islands, shallow, rocky in
many plases and very rapid; insomuch that I have my doubts
whether the canoes could get on or not, or if they do it must
be with great labour. Capt. Clark proceeded after I left him
as usual, found the currant of the river increasing in rapidity
towards evening. his hunters killed 2 antelopes only. in the
evening it clouded up and we experienced a slight rain attended
with some thunder and lightning. the musquetoes very troublesome
this evening. there are some soft bogs in these vallies
covered with turf. the earth of which this mud is composed
is white or bluish white and appears to be argillacious.

Courses and distances travelled by Capt. Clark and party on the 9th. of
August 1805.

     

S. 12°. W.	4.	to a Stard. bend, passing two islands and 16 short circular bends on the Stard. side the distance by way of the river being 11 Miles.
S. 10°. E.	1.	to a high bottom on Lard. distance by water 3. M. passing an island, a bayou and 4 short bends on Stard. side.
Miles	5